Data transfer system and method for communicating utility consumption data over power line carriers

• US 6,300,881 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aragaki, Taul Eric, Durkin, Michael, Yee, David Moon, Zucarelli, Philip John, Keller, Theodore Woolley, Bickley, Robert Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/328,661
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 350/870.02, 350/870.03, 350/870.07, 350/310.01, 714/796, 379/106.03
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2213/10 using simultaneously two or more different transmission means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/16 Interfaces between hierarchically similar devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge

Abstract

Utility consumption data is provided over power line carrier links to local nodes and routed through a network of local nodes over peer-to-peer line-of-sight RF links to a utility service provider. Backhauler nodes combine the utility consumption data from the local nodes within a coverage region for routing to the utility service provider. Consumer nodes include sensing elements for measuring the utility consumption data, and switching elements for connecting or disconnecting the utility from a consumer location. Messages are sent through the network requesting the utility consumption data and for activating the switching elements.

Claims

1. A method of communicating utility consumption data using a network of local nodes (40) arranged within a coverage area (12) wherein adjacent local nodes within the coverage area communicate over RF links (52), a plurality consumer nodes (44) within the coverage area wherein each consumer node is coupled to one of the local nodes by a power line carrier link (53), and a backhauler node (50) located within the coverage area and coupled to local nodes adjacent to the one local node by RF links (52), the method comprising the steps of:

determining utility consumption data for consumer location (45) associated the consumer nodes;

transferring the utility consumption data over the power line carrier links to the local node associated with the consumer node;

routing the utility consumption data over the RF links through the network of local nodes to the backhauler node;

the backhauler node combining the consumption data from several of the local nodes for delivery to a utility service provider (58);

at a first consumer node, transmitting a consumer data message over a first power line carrier link to a first local node associated with the first consumer node, the consumer data message including a destination address of a second consumer node;

routing the consumer data message through the network of local nodes based on the destination address to a second local node, the second local node associated with a second consumer node; and

transmitting the consumer data message over a second power line carrier link to the second consumer node, the second consumer node providing the at least a portion of the consumer data message to a consumer location associated therewith;

receiving a second utility consumption request data message at a local node identifying a mobile unit;

determining a location of a mobile unit within the first coverage area;

routing the second data message to a local node near the location; and

transmitting the utility consumption data to the mobile unit from the local node by a line-of-sight RF link.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a utility consumption request message over an RF link from a mobile unit at one of the local nodes;

the one local node transmitting the utility consumption request message over the power line carrier links to consumer nodes associated with the one local node, wherein the transferring step is performed in response to the consumption request message and further comprises the step of transferring the utility consumption data for the consumer locations associated with the consumer nodes to the one local node over the power line carrier links; and

the one local node transmitting the utility consumption data for each of the consumer locations over the RF link to the mobile unit.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the consumer nodes include a controller and utility sensing element coupled to the power line carrier, and wherein the determining step is performed by the controller and utility sensing element, the method further comprising the step of receiving a utility consumption request data message through the network at the consumer nodes requesting the utility consumption data, and wherein the transferring step is performed in response to the receiving step.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the RF links coupling adjacent local nodes comprise line-of-sight RF links and wherein the local nodes comprise an antenna located on utility poles near the consumer locations, the antenna for communicating substantially horizontally polarized signals over the RF links.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a consumer data message at the backhauler node, the consumer data message including a destination address identifying one consumer node,

routing the consumer data message through the network of local nodes in the coverage area to the local node associated with the consumer node;

transmitting the consumer data message over the power line carrier to the associated consumer node; and

providing a portion of the consumer data message to the consumer location.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the transferring step includes the step of including a consumer location ID along with the utility consumption data, the consumer location ID identifying the consumer node associated with the utility consumption data,

and wherein the routing step is performed by the local nodes and further comprises the step of routing the consumer location ID and associated utility consumption data in packetized form through the network.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the routing step further comprises the step of including a destination address within the packetized form of utility consumption data, the destination address identifying the utility service provider.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the consumer nodes further include a switching element coupled to the controller for either connecting or disconnecting a utility line from the consumer location associated with each consumer node, the method further comprising the step of receiving a switching data message through the network and over the power line carrier link at one of the consumer nodes, the switching data message instructing the controller to cause the switching element to either connect or disconnect the utility line from the consumer location associated with the one consumer node, the switching data message including a destination address identifying the one consumer node, and

wherein the routing step includes the step of routing the switching data message through the network of local nodes using the destination address.

9. A method of communicating utility consumption data using a mobile collection unit, a network of local nodes arranged wherein adjacent location nodes communicate over RF links, and a plurality consumer nodes each coupled to one of the local nodes by a power line carrier link, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a utility consumption request message from the mobile collection unit over an RF link to a nearby one of the local nodes;

the nearby one local node transmitting the utility consumption request message over the power line carrier links to consumer nodes associated with the one local node,

transferring utility consumption data from each consumer node over the power line carrier links to the one nearby local node;

the one nearby local node transmitting the utility consumption data over RF link to the mobile unit;

said one local node routing the utility consumption request message to other local nodes of said network; and

the other local nodes transmitting the utility consumption request message to consumer nodes associated therewith over power line carrier links; and

including a consumer location ID along with the utility consumption data, the consumer location ID identifying the consumer node associated with the utility consumption data, and

wherein the utility consumption data is routed through the network to the one nearby local node and transmitted over the RF link to the mobile collection unit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the RF links coupling adjacent local nodes comprise line-of-sight RF links and wherein the local nodes comprise an antenna located on utility poles near the consumer locations, the antenna for communicating substantially horizontally polarized signals over the RF links.

11. A two-way data transfer system for communicating data comprising:

a network of local nodes (40) arranged within a coverage area (12) wherein adjacent local nodes within the coverage area communicate over RF links (52);

a plurality consumer nodes (44) within the coverage area wherein each consumer node is coupled to one of the local nodes by a power line carrier link (53), the consumer nodes collecting data for consumer locations (45) associated the consumer nodes;

a backhauler node (50) located within the coverage area and coupled to local nodes adjacent to the one local node by RF links (52),

wherein the collected data is transferred over the power line carrier links to the local node associated with the consumer node, the collected data is routed over the RF-links through the network of local nodes to the backhauler node, and the backhauler node combines the collected data from several of the local nodes for delivery to data user (58);

a first consumer node having means for transmitting a consumer data message over a first power line carrier link to a first local node associated with the first consumer node, the consumer data message including a destination address of a second consumer node;

the consumer data message is routed through the network of local nodes based on the destination address to a second local node, the second local node associated with a second consumer node; and

the consumer data message is transmitted over a second power line carrier link to the second consumer node, the second consumer node providing the at least a portion of the consumer data message to a consumer location associated therewith;

receiving a second utility consumption request data message at a local node identifying a mobile unit;

determining a location of a mobile unit within the first coverage area;

routing the second data message to a local node near the location; and

transmitting the utility consumption data to the mobile unit from the local node by a line-of-sight RF link.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the local nodes includes means for receiving a data request message over an RF link from a mobile unit at one of the local nodes, and transmits the data request message over the power line carrier links to consumer nodes associated with the one local node, wherein the requested data for the consumer locations associated with the consumer nodes is transferred to the one local node over the power line carrier links;

and

the one local node includes means for transmitting the requested data for each of the consumer locations over the RF link to the mobile unit.

13. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the data comprises utility consumption data and wherein the consumer nodes comprise:

a controller; and

a utility sensing element for monitoring the utility consumption data and coupled to the power line carrier, wherein the controller receives a utility consumption request data message through the network at the consumer nodes, the data message requesting the utility consumption data, and wherein the utility consumption data is transferred is performed in response to the receipt of the utility consumption request data message.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the RF links coupling adjacent local nodes comprise line-of-sight RF links and wherein the local nodes comprise an antenna located on utility poles near the consumer locations, the antenna for communicating substantially horizontally polarized signals over the RF links.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein a the controller sends consumer location ID along with the utility consumption data, the consumer location ID identifying the consumer node associated with the utility consumption data,

the local nodes route the consumer location ID and associated utility consumption data in packetized form through the network.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the controller includes a destination address within the packetized form of utility consumption data, the destination address identifying the utility service provider as a destination for the utility consumption data.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the consumer nodes further include a switching element coupled to the controller for either connecting or disconnecting a utility line from the consumer location associated with each consumer node,

and wherein the controller receives a switching data message through the network and over the power line carrier link at one of the consumer nodes, the switching data message instructing the controller to cause the switching element to either connect or disconnect the utility line from the consumer location associated with the one consumer node, the switching data message including a destination address identifying the one consumer node, and the switching data message is routed through the network of local nodes using the destination address.

18. A method of communicating data among a network of local nodes (40) wherein adjacent local nodes of the network communicate over line-of-sight RF links (52), a plurality consumer nodes (44) each coupled to one of the local nodes by a power line carrier link (53), the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a data message (86) from a first consumer node over the power line carrier link to an associated local node (40), the data message identifying a destination consumer node;

routing the data packet amongst the local nodes (40) over the line-of-sight RF link (52) to a local node associated with the destination consumer node;

transmitting the data message to the destination consumer node (44) over the power line carrier (53) which couples the destination consumer node with the local node associated with the destination consumer node, the second consumer node providing at least a portion (94) of the data message to a consumer location (45) associated with the consumer node;

the network of local nodes is a first network of local nodes defining a first coverage area (12);

the network further comprises a first backhauler node (50) located within the first coverage area and coupled to nearby local nodes by line-of-sight RF links (56),

the network further comprises a second network of local nodes defining a second coverage area including a second backhauler node located therein;

the destination consumer node is located within the second coverage area;

wherein the routing step further comprise the steps of;

routing the data packet amongst the local nodes of the first coverage area to the first backhauler node;

the first backhauler node transferring the data packet over a high data bandwidth link to the second backhauler node;

the second backhauler node transmitting the data packet to a local node within the second coverage area; and

routing the data packet amongst local nodes of the second coverage area to the local node associated with the destination consumer node;

receiving a second utility consumption request data message at a local node identifying a mobile unit;

determining a location of a mobile unit within the first coverage area;

routing the second data message to a local node near the location; and

transmitting the utility consumption data to the mobile unit from the local node by a line-of-sight RF link.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the backhauler node being further coupled to a communication system (51) external to the network, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a plurality of data messages at the backhauler node, the data messages being from consumer nodes;

combining the plurality of data messages at the backhauler node; and

transmitting the combined data messages over a high data bandwidth link from the backhauler node to a data consumer.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising the step of:

the local nodes including an error correction portion in the data packet, the error correction being based on channel conditions of the line-of-sight RF links.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the local nodes further determine a channel coding rate based on a bit-error-rate of each line-of-sight RF link, and perform channel coding on the data packet in accordance with the channel coding rate.