Wide area communications network for remote data generating stations

• US 6,373,399 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Wiebe, Michael, Holowick, Erwin, Murphy, Michael F., Jacob, Nathan R., Schellenberg, James J., Stasenski, Michael S., Johnson, Dennis F.
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/687,785
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.03, 340/870.11, 340/870.06, 340/870.28, 340/870.02, 370/328
• US Class Current: 340/870.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/022 by sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the messages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from a previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.

Claims

1. A wide area communications network for communicating data obtained from a plurality of utility meters to a central station, comprising:

a layered wireless network having a hierarchical communications topology, the network having;

a plurality of meter reading units, a certain one of the plurality of meter reading units being associated with a respective one of the plurality of utility meters, the certain meter reading unit being communicatively coupled to the respective utility meter for receiving data from the respective utility meter, the certain meter reading unit wirelessly transmitting meter reading unit reports related to data obtained from the respective utility meter randomly or pseudorandomly at fixed average intervals;

a plurality of fixed receiving stations disposed in a geographic area such that a certain meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units is in communication with at least two fixed receiving stations, a certain fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations being in wireless communication with a multiplicity of meter reading units, reports received from the multiplicity of meter reading units being forwarded via a polled radio communications link; and

a plurality of intermediate receiving stations disposed in the geographic area to form a grid overlaying the geographic area for wirelessly communicating with at least two fixed receiving stations to receive the reports transmitted from the fixed receiving stations responsive to a polling signal sent to a certain fixed receiving station, reports received from the multiplicity of fixed receiving stations being forwarded via a polled radio communications link to the central station.

2. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein all meter reading units of the plurality of meter reading units in the network transmit the respective reports related to data from the respective utility meters on a single common carrier frequency.

3. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein each fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations in the network is powered by a battery.

4. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein each intermediate receiving station of the plurality of intermediate receiving stations in the network is spaced in the geographic area relative to other intermediate receiving stations in the network such that overlapping communications coverage is provided, the overlapping communications coverage being such that a certain fixed receiving station is in communication with at least two intermediate receiving stations.

5. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein communication pathloss from a certain meter reading unit is minimized by providing each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units with communication path redundancy for the transmission of reports.

6. The wide area communications network of claim 5 wherein communication pathloss from a certain meter reading unit is minimized by transmitting a report from each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units multiple times in a selected time period.

7. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units in the network includes meter service modules, the service modules for electricity, gas, and/or water, a service disconnect module and an alarm monitoring module.

8. The wide area communications network of claim 7 wherein each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units in the network includes a wireless transmitter, a processor, and a memory.

9. The wide area communications network of claim 8 wherein each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units in the network further includes a receiver.

10. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units holds the report for a random period of time after obtaining data from the respective utility meters prior to transmission.

11. The wide area communications network of claim 10 wherein each meter reading unit calculates total usage data received from the utility meter over a certain period of time.

12. The wide area communications network of claim 11 wherein each meter reading unit calculates total usage data received from the utility meter over an eight hour period of time.

13. The wide area communications network of claim 12 wherein each meter reading unit calculates accumulated total usage data received from the utility meter to date.

14. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein each fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations in the network is spaced in the geographic area to provide overlapping reception coverage with at least one other fixed receiving station for each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units in the network.

15. The wide area communications network of claim 14 wherein each fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations in the network is spaced in the geographic area to provide overlapping reception coverage with as many as three other fixed receiving stations for each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units in the network.

16. The wide area communications network of claim 15 wherein each fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations in the network receives reports from at least one meter reading unit, the fixed receiving station identifying duplicates of the received report.

17. The wide area communications network of claim 16 wherein each fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations in the network transmits reports received from the at least one meter reading unit responsive to reception of a polling signal on a single common carrier frequency, said common carrier frequency further being common to a transmitting frequency of each meter reading unit of the plurality of meter reading units in the network.

18. The wide area communications network of claim 16 wherein each fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations in the network transmits an acknowledgement of reception of a specific report from a meter reading unit, the acknowledgement being receivable by all other fixed receiving stations and triggering a deletion of the specific report by all other fixed receiving stations receiving both the acknowledgement and the specific report from the meter reading unit.

19. The wide area communications network of claim 16 wherein each fixed receiving station of the plurality of fixed receiving stations in the network receives reports from at least one meter reading unit, each report from a certain meter reading unit being sequentially identified.

20. The wide area communications network of claim 1 wherein each intermediate receiving station includes a first transmitter and a first receiver.

21. The wide area communications network of claim 20 wherein each intermediate receiving station includes a second transmitter and a second receiver, the second transmitter and the second receiver being in communication with the central station.

22. The wide area communications network of claim 21 wherein each intermediate receiving station transmits a report to the central station responsive to reception of a polling signal from the central station, the report being related to reports received from the at least two fixed receiving stations with which the intermediate receiving station is in communication.

23. The wide area communications network of claim 22 wherein each intermediate receiving station is in communication with the central station via a non-wireless communications medium.

24. The wide area communications network of claim 20 wherein each intermediate receiving station includes circuitry for controlling a carrier frequency for allowing the first transmitter to change the carrier frequency.

25. The wide area communications network of claim 24 wherein each intermediate receiving station transmits a first polling signal for reception by at least one fixed receiving station.

26. The wide area communications network of claim 25 wherein the a certain fixed receiving station transmits a report related to the received and collated reports from the meter reading units to the intermediate receiving station responsive to reception of the polling signal from the intermediate receiving station by the certain fixed receiving station.

27. The wide area communications network of claim 26 wherein the intermediate receiving station transmits an acknowledgement signal responsive to reception of the report from the certain fixed receiving station.

28. The wide area communications network of claim 27 wherein the fixed receiving station deletes the report from a fixed receiving station memory responsive to reception of the acknowledgment signal transmitted by the intermediate receiving station.

29. In a network having a wireless communications network architecture for communicating from a plurality of utility meters to a central station, a method of communicating having the following steps:

minimizing message loss rate by;

controlling a grid spacing of a plurality of fixed receiving stations relative to a plurality of meter reading units to provide for communications path redundancy between a certain meter reading unit and more than one fixed receiving station; and

transmitting a certain report from a certain meter reading unit for reception by the more than one fixed receiving station, the report being transmitted multiple times in a selected time period.

30. The method of claim 29 including characterizing each report from the certain meter reading unit by a sequential number.

31. The method of claim 30 including tagging each report that is transmitted through the network with an identification tag indicating report type and source.

32. The method of claim 31 including providing a priority table in each of the plurality of fixed receiving stations and providing a priority table in each of a plurality of intermediate receiving stations and storing all identification tags in the priority tables.

33. The method of claim 32 including clearing alarm reports from the fixed receiving stations and from the intermediate receiving stations by means of signals from the central station to the fixed receiving stations and intermediate receiving stations generated with the use of an alarm instruction table.

34. The method of claim 33 including managing traffic on the network by means of instruction tables installed in the fixed receiving stations and intermediate receiving stations, the instruction tables maintaining report queue and ensuring that response times are within a certain specification.

35. The method of claim 34 including delaying all report traffic on the network a specified period of time.

36. The method of claim 35 including operating the network on a wireless common carrier frequency.

37. The method of claim 35 including randomly or pseudo randomly transmitting reports from each meter reading unit for reception by the more than one fixed receiving station.

38. The method of claim 37 including transmitting reports from respective fixed receiving stations and respective intermediate receiving stations responsive to the respective fixed receiving station and respective intermediate receiving station receiving a polling signal.

39. A communication network for communicating information comprising:

a plurality of meter reading units for collecting data generated by utility meters, each of the meter reading units having

a low-power transmitter for generating data for transmission by wireless radio signals representative of at least a portion of the data;

a modulator for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period; and

an antenna for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier, the radio frequency carrier being the same for each of said meter reading units;

a plurality of fixed receiving stations, the fixed receiving stations being arranged in an array relative to the meter reading units such that each fixed receiving station can receive data from a plurality of said meter reading units and such that the data transmitted by most of said meter reading units can be received by at least a respective two of said fixed receiving stations to generate, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of said meter reading units, duplicate packets of the data at least one of which is redundant, each fixed receiving station comprising;

a receiver for receiving the data from the meter reading units; and

a transmitter for selectively retransmitting the data from the meter reading units;

a central station for receiving and storing the data from the fixed receiving stations; and

means for eliminating any redundant data from the meter reading units such that only one copy of the data is stored in a database maintained by the central station.

40. The communication network of claim 39, where the central station receives at least one redundant data packet from a plurality of fixed receiving stations and collates the data so that only one copy of the data is stored in the database.

41. A communication network for communicating information comprising:

a plurality of meter reading units for collecting data generated by utility meters, each of the meter reading units having

means for generating data for transmission by wireless radio signals representative of at least a portion of the data;

control means for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period; and

an antenna for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier, the radio frequency carrier being the same for each of said meter reading units;

a plurality of fixed receiving stations, the fixed receiving stations being arranged in an array relative to the meter reading units such that each fixed receiving station can receive data from a plurality of said meter reading units and such that the data transmitted by most of said meter reading units can be received by at least a respective two of said fixed receiving stations to generate, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of said meter reading units, duplicate packets of the data at least one of which is redundant, each fixed receiving station comprising;

means for receiving the data from the meter reading units; and

means for selectively retransmitting the data from the meter reading units;

a central station for receiving and storing the data from the fixed receiving stations; and

means for eliminating any redundant data from the meter reading units such that only one copy of the data is stored in a database maintained by the central station.

42. The communication network of claim 41, where the central station receives at least one redundant data packet from a plurality of fixed receiving stations and collates the data so that only one copy of the data is stored in the database.

43. A method for collecting data from a plurality of meter reading units generated by a plurality of utility meters, respectively, located within a geographic area, comprising the steps of:

generating data at a plurality of utility meters;

collecting the data from the utility meters by a plurality of meter reading units coupled to the utility meters;

modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranging the data into a packet of data for transmitting the data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period;

transmitting, multidirectionally by wireless radio signal, the carrier representing at least a portion of the data collected by the meter reading unit for that utility meter;

receiving, at a plurality of fixed receiving stations, the data transmitted by the meter reading units, with the fixed receiving stations being arranged in an array relative to the meter reading units such that each fixed receiving station can receive data form a plurality of the meter reading units and such that the data transmitted by at least a portion of the meter reading units can be received by at least a plurality of the fixed receiving stations;

generating, by the at least a respective two of the fixed receiving stations, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of the meter reading units, duplicate packets of the data received from the meter reading units, at least one of which is redundant;

selectively transmitting the packets of data from the fixed receiving stations;

receiving the packets of data at a central station; and

storing the packets of data at the central station in a database such that only one copy of any redundant data is stored in the database.

44. A network for collecting data generated by a plurality of telemetry units, comprising:

a plurality of telemetry units for collecting data generated by utility meters, each of the telemetry units having

a low-power transmitter for generating data for transmission by wireless radio signals representative of at least a portion of the data;

a modulator for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period; and

an antenna for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier, the radio frequency carrier being the same for each of said telemetry units;

a plurality of collection stations, the collection stations being arranged in an array relative to the telemetry units such that each collection station can receive data from a plurality of said telemetry units and such that the data transmitted by most of said telemetry units can be received by at least a respective two of said collection stations to generate, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of said telemetry units, duplicate packets of the data at least one of which is redundant, each collection station comprising;

a receiver for receiving the data from the telemetry units; and

a transmitter for selectively retransmitting the data from the telemetry units; and

a central monitoring station for receiving and storing the data from the collection stations; and

means for eliminating any redundant data from the telemetry units such that only one copy of the data is stored in a database maintained by the central monitoring station.

45. The communication network of claim 44, where the central monitoring station receives at least one redundant data packet from a plurality of collection stations and collates the data so that only one copy of the data is stored in the database.

46. A network for collecting data generated by a plurality of telemetry units, comprising:

a plurality of telemetry units for collecting data generated by utility meters, each of the telemetry units having

means for generating data for transmission by wireless radio signals representative of at least a portion of the data;

control means for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period; and

an antenna for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier, the radio frequency carrier being the same for each of said telemetry units;

a plurality of collection stations, the collection stations being arranged in an array relative to the telemetry units such that each collection station can receive data from a plurality of said telemetry units and such that the data transmitted by most of said telemetry units can be received by at least a respective two of said collection stations to generate, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of said telemetry units, duplicate packets of the data at least one of which is redundant, each collection station comprising;

means for receiving the data from the telemetry units; and

means for selectively retransmitting the data from the telemetry units; and

a central monitoring station for receiving and storing the data from the collection stations; and

means for eliminating any redundant data from the telemetry units such that only one copy of the data is stored in a database maintained by the central monitoring station.

47. The communication network of claim 46, where the central monitoring station receives at least one redundant data packet from a plurality of collection stations collates the data so that only one copy of the data is stored in the database.

48. A method for collecting data from a plurality of telemetry units generated by a plurality of utility meters, respectively, located within a geographic area, comprising the steps of:

generating data at a plurality of utility meters;

collecting the data from the utility meters by a plurality of telemetry units coupled to the utility meters;

modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranging the data into a packet of data for transmitting the data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period;

transmitting, multidirectionally by wireless radio signal, the carrier representing at least a portion of the data collected by the telemetry unit for that utility meter;

receiving, at a plurality of collection stations, the data transmitted by the telemetry units, with the collection stations being arranged in an array relative to the telemetry units such that each collection station can receive data from a plurality of the telemetry units and such that the data transmitted by most of the telemetry units can be received by at least a respective two of the collection stations;

generating, by the at least a respective two of the collection stations, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of the telemetry units, duplicate packets of the data received from the telemetry units, at least one of which is redundant;

selectively transmitting the packets of data from the collection stations;

receiving the packets of data at a central monitoring station; and

storing the packets of data at the central monitoring station in a database such that only one copy of any redundant data is stored in the database.

49. An automatic meter reading data communication network for communicating information comprising:

a plurality of meter interface units for collecting data generated by commodity meters, each of the meter interface units having

a low-power transmitter for generating data for transmission by wireless radio signals representative of at least a portion of the data;

a modulator for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period; and

an antenna for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier, the radio frequency carrier being the same for each of said meter interface units;

a plurality of gateway stations, the gateway stations being arranged in an array relative to the meter interface units such that each gateway station can receive data from a plurality of said meter interface units and such that the data transmitted by most of said meter interface units can be received by at least a respective two of said gateway stations to generate, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of said meter interface units, duplicate packets of the data at least one of which is redundant, each gateway station comprising;

a receiver for receiving the data from the meter interface units; and

a transmitter for selectively retransmitting the data from the meter interface units; and

a service provider station for receiving and storing the data from the gateway stations in a database; and

means for eliminating any redundant data from the meter interface units such that only one copy of the data is stored in the database maintained by the service provider station.

50. The communication network of claim 49, where the service provider station receives at least one redundant data packet from a plurality of gateway stations and collates the data so that only one copy of the data is stored in the database.

51. An automatic meter reading data communication network for communicating information comprising:

a plurality of meter interface units for collecting data generated by commodity meters, each of the meter interface units having

means for generating data for transmission by wireless radio signals representative of at least a portion of the data;

control means for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period; and

an antenna for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier, the radio frequency carrier being the same for each of said meter interface units;

a plurality of gateway stations, the gateway stations being arranged in an array relative to the meter interface units such that each gateway station can receive data from a plurality of said meter interface units and such that the data transmitted by most of said meter interface units can be received by at least a respective two of said gateway stations to generate, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of said meter interface units, duplicate packets of the data at least one of which is redundant, each gateway station comprising;

means for receiving the data from the meter interface units; and

means for selectively retransmitting the data from the meter interface units; and

a service provider station for receiving and storing the data from the gateway stations in a database; and

means for eliminating any redundant data from the meter interface units such that only one copy of the data is stored in the database maintained by the service provider station.

52. The communication network of claim 51, where the service provider station receives at least one redundant data packet from a plurality of gateway stations and collates the data so that only one copy of the data is stored in the database.

53. A method for collecting data from a plurality of meter interface units generated by a plurality of commodity meters, respectively, located within a geographic area, comprising the steps of:

generating data at a plurality of commodity meters;

collecting the data from the commodity meters by a plurality of meter interface units coupled to the commodity meters;

modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranging the data into a packet of data for transmitting the data at a specific time which is pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period;

transmitting, multidirectionally by wireless radio signal, the carrier representing at least a portion of the data collected by the meter interface unit for that commodity meter;

receiving, at a plurality of gateway stations, the data transmitted by the meter interface units, with the gateway stations being arranged in an array relative to the meter interface units such that each gateway station can receive data form a plurality of the meter interface units and such that the data transmitted by most of the meter interface units can be received by at least a respective two of the gateway stations;

storing the data from the meter interface units at the gateway stations;

generating, by the at least a respective two of the gateway stations, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of the meter interface units, duplicate packets of the data received from the meter interface units, at least one of which is redundant;

selectively transmitting the packets of data from the gateway stations;

receiving the packets of data at a service provider station; and

storing the packets of data at the service provider station in a database such that any redundant packets of data are eliminated.

54. A communication network for collecting data generated by a plurality of utility meters located within a geographic area, comprising:

a plurality of meter reading units, with each meter reading unit coupled to a respective utility meter and including a low-power transmitter to autonomously transmit by wireless radio signals representative of at least a portion of the data generated by the meter reading unit for that utility meter pseudorandomly at fixed average intervals;

a plurality of fixed receiving stations located within the geographic area, with each fixed receiving station including a receiver that receives signals transmitted from at least one meter reading unit and a transmitter that transmits signals representative of at least a portion of the data generated by at least one meter reading unit; and

a central station having a receiver to receive signals transmitted from each of the plurality of fixed receiving stations, a processor that decodes the signals, and a memory that stores data representative of at least a portion of the decoded signals in a data base.