Bi-directional protocol

• US 6,512,463 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Meter Company
• Original Assignee: American Meter Company
• Inventors: Campbell, David E., Kiser, Eric T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/281,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 370/312, 370/328, 370/349, 370/350, 713/202
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation

Abstract

A protocol for utility meter interrogation has a data write portion including: assembling a password transmission sequence having a synchronization string and a message including identification indicia for a select utility meter and a password to activate a select data access level within the select utility meter. This is wirelessly transmitted a first time to a select utility meter. Then, the password transmission sequence is wirelessly transmitted a second time to the select utility meter to confirm the password transmission sequence. A command transmission sequence having the synchronization string and a message including the identification indicia and a write command is assembled to cause the select utility meter to store data in a memory location of the select utility meter corresponding to the data access level activated with the password. The command sequence is then wirelessly transmitted to the select utility meter two times to confirm the command transmission sequence.

Claims

1. A protocol for utility meter interrogation comprising:

a. providing a synchronization string for indicating a start of a message transmitted to a utility meter;

b. providing a basic command for indicating the presence or absence of an extended command included in the message;

c. providing identification indicia for a select utility meter;

d. providing message length indicia for indicating an amount of data included in the message when an extended command is present;

e. providing message type indicia for indicating utility meter and message type wherein the message type indicia indicates a meter type selected from the group consisting of gas, electric and water;

f. providing an extended command corresponding to the message type indicia when an extended command is present;

g. providing data associated with the extended command, if necessary, when an extended command is present;

h. assembling a transmission sequence to include the synchronization string followed by the basic command followed by the identification indicia and, if an extended command is present, followed by the message length indicia followed by the message type indicia followed by the extended command followed by the data, if necessary;

i. transmitting the transmission sequence from an interrogator of a meter reader; and

j. receiving the transmission sequence at the select utility meter.

2. The protocol of claim 1 wherein the synchronization string is 10000001 and the message is assembled in the assembling step to avoid having a string of 10000001 other than the synchronization string.

3. The protocol of claim 1 wherein the basic command includes at least first and second states, the first state indicating an extended command will be included in the message and the second state indicating an extended command will not be included in the message.

4. The protocol of claim 1 wherein the identification indicia is a serial number for the select utility meter.

5. The protocol of claim 1 wherein the message length indicia indicates an amount of information to follow in the transmission sequence.

6. The protocol of claim 5 wherein the message length indicia indicates a number of bytes following the message length indicia.

7. The protocol of claim 1 wherein the message type indicia indicates the message is configured to read information from the select utility meter or alternatively write information to the select utility meter.

8. The protocol of claim 1 wherein the message type indicia indicates the message is configured to read information from the select utility meter or alternatively write information to the select utility meter.

9. The protocol of claim 1 further comprising assembling the transmission sequence to include additional pad bits preceding the synchronization string to facilitate the utility meter synchronizing on the transmission sequence during the receiving step.

10. The utility meter of claim 1 wherein the protocol includes:

a. receiving a transmission sequence including the synchronization string followed by a basic command followed by identification indicia followed by message length indicia followed by message type indicia followed by an extended command and, if necessary, followed by the data corresponding to the extended command.

11. A protocol for utility meter interrogation comprising a data write portion comprising:

a. assembling a password transmission sequence having a synchronization string and a message including identification indicia for a select utility meter and a password to activate a select data access level within the select utility meter;

b. wirelessly transmitting the password transmission sequence a first time to at least one utility meter including the select utility meter;

c. wirelessly transmitting the password transmission sequence a second time to the select utility meter following the first transmission to confirm the password transmission sequence;

d. assembling a command transmission sequence having the synchronization string and a message including the identification indicia and a write command configured to cause the select utility meter to store data in a memory location of the select utility meter corresponding to the data access level activated with the password;

e. wirelessly transmitting the command transmission sequence to the select utility meter following the second transmission; and

f. wirelessly transmitting the command transmission sequence a second time to the select utility meter following the third transmission to confirm the command transmission sequence.

12. The protocol of claim 11 further comprising a data read portion comprising:

a. assembling a read transmission sequence having a synchronization string and a message including identification indicia for a select utility meter and a data command defining a parameter to be read from the select utility meter;

b. transmitting the read transmission sequence; and

c. receiving data transmitted from the select utility meter in response to transmitting the read transmission sequence.

13. The protocol of claim 12 wherein the assembling steps include providing a read command in the message for the data read portion and providing a write command in the message for the data write portion.

14. The protocol of claim 12 wherein the assembling steps include providing meter type indicia for selecting a type of utility in which the select utility meter is associated.

15. The protocol of claim 14 wherein the type of utility meter is one of the group consisting of gas, water and electric.

16. The protocol of claim 12 wherein the assembling steps include

a. providing a read command and utility meter type indicia in the message for the data read portion, and

b. providing a write command and utility meter type indicia in the message for the data write portion.

17. The protocol of claim 16 wherein the utility meter type indicia represents one of the group consisting of gas, water and electric.

18. The protocol of claim 12 wherein the select utility meter includes a plurality of data access levels associated with passwords, each data access level associated with memory locations for holding data.

19. The protocol of claim 12 wherein the assembling step includes:

a. providing the synchronization string for indicating a start of a message transmitted to a utility meter;

b. providing a basic command for indicating the presence or absence of an extended command included in the message;

c. providing identification indicia for a select utility meter;

d. providing message length indicia for indicating an amount of data included in the message when an extended command is present;

e. providing message type indicia for indicating utility meter and message type;

f. providing an extended command corresponding to the message type indicia when an extended command is present;

g. providing information associated with the extended command, if necessary, when an extended command is present; and

h. assembling the transmission sequence to include the synchronization string followed by the basic command followed by the identification indicia and, if an extended command is present, followed by the message length indicia followed by the message type indicia followed by the extended command followed by the information, if necessary, into a transmission sequence.

20. The protocol of claim 19 wherein the information is a password for the password transmission sequence and data to be written to the select utility meter for the command sequence.

21. The protocol of claim 12 wherein the command transmission sequences are transmitted within a predetermined period of the password transmission sequences wherein the select utility meter deactivates activation of the selected data access level after the predetermined period expires.

22. The protocol of claim 21 wherein the predetermined period starts upon activation of the data access level.

23. The protocol of claim 22 wherein the predetermined period is ten (10) seconds.

24. A utility meter having a remote communication interface for communicating with an interrogation device comprising:

a. a metering device for measuring a utility parameter and having an output providing measurement indicia;

b. a control system and memory associated with said metering device to receive measurement indicia, said memory having a plurality of partitions and passwords associated with said partitions; and

c. a communication electronics associated with said control system adapted to communicate with an interrogation device;

d. said control system adapted to;

i. communicate with the interrogation device via said communication electronics using a select protocol to transmit information stored in said memory and store information transmitted from the interrogation device in said partitions; and

ii. require receipt of one of the associated passwords from the interrogation device to store data in a corresponding one of said partitions.

25. The utility meter of claim 24 wherein said memory includes three partitions representing memory locations having increasing levels of security, each said partition having a unique password for access to a corresponding said partition.

26. The utility meter of claim 24 wherein

a. the protocol for receiving data for storing data in a partition includes:

i. receiving a password transmission sequence including the synchronization string followed by a basic command followed by identification indicia followed by message length indicia followed by message type indicia followed by an extended command followed the password;

ii. receiving the password transmission sequence a second time;

iii. receiving a data transmission sequence including the synchronization string followed by a basic command followed by identification indicia followed by message length indicia followed by message type indicia followed by an extended command followed by the data for storing in said partition; and

iv. receiving the data transmission sequence a second time; and

b. said control system is further adapted to allow access to said partition associated with said password after receiving the password transmission a second time and write data to the partition after receiving the data password a second time.

27. The utility meter of claim 24 wherein said control system is adapted to allow access to said partition only for a predetermined period after receiving the password transmission sequence a second time.

28. An interrogation device for interrogating utility meters using wireless communications comprising:

a. a control system; and

b. communication electronics associated with said control system adapted to wirelessly communicate with utility meters using a select protocol, said control system adapted to;

i. provide a synchronization string for indicating a start of a message transmitted to a utility meter,

ii. provide a basic command for indicating the presence or absence of an extended command included in the message;

iii. provide identification indicia for a select utility meter;

iv. provide message length indicia for indicating an amount of data included in the message when an extended command is present;

v. provide message type indicia for indicating utility meter and message type wherein the message type indicia indicates a meter type selected from the group consisting of gas, electric and water;

vi. provide an extended command corresponding to the message type indicia when an extended command is present;

vii. provide data associated with the extended command, if necessary, when an extended command is present;

vii. assemble a transmission sequence to include the synchronization string followed by the basic command followed by the identification indicia and, if an extended command is present, followed by the message length indicia followed by the message type indicia followed by the extended command followed by the data, if necessary, into a transmission sequence; and

ix. transmit the transmission sequence to a utility meter.

29. An interrogation device for interrogating utility meters using wireless communications comprising:

a. a control system; and

b. communication electronics associated with said control system adapted to wirelessly communicate with utility meters using a select protocol, said control system adapted to;

i. assemble a password transmission sequence having a synchronization string and a message including identification indicia for a select utility meter and a password to activate a select data access level within a select utility meter;

ii. wirelessly transmit the password transmission sequence a first time to at least one utility meter including the select utility meter;

iii. wirelessly transmit the password transmission sequence a second time to the select utility meter following the first transmission to confirm the password transmission sequence;

iv. assemble a command transmission sequence having the synchronization string and a message including the identification indicia and a write command configured to cause the select utility meter to store data in a memory location of the select utility meter corresponding to the data access level activated with the password;

v. wirelessly transmit the command transmission sequence to the select utility meter following the second transmission; and

vi. wirelessly transmit the command transmission sequence a second time to the select utility meter following the third transmission to confirm the command transmission sequence.