Remote access to electronic meters using the short message service

• US 6,900,737 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Van Den Bout, David E., Bragg, Arnold W., Ardalan, Sasan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/022,879
• Time in Patent Office: 2,665 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.07, 455/33.1, 455/426, 455/466, 379/106, 379/106.3, 379/56.3, 370/328, 370/349, 370/474, 370/522, 370/529, 702/68, 702/62, 348/6
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An automatic meter reading (AMR) system collects readings from multiple or individual meters or sets parameters in individual or multiple meters using the Short Message Service (SMS) in digital cellular networks. The individual meters incorporate interfaces to the SMS network so that parameters within the meter can be read and written to/from external devices that also interface to the SMS network. Communications gateways incorporate a single interface to the SMS network, which a set of non-SMS-enabled meters can access via a local area network (LAN).

Claims

1. A system for use in combination with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a digital cellular network (DCN) providing a short message service (SMS), comprising an automatic meter reading (AMR) network operatively coupled to said DCN by said PSTN, wherein said AMR network comprises a plurality of meters and an AMR node, said meters being in communication with said node, and an AMR server operatively coupled to the PSTN, whereby said meters are permitted to send and receive message packets to/from the AMR server via the SMS.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said meters communicates with said AMR node via a power line interface.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said meters communicates with said AMR node via a radio frequency (RF) interface.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said AMR node communicates with said AMR server via the DCN.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, further comprising a communications gateway operatively coupled to said AMR server, wherein said communications gateway is operatively coupled, and provides an interface, to the PSTN.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said DCN comprises a base station system (BSS) that includes a base station controller (BSC) and multiple base transceiver stations (BTSs) in communication with mobile stations (MSs), and a mobile switching center (MSC) that is operatively coupled to said PSTN.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein an SMS interface within said meters permits remote access to meter parameters.

8. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein an SMS interface within said communications gateway permits remote access to meter parameters.

9. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the SMS provided by the DCN permits said AMR node to collect message packets of meter data and to send said message packets to said communications gateway within one or more SMS packets.

10. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said communications gateway receives SMS packets directly from the DCN.

11. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said communications gateway receives SMS packets indirectly from the DCN via said PSTN.

12. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said communications gateway removes SMS message headers from SMS packets and passes original packets of meter readings from said AMR node to said AMR server.

13. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said AMR server updates an AMR database using readings found in the message packets.

14. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said AMR server sends message packets to said meters.

15. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said server encapsulates new utility rates for a meter or group of meters into a packet and passes the packet to the communications gateway, and said gateway encapsulates the packet into a SMS packet and sends it to the AMR node via the SMS.

16. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said meters is provided with a direct interface to said DCN such that said meter can send and receive SMS packets.

17. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said AMR server sends the following types of messages to the meters:

(1) commands to send a current usage reading;

(2) commands to send a current rate of power usage;

(3) commands to shut-down appliances;

(4) commands to apply power to appliances;

(5) commands to schedule times at which the meters will power-up and listen for SMS packets;

(6) configurations to change the way the meters operate and/or add new functions;

(7) and notification of a new phone number or numbers with which to reach the AMR communications gateway.

18. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said meters and/or AMR node send the following types of messages to said AMR server:

(1) notification of meter tampering;

(2) notification of power outages;

(3) reading of current power usage;

(4) reading of current rate of power usage;

(5) identification of devices actively drawing power;

(6) identification of devices not actively drawing power;

(7) identification of services currently supported by the meter;

(8) notification of a new phone number with which to reach the meter or AMR node.

19. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said AMR server and communications gateway cooperate as follows to initiate the reading of a meter:

(1) the AMR server encapsulates a command for reading a meter along with a meter ID into a packet that is passed to the communications gateway;

(2) the communications gateway encapsulates the packet from the AMR server into a SMS packet;

(3) the gateway uses the meter ID to determine a phone number associated with the meter;

(4) the phone number is dialed and the SMS packet is sent via the SMS;

the SMS delivers the SMS packet to the meter or AMR node.

20. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the communications gateway is directly linked to the GMSC via a network protocol, whereby SMS packets can be read or written by the communications gateway from/to the GMSC using email or other protocols.