Dynamic self-configuring metering network

• US 7,119,713 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Eugene W., Shuey, Kenneth C., Hemminger, Rodney C., Mason, Robert T. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/185,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/10.41, 340/3.51, 340/870.01, 340/870.03, 340/870.16, 702/62
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• 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

A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instructions to the level one meters to scan for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the level one meters. The collector registers meters that respond as level two meters.

Claims

1. A system for collecting metering data, comprising:

a collector meter, said collector meter comprising electrical circuitry for gathering meter data, wireless communication electronics for sending and receiving data, a processor for implementing instructions, and memory for storing data;

a first plurality of meters, each meter in said first plurality comprising electrical circuitry for gathering meter data, wireless communications electronics for sending and receiving data, a process for implementing instructions, and memory for storing data;

a second plurality of meters, each meter in said second plurality comprising electrical circuitry for gathering meter data, wireless communications electronics for sending and receiving data, a process for implementing instructions, and memory for storing data;

wherein each of said first plurality of meters communicates with said collector meter, is registered in a subnet with said collector meter, and became registered in said subnet after responding to a broadcast request from said collector meter, and

wherein each of said second plurality of meters communicates with one of said first plurality of meters, is registered in said subnet with said collector meter, and became registered in said subnet after responding to a broadcast request from one of said first plurality of meters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said collector meter broadcasts instructions to said first plurality of meters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said collector meter communicates with single meters in said first plurality of meters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said first plurality of meters and said second plurality of meters is operable to forward exception messages to said collector meter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said collector meter is operable to communicate flood broadcast messages.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said collector communicates a time reading to said first plurality of meters, and said first plurality of meters communicate the time reading to said second plurality of meters.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of meters comprises a different number of meters than said second plurality of meters.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of meters comprises at least two meters, and each of said at least two meters communicate data from said collector meter to at least one meter in said second plurality of meters.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said collector meter and said first and second plurality of meters communicate using frequency hopping spread spectrum procedures.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein communications between said collector meter, said first plurality of meters, and said second plurality of meters comprise application level and packet level retries.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the number of packet level retries in a communication from a meter is dependent upon the level of the meter in the subnet and the number of prior application level retries.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a newly added meter, said newly added meter comprising electrical circuitry for gathering meter data, wireless communications electronics for sending and receiving data, a process for implementing instructions, and memory for storing data;

wherein said newly added meter communicates with one of said second plurality of meters, is registered in said subnet with said collector meter, and became registered in said subnet after communicating a request to one of said second plurality of meters and responding to a broadcast request from one of said second plurality of meters.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said second plurality of meters comprises instructions for seeking a more reliable communication path with said collector meter.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said second plurality of meters comprises instructions for identifying a more reliable communication path with a second collector meter and requesting registration with said second collector meter.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a one-way meter comprising electronic circuitry for transmitting data, a processor, and memory,

wherein said one-way meter comprises instructions for broadcasting metering data and at least one of said second plurality of meters comprises instructions for receiving the metering data.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said collector meter further comprises instructions for determining whether a response signal strength exceeds a defined threshold.

17. A method for configuring a metering network, comprising:

at a collector meter, broadcasting a request that meters respond;

at a first meter, receiving the request that meters respond and communicating a response;

at the collector meter, receiving the response from the first meter;

at the collector meter, if the signal strength of the response exceeds a threshold, registering the first meter;

at the collector meter, communicating instructions to the first meter to broadcast a request that meters respond;

at the first meter, broadcasting a request that meters respond;

at a second meter, receiving the request that meters respond and communicating a response to the first meter;

at the first meter storing data identifying the second meter and the signal strength of the response from the second meter;

at the collector meter, receiving the data identifying the second meter and the signal strength of the response from the second meter; and

at the collector meter, if the signal strength of the response from the second meter exceeds a defined threshold, registering the second meter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein registering the first meter comprises:

at the collector, storing data identifying the first meter; and

at the first meter, storing data identifying the collector.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein registering the second meter comprises:

at the collector storing data identifying the second meter and data identifying the first meter as a repeater for the second meter;

at the second meter, storing data identifying the collector and data identifying the first meter as the repeater for the second meter.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein registering the second meter further comprises at the first meter, storing data identifying the first meter as a repeater for the second meter.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

at the second meter, receiving a communication that a third meter is operable and unregistered;

at the second meter, communicating a request to the collector via the first meter to communicate instructions to broadcast a request that meters respond;

at the collector meter, communicating instructions for the second meter to broadcast a request that meters respond;

at the second meter, broadcasting a request that meters respond;

at the third meter, responding to the request that meters respond;

at the second meter, receiving a response from the third meter uniquely identifying the third meter, and storing data identifying the third meter and a received signal strength of the response from the third meter;

at the collector meter, receiving data uniquely identifying the third meter and identifying the received signal strength of the response from the third meter; and

at the collector meter, if the received signal strength is greater than a defined threshold, registering the third meter.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein registering the third meter comprises;

at the collector meter, storing data identifying the third meter;

at the third meter, storing data identifying the collector and data identifying the second meter; and

at the second meter, storing data identifying that the second meter is a repeater.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

at the second meter, identifying that data has not been retrieve by the collector meter for a period of time exceeding a threshold; and

at the second meter, broadcasting data indication the second meter is operable and unregistered.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

at the second meter, receiving a request originating from a second collector meter that all meters respond;

at the second meter, determining if the second collector meter offers a more reliable communication path with the second meter; and

at the second meter, if the second collector meter offers a more reliable communication path, responding to the request originating from the second collector meter, the response comprising data identifying the second meter and data identifying the number of meters for which the second meter is a repeater.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

at the second collector meter, receiving data identifying the second meter and data identifying the number of meters for which the second meter is a repeater;

at the second collector meter, determining if the second meter has capacity for the second meter and any meters for which the second meter is a repeater;

if the second collector has capacity, registering the meter.