Automatic meter reading communication

• US 7,956,767 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Original Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Inventors: Chilom, Marius Ovidiu, Ratiu, Ovidiu
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US11/765,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20080117077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 34087002-87003, 340/870.12
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

An automatic consumption meter reading system utilizing a radio frequency network and a power line carrier network is provided. The radio frequency (RF) network and the power line carrier (PLC) network are communicatively linked with a radio frequency to power line communication bridge device. The radio frequency to power line communication bridge device is communicatively linked to a consumption meter. An automatic meter reading device includes an RF modem and a PLC modem and transmits and receives data to and from a consumption meter using the RF and PLC modems.

Claims

1. An automatic meter reading device, comprising:

a first transceiver communicatively coupled to a first meter via an electricity line and configured to receive and transmit signals containing data over the electricity line;

a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the first transceiver and wirelessly coupled to a second meter, the second transceiver configured to wirelessly receive signals containing data from the second meter and to wirelessly transmit signals containing data to the second meter;

a memory communicatively coupled to the first and second transceivers;

a processor configured to receive signals containing data from one of the first or second transceivers and to convert the signals containing data for transmission by the other of the first or second transceivers; and

an interface coupled to a wide area network for communication with a processing device also coupled to the wide area network.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is a PLC transceiver that receives signals containing electricity meter data from an electricity meter coupled by an electricity line, and the second transceiver is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that wirelessly transmits signals containing the electricity meter data to a meter having an RF transceiver.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that receives wirelessly signals containing electricity meter data from a meter having an RF transceiver, and the second transceiver is a PLC transceiver that transmits signals containing the electricity meter data to an electricity meter coupled by an electricity line.