Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080272933 | MOBILE UTILITY DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM - Methods and systems described herein allow collection of utility system endpoint data (e.g., meter data sent by utility meters configured for automatic meter reading) via a mobile utility data collection system that includes both a remote communication portion (e.g., radio device) and an external computer portion (e.g., handheld computer with meter reading application installed). | 11-06-2008 |
20100007521 | RF METER READING SYSTEM - The automatic meter reading (AMR) systems and methods of the present invention facilitate meter reading utilizing one-way and two-way communication with utility meter endpoint devices while at the same time providing an operating regime that conserves energy for long battery life and utilizes the available airwaves for AMR communications efficiently. Embodiments of the invention are applicable in AMR systems employing handheld and/or vehicle-based mobile readers, fixed readers, and combinations thereof. Moreover, embodiments of the invention facilitate smooth transition from mobile AMR systems to fixed systems, and provide for automatic AMR system performance monitoring and automatic adaptability to maintain or improve performance. | 01-14-2010 |
20100026517 | UTILITY DATA COLLECTION AND RECONFIGURATIONS IN A UTILITY METERING SYSTEM - A one-and two-way wireless data collection system for a utility metering environment includes multiple endpoints with wireless transceivers, and a collector with transceiver for communicating with the endpoints. | 02-04-2010 |
20100176967 | COLLECTING UTILITY DATA INFORMATION AND CONDUCTING RECONFIGURATIONS, SUCH AS DEMAND RESETS, IN A UTILITY METERING SYSTEM - In a data collection system having a utility data collector configured for remotely collecting utility data, a system includes one or more endpoints. Each endpoint has a utility meter, memory for storing at least utility consumption data from the utility meter, and a radio for transmitting a communication message to the utility data collector. The radio establishes a communication link between the endpoint and the utility data collector, and provides consumption data when a wireless communication channel quality test determines an adequacy of communications from the endpoint and the utility data collector (e.g. using RSSI). The utility meter sets a hold-off timer or other validity check and only performs subsequently received reset requests or other reconfigurations if the timer has expired or the validity check is valid. Other features are also disclosed. | 07-15-2010 |
20100188260 | ENDPOINT CLASSIFICATION AND COMMAND PROCESSING - Packet formats and related infrastructure for improved messaging and processing of commands in an AMR system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for identifying the features of an endpoint based on data encoded in a standard meter reading is provided. In this regard, the method includes receiving a standard meter reading having an endpoint type and subtype classification, wherein the subtype classification corresponds to a feature of the endpoint that may be re-configured. Once received, the standard metering reading is decoded. Then, the method identifies the classification of the endpoint with regard to type and subtype and determines whether the endpoint is capable of implementing a particular command. | 07-29-2010 |
20110037612 | RF METER READING SYSTEM - A meter reading system of the present invention enables transmission of data between utility meter endpoints and readers. In a first embodiment, the endpoint provides a short message providing its identification to the reader and immediately enters a listen mode. If the reader hears the short message, it can immediately respond and request additional information from the endpoint. If the reader does not hear the short message or does not request additional information during the endpoints listening period, the endpoint enters a sleep mode until its next transmission time. In another embodiment, the endpoint transmits an SCM via AM communication to the reader. The reader can then request additional information and the endpoint can respond with the information via two-way FM communication. In another embodiment, the endpoint is capable of transmitting interval data to the reader via either AM or FM communication. | 02-17-2011 |
20110074598 | COLLECTION OF TELEMETRY DATA THROUGH A METER READING SYSTEM - Disclosed are apparatus and related methodologies for transmitting data related to utility conditions between monitoring locations and a central and/or data collection facility using a meter reading system. Collection of both corrected and uncorrected data from meters is achieved to thereby provide backup data in case of corrector failure. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides for the collection of telemetry data and alarms from correctors and recorders over a meter reading system. Two-way communications over a meter reading system is also provided to permit data transmission to selected endpoint devices. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074599 | IN HOME DISPLAY UPDATABLE VIA UTILITY ENDPOINT - Disclosed are an in home display apparatus and methodology for displaying utility consumption and other related information to a consumer. The display device monitors transmissions from a utility consumption endpoint on a meter for user readable display. Messages relevant to the consumer may be sent to the endpoint to be relayed along with bubbled-up data from the endpoint on the meter to the in home display device. Flags related to certain of the messages may be set by the endpoint and cleared by the in home display device as a mechanism for acknowledging receipt of messages. Network readers see that set flags have been cleared and thus confirm message delivery to the network. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074600 | UTILITY REMOTE DISCONNECT FROM A METER READING SYSTEM - Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing remote gas disconnection by way of a meter reading system. In accordance with the present subject matter, a gas metering device is provided with a remotely controllable valve, and a handheld or mobile device (normally employed to collect data such as normal meter readings generally associated with utility consumption) is configured to transmit disconnect instructions to a selected gas metering device as a meter reader proceeds along a route. In an alternative embodiment, disconnect instructions may be sent directly to a remotely operable valve equipped metering device by way of a fixed network meter reading system. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074601 | UTILITY METER WITH FLOW RATE SENSITIVITY SHUT OFF - Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing gas disconnection by way of a self-monitoring metrology device. In accordance with the present subject matter, a gas metering device is provided with a controllable valve previously generally operated remotely to respond to disconnect instruction from handheld, mobile, or fixed network devices or systems. In accordance with present technology, such previously supplied valve opening functionality is employed to provide a safety-related self-monitoring metrology device configured to evaluate gas flow through such device and to initiate a valve opening request upon determination of the existence of a gas flow rate exceeding a predetermined threshold. In alternate embodiments, a valve opening request may be initiated if the difference in gas flow rates as between an input sensor and an output sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074602 | GAS SHUT-OFF VALVE WITH FEEDBACK - Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing a feedback mechanism to a system operator that provides a positive indication of the position of a valve which controls gas flow to a consumer. Rotation of a stepper motor controlling a valve mechanism is optically monitored and a feedback signal is sent to the system operator indicating positive operation of the valve only when a selected number of rotations of the stepper motor is reported. The stepper motor may be operated in different modes, each associated with different nominal current consumption levels. In a higher current consumption mode, such as a torque-oriented mode, the stepper motor may be stepped a few additional steps after valve closure to ensure seating of the valve. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074603 | SAFETY UTILITY RECONNECT - Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing safe reconnection of remotely disconnectible gas meters. In accordance with the present subject matter, a gas metering device is provided with a remotely controllable valve and has associated therewith indicia uniquely identifying the meter. A gas company representative or other authorized person must be physically present to read the meter associated data, enter corresponding data into a handheld device, and transmit a signal from such handheld device to the meter to initiate reclosure. In such manner, physical presence of a gas company representative is required at the time of reconnection to provide other services and functionality such as equipment inspection and/or pilot relighting as required for safety considerations. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078063 | COMBINED CATHODIC PROTECTION AND METER READING MONITORING SYSTEM - Disclosed are apparatus and related methodologies for increasing functionality of gas metrology devices used in a supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network by combining the collection of meter data with cathodic protection (CP) monitoring data in a single system. Per present subject matter, CP monitoring data may be collected at individual metrology locations and combined with data otherwise bubbled up to SCADA data collectors for transmission to the network head end. CP data collection and transmission with the bubbled up metrology data provides a significant increase in the amount of CP data collected and offers the advantage of relatively earlier detection of CP installation related problems in addition to significant reduction in data collection costs. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078093 | TELEMETRY SYSTEM - Disclosed are apparatus and related methodologies for transmitting data in a gas AMI network. Data may be transmitted bi-directionally between selected endpoint devices and data collection devices to central or head end equipment. Transmitted data may include parameter updating data for selected endpoint devices, and collected data from selected endpoint devices. Endpoint physical area conditions may be monitored for selected of the endpoint devices including monitoring for and reporting of physical changes in the area surrounding cathodic protection systems. The present concepts may be extended to implementation in conjunction with water and electricity metering environments. | 03-31-2011 |
20110254696 | METER RIGHT SIZING - The present subject matter relates to apparatus and methodologies for determining an appropriate size for a consumption measurement meter to be installed for a particular application, and/or for validating the appropriateness of a previously installed meter. A remotely controllable endpoint is associated with a consumption measure meter, which may be a water meter. Upon remote command to begin a measurement period, the endpoint will store data representing different levels of consumption during different time intervals over a period of time. The time intervals, length of time for recording data, and start time for recording data, may be remotely selected. Analysis of collected data with reference to known characteristics of available consumption measuring meters permits selection and/or validation of an appropriately sized meter for a particular application. | 10-20-2011 |
20110260947 | REMOTE ANTENNA COUPLING IN AN AMR DEVICE - Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing improved signal radiation from an Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) endpoint module. A two-part coupler is provided, with one part thereof affixed to a printed circuit board (PCB) which hosts components of an endpoint module including a transmitter to which, via the two-part coupler, various antenna may be selectively connected to improve signal radiation from the module. The antenna coupling system provides a selection of various antennae including some directly connected to a component of the two-part coupler and others connected remotely to the two-part coupler by way of a cable. | 10-27-2011 |
20110291856 | FREQUENCY SHIFT COMPENSATION, SUCH AS FOR USE IN A WIRELESS UTILITY METER READING ENVIRONMENT - Methods and apparatus for computing the carrier frequency of a transmitter using frequency modulated digital data to compensate for frequency shifting of the transmitter and the receiver local oscillators and for bandwidth adjustment of the receiver's filter. In particular, methods and apparatus are disclosed for binary systems transmitting “1” and “0” data using decoded or undecoded received signals. | 12-01-2011 |
20120044973 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING RECEPTION OF DATA IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION ENVIRONMENTS - Generally described, the disclosed subject matter is directed to improving the reception of data in wireless communication environments. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for improving the reception of meter data in an AMR system. In particular, the method includes obtaining a sample of data indicative of channel quality for each transmission channel in the operational frequency band of the endpoint device. Then, the data is analyzed and a determination is made as to whether the reception of data by the collection system can be improved. If the reception of data by the collection system can be improved, a command is generated for reprogramming the endpoint device. In one embodiment, the command includes channel reprogramming data for reprogramming the endpoint device. | 02-23-2012 |
20120099620 | CLEAR-CHANNEL SYSTEM AND RELATED APPLICATIONS - A wireless spread-spectrum communication system for transmitting data includes a plurality of end point transmitters and at least one receiver. The end point transmitters transmit data via a frequency-hopped spread-spectrum signal where the transmitting signal is sent without the benefit of frequency stabilization. The receiver is responsive to the frequency-hopping spread-spectrum signals and includes a correlator and a signal processor. The correlator samples at least a first portion of a preamble of the signal and correlates the portion of the preamble with a known preamble pattern to determine a probability of correlation. The signal processor applies a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm to the signal in response to the probability of correlation to track a narrowband frequency of the signal based on at least a second portion of the preamble and to decode data encoded within the signal subsequent to the preamble. | 04-26-2012 |
20120326884 | ALARMING BASED ON RESOURCE CONSUMPTION DATA - Consumption data of utility resources such as gas and water may be used to detect conditions that, left unchecked, may lead to a natural gas explosion, flood, or other event. A data collection device may be configured to monitor consumption of a resource through a utility meter at a location in substantially real time. The data collection device may detect abnormal consumption of the resource at the location, and transmit an alert indicating the abnormal consumption of the resource to a remote computing device. The data collection device may additionally initiate a mitigating action to prevent an event based on the abnormal resource consumption. | 12-27-2012 |
20120329499 | Read-Ahead Techniques for Data Logging - Radio messages may be transmitted by endpoints delivering utility consumption data. A portable unit may traverse a route among the endpoints and obtain the consumption data. If the endpoints are sufficiently grouped, communication between the portable unit and a plurality of endpoints may be possible in a same power cycle to a radio of the portable unit while the portable unit is at a single location. In a two-way communication environment, the portable unit may send commands to a plurality of endpoints during a single power cycle, which may result in responses from the plurality of endpoints during the same power cycle. Such communications may be performed with endpoints that are ahead of a current endpoint on the route being traversed, and may constitute read-ahead data. Read-ahead data reduces power cycles to the radio, because when the portable unit reaches an endpoint on the route whose data has previously been read, a power cycle is not required. | 12-27-2012 |
20120330615 | FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF RESOURCE CONSUMPTION DATA - Following an explosion, fire, flood, water damage, or other event, consumption data of utility resources such as gas and water may be used to determine a cause of the event. For example, an interrogation may be used to read data logging data from a data collection device. The data logging data may include a record of consumption data for a resource spanning a time of an event. The data logging data may be analyzed to determine whether a utility providing the resource was responsible for the event. | 12-27-2012 |
20120331092 | Conditional Command Data Reading Techniques - Radio messages delivering utility consumption data may be transmitted by endpoints. Each endpoint may contain a meter, such as an electric, natural gas and/or water meter. A portable unit (such as, for example, a handheld meter reading unit) may traverse a route among the endpoints and obtain the consumption data. Endpoints may send messages, periodically and/or in response to a command. Such messages may provide flags or other data indicating a condition of the endpoint. The flags or other data may be interpreted by computer code or logic within the portable unit to determine the condition of the endpoint, if a conditional command is indicated, and if so, which conditional command. Having selected an appropriate conditional or “reflex” command, the portable unit may transmit the conditional command to the endpoint and record data contained in a reply. | 12-27-2012 |
20130099976 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LOCATING MISSING NODES IN NETWORKS - Systems and methods of locating missing endpoints in a utility meter network include periodically receiving electronic GPS data including coordinates identifying the physical location of a mobile meter reading device and collecting radio frequency (RF) data transmissions sent by one or more missing endpoints in proximity to the mobile meter reading device. Energy levels associated with the RF data transmissions can be used to determine a signal strength indicator for each transmission. The transmissions are collected while the mobile meter reading device is positioned in at least first and second different locations relative to each missing endpoint. A triangulation procedure is electronically implemented using the GPS coordinates and the signal strength indicator for a given missing endpoint as determined in the at least first and second different locations in order to identify an estimated location for the given missing endpoint, which is provided as electronic output to a user. | 04-25-2013 |
20130113630 | TEMPERATURE COMPENSATED FREQUENCY ADJUSTMENT IN A METER READING ENDPOINT - The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to methods and apparatus enabling production of a stable output from a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit. A crystal controlled oscillator provides a reference signal to the PLL circuit. Temperature variations associated with the crystal cause variations in the operating frequency of the crystal that result in variations of the PLL output frequency. The presently disclosed subject matter compensates for such variations in frequency output by modifying an operation of the PLL circuit based on the temperature variations so that the output frequency remains stable even with temperature induced variations in the reference signal. | 05-09-2013 |
20130188746 | FREQUENCY SHIFT COMPENSATION, SUCH AS FOR USE IN A WIRELESS METER READING ENVIRONMENT - Methods and apparatus for computing the carrier frequency of a transmitter using frequency modulated digital data to compensate for frequency shifting of the transmitter and the receiver local oscillators and for bandwidth adjustment of the receiver's filter. In particular, methods and apparatus are disclosed for binary systems transmitting “1” and “0” data using decoded or undecoded received signals. | 07-25-2013 |
20130300577 | COLLECTING UTILITY DATA INFORMATION AND CONDUCTING RECONFIGURATIONS, SUCH AS DEMAND RESETS, IN A UTILITY METERING SYSTEM - In a data collection system having a utility data collector configured for remotely collecting utility data, a system includes one or more endpoints. Each endpoint has a utility meter, memory for storing at least utility consumption data from the utility meter, and a radio for transmitting a communication message to the utility data collector. The radio establishes a communication link between the endpoint and the utility data collector, and provides consumption data when a wireless communication channel quality test determines an adequacy of communications from the endpoint and the utility data collector (e.g. using RSSI). The utility meter sets a hold-off timer or other validity check and only performs subsequently received reset requests or other reconfigurations if the timer has expired or the validity check is valid. Other features are also disclosed. | 11-14-2013 |
20140028465 | RF METER READING SYSTEM - The automatic meter reading (AMR) systems and methods of the present invention facilitate meter reading utilizing one-way and two-way communication with utility meter endpoint devices while at the same time providing an operating regime that conserves energy for long battery life and utilizes the available airwaves for AMR communications efficiently. Embodiments of the invention are applicable in AMR systems employing handheld and/or vehicle-based mobile readers, fixed readers, and combinations thereof. Moreover, embodiments of the invention facilitate smooth transition from mobile AMR systems to fixed systems, and provide for automatic AMR system performance monitoring and automatic adaptability to maintain or improve performance. | 01-30-2014 |
20140207392 | System to Identify Gas Usage by Appliance - A system, including a utility meter, smart meter and/or a central office of a utility company may provide output to assist consumers to identify gas use by individual appliances. The system may measure gas flow rates, categorize the rates to assist in association with a gas consuming appliance, and provide output to identify use by one or more appliances. The output may include information on consumption and/or cost associated with one or more appliances, such as a furnace, hot water tank and/or stove. The output may be graphical, tabular or otherwise presented in any desired user interface or invoice, etc. | 07-24-2014 |