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`(19)United States
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`(12)Patent Application Publication
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0270173 Al
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`( 43) Pub. Date: Dec. 8, 2005
`Boaz
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`US 20050270173Al
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`(54)AUTOMATED METER READING SYSTEM,
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`COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL
`(51)Int. Cl.7 ........................... G08C 15/06; GOSE 23/00
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`
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`NETWORK FOR AUTOMATED METER
`
`(52)U.S. Cl. ........................................................ 340/870.02
`READING, METER DATA COLLECTOR
`PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND ASSOCIATED
`METHODS
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`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
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`Publication Classification
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`Correspondence Address:
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`BRACEWELL & GIULIANI LLP
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`P.O. BOX 61389
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`HOUSTON, TX 77208-1389 (US)
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`(21)Appl. No.:
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`11/120,173
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`(22)Filed:
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`May 2, 2005
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`
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`An automated meter reading network system to collect
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`(76)Inventor: Jon A. Boaz, Colleyville, TX (US)
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`utility usage data from multiple utility meters having utility
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`meter sensors is provided. The system includes multiple
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`meter data collectors each in communication with one or
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`more utility meters to collect utility usage data and forming
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`a wireless mesh communications network characterized by
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`having a varying frequency mode of operation. The system
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`also includes a host computer in communication with the
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`meter data collectors either directly or through multiple field
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`host data collectors, which can be connected to the host
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`computer through a wide area network. The system also
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`includes a meter data collector program product at least
`Related U.S. Application Data
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`partially stored in the memory of the host computer adapted
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`to manage the mesh communication network that is adapted
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`(63)Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/779,429,
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`to vary the frequency mode of at least portions of the mesh
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`filed on Feb. 13, 2004.
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`communication network between a fixed frequency mode
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`(60)Provisional application No. 60/447,815, filed on Feb.
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`and a frequency hopping spread spectrum mode to enhance
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`network performance.
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`14, 2003.
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`Emerson Exhibit 1008
`Emerson Electric v. Ollnova
`IPR2023-00626
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 1 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 2 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 3 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 4 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 5 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 6 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 8 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 9 of 11
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`ELECTRO METER
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 10 of 11
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 8, 2005 Sheet 11 of 11
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`US 2005/0270173 A1
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`N747E AOLLINe.
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`DETERMINE METWORKSTRUMOTLWRE
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`103
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`sELECT FIXED FREQUENCy MODE.
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`US 2005/0270173 A1
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`Dec. 8, 2005
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`AUTOMATED METER READING SYSTEM,
`COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL NETWORK
`FOR AUTOMATED METER READING, METER
`DATA COLLECTOR PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND
`ASSOCATED METHODS
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`0001. This application is a continuation-in-part of and
`claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/779,
`429 filed on Feb. 13, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S.
`application Ser. No. 60/447,815, filed on Feb. 14, 2003, both
`of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
`entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND
`0002) 1. Field of the Invention
`0003. The present invention relates in general to the field
`of utility meters. More particularly, the present invention
`relates to Systems, automated equipment, networks, program
`products, and related methods for remote reading of utility
`meterS.
`0004 2. Description of Related Art
`0005 Utility companies and municipalities for many
`years have been burdened with the labor intensive and
`cumberSome task of manually collecting meter readings,
`managing data from the field into the accounting area, and
`managing the billing and collection of invoices. Typically
`each customer is provided with a mechanical utility meter
`for each individual Service provided, for example, a meter
`for water, a meter for Steam, a meter for gas, and a meter for
`electric power. A periodic reading of the utility meter is
`necessary to determine the usage and to bill the customer for
`the amount used. These meters are normally manually read
`using utility company or municipality employees physically
`Visiting each meter at the customer's location, reading the
`meter, and recording the previous month's usage into a
`written route book for delivery to accounting perSonnel. This
`proceSS is costly, is time consuming, and can involve various
`risks to perSonnel involved in manually collecting meter
`data. The process involves labor, motorized transportation,
`and numerous employee overhead-related costs. Once the
`readings from the meter are obtained, accounting perSonnel
`manually transfer the readings into a database for billing and
`collection of the invoices for Service.
`0006. Manually reading the meters often results in
`numerous other expenses including those related to human
`error. For example, a high bill caused by an incorrect manual
`read or estimated read often motivates customers to pay
`later, resulting in increased working capital requirements
`and corresponding expenses for the utility. Additionally, the
`utility has to handle the customer complaints (a call center
`cost) and may have to read the meter again to verify the
`error. AS the complaint progresses, the utility faces admin
`istrative costs associated with routing and processing the
`complaint from the call center to the meter department. An
`additional cost includes the potential loSS of a customer who,
`even after resolution, feels the process was Such an exces
`Sive burden as to prompt the customer to Switch utility
`providers.
`0007 Recently, hand-held reading units have been devel
`oped that typically provide a data collection unit attached to
`
`the consumer's utility meter having a data transmitter and
`data receiver. One methodology of hand-held “local” col
`lecting meter reading, Such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,559,894 by Lubliner et al. titled “Automated Meter
`Inspection and Reading” and U.S. Patent No. 5,856,791 by
`Gray et al. titled “Port Expander For Utility Meter Reading.”
`requires an operator having a meter or collection unit
`interrogation device to be in close physical proximity of the
`meter to obtain the meter reading and transport the data to
`a central computer. For example, in a radio drive-by or
`walk-by unit, a utility Service vehicle having a mobile
`receiver mounted in a Service vehicle or a utility worker
`having a hand-held unit passes by the customer's facility to
`receive the data from the meter. As the vehicle or hand-held
`unit passes near the electric meter, the receiver emits a signal
`to the collection unit, which causes the collection unit to
`transmit or Send its meter reading data to the receiver. This
`consumption data is then Stored and later entered into a
`billing System. This approach, however, Still requires the
`manual Visit to each meter location and time downloading
`the data to the billing system. Nevertheless, the physical
`meters can be read much more quickly which reduces
`manpower, vehicular, and Soft costs. Also, the data is trans
`ferred from the mobile receiver to the database, which again
`reduces manpower and data handling. This methodology
`also has a benefit to the customer of preventing intrusion into
`the customer's premises and improved accuracy of the
`reading. Realization difficulties can include prohibitive capi
`tal costs, i.e., vehicles, and Software and hardware require
`ments, and access to a reliable and cost-effective power for
`the individual radio transmitter in the individual meters.
`0008 Recently, automated meter reading has been devel
`oped. Automated meter reading has become more desirable
`than using meters that require manual reading and recording
`of the consumption levels. Automated meter reading con
`Sists of technologies and methods to remotely read a plu
`rality of electric meters, Such as a consumer base for an
`electric power Supply company, into a billing database by
`installing or utilizing fixed networks that allow billing or
`meter usage data to be transmitted without human interven
`tion to a host computer having the billing database. Auto
`mated meter reading produces many benefits. Several com
`panies, Such as Hunt Technologies, Schlumberger, CellNet,
`Itron, Amco Automated Systems, and Distribution Control
`Systems, have developed automated meter-reading units.
`For the utility, reading meters without Setting foot on cus
`tomer's property Substantially reduces risks associated with
`climbing over fences, Slipping on ice and Snow, dangerous
`animals, Snakes, and Spiders, and other types of risks which
`in turn, result in Significant Savings in liability insurance,
`disability benefits, and worker turnover/replacement. For the
`customer, reading meters without entering a customer's
`property provides a leSS intrusive Service and reduces crimi
`nal activity, Such as when a criminal manages to gain entry
`into a customer's property by posing as a meter reader.
`Moreover, the need for a higher frequency of meter reading
`is increasing, e.g., daily, hourly, or every 15 minutes, in
`order to take advantage of real time pricing. When utilities
`Such as gas, electricity, or water are most expensive to the
`customer, they are also correspondingly most expensive to
`the utility company. Also, the amount of data is increasing,
`due to the necessity to bill on more than just consumption,
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00013
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`US 2005/0270173 A1
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`Dec. 8, 2005
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`e.g., time of use. Thus, automated recording and reporting of
`the utility usage at customer Sites is rapidly replacing the
`manually read utility meters.
`0009. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,602 by Hammond
`et al. entitled “System and Method for Unified Telephone
`and Utility Consumption Metering, Reading, and ProceSS
`ing” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,988 by Cowell et al. entitled
`“Telephone Switched Network, Automatic Meter-Reading
`System Based Upon Service Address,” automated meter
`reading Systems can use a dial-up modem in the collection
`unit to dial a remote billing System and transmit its reading
`data via telephone lines. In the past, there has been on-site
`meter reading equipment having a modem capable of receiv
`ing telephone calls from a central office through the use of
`Special equipment located at the telephone company, and
`there has also been on-site meters with modems which were
`capable of placing telephone calls to the central office. In
`general, these Systems incorporate an auto-dial, auto-answer
`modem in each customer Site to receive interrogation signals
`from the telephone line and to formulate and transmit meter
`readings via the telephone line to the utility company. These
`Systems record information on utility usage and periodically
`dial into a central office to report the utility usage for
`recording and billing purposes. This methodology provides
`two-way communication and control between the meter and
`the central office. The modem shares the telephone line with
`the customer's normal usage, Such as incoming and outgo
`ing voice communications. Such sharing requires that the
`system be able to recognize when the telephone line is in
`use, and to delay demanding use of the telephone line until
`it is free. StepS must be taken to prevent the data commu
`nications System from interfering with other uses and to
`prevent other uses from corrupting the transmitted data.
`0010) A variation of this methodology includes using the
`power line as a carrier medium. This approach connects the
`meter through the power lines and relays the meter reading
`to the utility company over the power lines. This approach,
`however, can require a complicated infrastructure to be
`installed. Power lines operate as very large antennas and can
`receive a large amount of noise. Therefore, Signal-cleaning
`filters must be installed periodically along the power lines to
`attenuate the noise. These filters can be very expensive.
`Also, the connections often are at line Voltage, making it
`more dangerous and time consuming to install.
`0.011) Another problem with expanding the use of control
`Systems technology to Such distributed Systems are the costs
`asSociated with the Sensor-actuator infrastructure required to
`monitor and control functions within Such Systems. A more
`modem approach to implementing control System technol
`ogy is to install a local network of hard-wired Sensors and
`actuators along with a local controller. Not only is there the
`expense associated with developing and installing appropri
`ate Sensors and actuators, but there is the added expense of
`connecting functional Sensors and controllers with the local
`controller and the cost of the local controller. This method
`ology is also quite intrusive as the cables must be run to
`physically interconnect the various nodes in the network. An
`alternative variation includes interfacing the meter with a
`community cable television System. In addition to the high
`cost of installation, however, Such a System is not uSeable in
`areas without access to a cable System. Moreover, networks
`that are interconnected with cables are Subject to physical
`disruption of the cables.
`
`0012 Recently, wireless networks have been developed.
`These networks, typically installed in a point-to-point loop
`configuration, are used to collect information from and to
`disseminate information to individual nodes of the network.
`In conventional wireleSS networks using a point-to-point
`loop configuration, each node in the network is intercon
`nected and communicates with two neighboring nodes.
`Information or commands are passed from node to node
`around the point-to-point loop until they arrive at a master
`node. The master node is used to communicate information
`that is gathered to a central Station or to accept and distribute
`information received from a central Station throughout the
`network. These conventional wireleSS networks, however,
`have limitations. For example, because these conventional
`wireleSS networks generally have a point-to-point loop con
`figuration, when one node is disabled, the integrity of the
`entire network can be affected. Moreover, if the master node
`of Such a conventional network is disabled, the network can
`become isolated.
`0013. Other variations in methodology include using data
`channels in wireleSS telephone Systems to transmit usage
`data to a remote billing System via a wireleSS telephone
`network, Such as PCS, Satellite, or cellular. Other method
`ologies also include the use of low earth orbiting Satellites.
`Building, launching and maintaining a fleet of Satellites,
`however, is very expensive.
`0014. Yet another methodology includes the use of small
`RF transmitters. Because Systems having Sufficient range
`normally are Subject to regulations and licensing require
`ments that are prohibitively expensive, centralized wireleSS
`control systems for locally distributed devices using RF
`transmitters have not been widely utilized. Also, Systems
`that are sufficiently powerful to be used in widely distributed
`installations are unnecessarily expensive in Smaller instal
`lations. Additionally, there is limited availability of RF
`carrier frequencies and potential interference with other
`nearby Systems that might be operational.
`0015. In an attempt to address the metering data man
`agement needs of entities involved in energy distribution,
`automated meter reading Servers have been developed, Such
`as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,659 by Kelley et al. titled
`“Automated Meter Reading System.” Such automated meter
`reading Servers use an open, distributed architecture that
`collects, loads, and manages System-wide data collected
`from energy meters, and routes data automatically to
`upstream busineSS Systems. Although Such automated meter
`reading Servers may address Some meter data management
`concerns, these Systems Still fail to address communication
`concerns Set forth above with respect to collecting billing or
`usage data and transmitting the data to a control center
`having Such an automated meter reading Server.
`0016. In view of the foregoing, the Applicant has recog
`nized a need to automate and transform the process of
`metering electricity, gas, water, Steam, and the like, while
`reducing costs, adding Value, enhancing Service, and
`decreasing time of collection. Accordingly, Applicant has
`also recognized a need for control Systems technology to
`control Such distributed Systems and that provides the cus
`tomer with information to reduce costs and help the utility
`by reducing demand at peak hours. Applicant has further
`recognized a need for a fixed network automated meter
`reading Solutions that includes a multifunction data collector
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00014
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`US 2005/0270173 A1
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`Dec. 8, 2005
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`capable of transmitting meter readings for multiple meters to
`the control center and capable of relaying meter readings of
`other collectors.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0.017. In view of the foregoing, embodiments of the
`present invention advantageously provide an automated
`utility meter reading network System, utility meter data
`collector, and methods related to an automated data acqui
`Sition and energy management. Embodiments of the present
`invention also provide an automated meter reading network
`System that Supports bi-directional communications with a
`network of meter data collectors capable of collecting digital
`and analog input data, as well as providing functional
`control of various customer equipment via a digital output
`board or relay. Embodiments of the present invention advan
`tageously provide a distributed network System to collect
`and analyze utility usage data that includes Sensors inter
`faced with or connected to utility meters, which provide
`utility meter readings (utility usage data) to the meter data
`collectors. Embodiments of the present invention also
`include a remote automated meter reading control center
`including a host computer, e.g., a Server, for gathering and
`processing the utility usage data.
`0.018
`Advantageously, the meter data collectors can be
`located at a customer location, Such as, for example,
`mounted to a residence or other building Structure and can
`each be connected to all utility meters at a respected cus
`tomer location. The meter data collectors can monitor utility
`usage data through multiple digital or analog inputs and/or
`multiple encoded inputs, and can transmit that data to a host
`computer, preferably located at a utility's central office via
`a preferably 902-928 mega-hertz and/or 2.4 gigahertz com
`bination fixed frequency/frequency hopping mesh network.
`The meter data collectors can utilize a medium to high range
`radio frequency (RF) transceiver capable of communica
`tions of 1600 meters or approximately one mile with field
`host data collectors that connect the network to a wireless,
`cable, fiber, or telephony wide area network. The field host
`data collectors can reside at a municipality infrastructure
`level, Such as a Substation, pump Station, or municipal office.
`The field host data collectors can collect utility usage data
`from the Surrounding meter data collectors, intermediate
`collectors, and/or other field host data collectors, and can
`transmit, preferably in batch format, that utility usage data
`either when requested by the host computer or periodically
`at a predetermined interval.
`0.019 More specifically, an embodiment of the present
`invention provides an automated meter reading network
`System including at least one but preferably a plurality of
`utility meters, e.g., Water, gas, Steam, electric, and/or other,
`each located at each Separate customer Site. A plurality of
`Sensors are correspondingly each interfaced with and posi
`tioned adjacent a separate one of the plurality of utility
`meters to thereby Sense utility usage data from each of the
`plurality of utility meters. A plurality of meter data collectors
`are each preferably positioned adjacent one or more of the
`utility meters and in communication with one or more of the
`Sensors to collect the utility usage data. Each meter data
`collector can be configured to collect data from 20 metering
`inputs and can be upgraded with a digital output board for
`device control. An analog input module allows for monitor
`ing of customer equipment, providing municipalities the
`
`ability to create additional revenue Sources. For example, if
`equipped with the analog input module, each meter data
`collector can monitor air-conditioning performance points,
`Such as pressure and temperature. All metering data can be
`date and time Stamped, providing an accurate record of the
`exact day and time the customer's meters are read.
`0020 Each of the meter data collectors can include a
`radio frequency telemetry module to transmit the utility
`usage data. Correspondingly, each meter data collector can
`be positioned spaced apart from and in cross-radio fre
`quency communication with at least one other meter data
`collector to define and form a mesh communication net
`work. The meter data collectors can act as a repeater as well
`as a collection unit creating a communications network with
`Self-healing and Self-determining characteristics. Advanta
`geously, this network configuration creates its own infra
`Structure as additional meter data collectors are added to the
`mesh communications network. Further, advantageously the
`mesh network configuration can be divided into a plurality
`of radially expanding network levels whereby meter data
`collectors at a first network level would communicate with
`meter data collectors at a Second network level, and So on,
`through each network level.
`0021. The automated meter reading network system can
`also includes a plurality of field host data collectors, each
`positioned Spaced apart from the other ones of the plurality
`of field host data collectors and each in radio frequency
`communication with at least one but preferably a plurality of
`the meter data collectors, to request and collect utility usage
`data from the plurality of meter data collectors. The com
`bination of field host data collectors and the meter data
`collectors further define and form the mesh communication
`network. AS Such, each of the field host data collectors and
`the meter data collectors form an array of communication
`nodes having overlapping and interconnected coverage
`areas. This network configuration helps reduce line-of-Site
`communication problems between each of the plurality of
`communication nodes, beyond what would be possible if the
`mesh communications network were entirely wireleSS. The
`field host data collectors can reside at the municipality
`infrastructure level, Such as at a SubStation, pump Station, or
`municipal office, and can connect the mesh communications
`network to a wireless, cable, fiber or telephony WAN.
`Advantageously, each of the field host data collectors can be
`used as routers and repeaters, eliminating a requirement for
`an expensive infrastructure build-out. Advantageously, this
`configuration also allows for data transfer over varying types
`of network configurations between a host computer and the
`field host data collectors, including over the pre-existing
`public telephone networkS.
`0022. The field host data collectors can have either pass
`through or intelligent configurations. Intelligent field host
`data collectors can collect meter data from Surrounding
`meter data collectors or other host field data collectors and
`can transmit the data to the host computer either automati
`cally or when requested to do so. The pass-through field host
`data collectors can provide direct contact between Surround
`ing meter data collectors and the host computer, or an
`intermediate computer that is in communication with the
`host computer associated with the pass-through field host
`data collector. The field host data collectors have or can have
`access to a memory to Store and process the collected utility
`usage data. The utility usage data is preferably Stored in a
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00015
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`US 2005/0270173 A1
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`Dec. 8, 2005
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`database or consumption file, in batch format, to advanta
`geously enhance data processing and customer billing.
`0023 The host computer is generally located remote
`from the field host data collectors and most of the meter data
`collectors, and is positioned in communication with each of
`the field host data collectors and each of the meter data
`collectors, to provide instructions thereto. The host com
`puter is also in communication with the field host data
`collectors to request and receive the utility usage data. The
`host computer can analyze the utility meter or usage data to
`provide Services, Such as utility usage analysis, utility bill
`presentation via the Internet, historical utility data, utility
`leak detection, power outage detection, and current near
`real-time utility readings and usage. Providing the customer
`Such near real-time feedback on current energy usage and
`near real-time utility meter-read verification can advanta
`geously lessen billing disputes and reduce customer Service
`overhead costs. Advantageously, the host computer can also
`provide appliance control and community-wide message
`delivery.
`0024. The automated meter reading network system also
`includes a meter data collector program product, at least
`partially Stored in the memory of the host computer, that
`includes a Set of instructions adapted to manage the mesh
`communication network. The meter data collector program
`product is capable of querying each meter data collector and
`assigning the meter data collector a physical location based
`on the actual physical location with reference to other
`collectors or "nodes.' The meter data collector program
`product is adapted to vary the radio frequency mode
`between a fixed radio frequency mode and a frequency
`hopping spread Spectrum mode, to thereby enhance mesh
`communication network performance. The fixed radio fre
`quency mode advantageously provides for message broad
`casting acroSS at least portions of the network when not
`encountering Substantial network interference. The fre
`quency hopping Spread Spectrum mode provides the System
`an ability to circumvent Substantial network interference
`when encountering Such interference.
`0.025 Embodiments of the present invention also advan
`tageously provide a method of collecting utility meter usage
`data from a plurality of utility meters having utility meter
`Sensors in communication with a plurality of communication
`nodes forming a mesh network having a variable radio
`frequency mode. For example, a method according to an
`embodiment of the present invention includes determining a
`communication Sequence to each of the plurality of com
`munication nodes responsive to a determined Strength of a
`communication signal between each of the plurality of
`communication nodes to define a preferred communication
`Sequence path to each of the plurality of communication
`nodes from the host computer; and enhancing mesh com
`munication network performance by varying the radio fre
`quency mode of the network between a fixed radio fre
`quency mode and a frequency hopping spread spectrum
`mode. The fixed radio frequency mode can be, for example,
`Selected to provide message broadcasting acroSS at least
`portions of the network when not encountering Substantial
`network interference. The frequency hopping Spread Spec
`trum mode can be, for example, Selected to circumvent
`Substantial network interference when encountering Such
`Substantial network interference.
`
`0026. The method can also include the steps of: Switching
`the radio frequency mode of at least a portion of the network
`from a fixed frequency mode having a first frequency to a
`frequency hopping Spread spectrum mode having a plurality
`of the preselected frequencies, responsive to detection of
`network interference from a narrow-band noise Signal;
`determining a Second frequency not affected by the narrow
`band noise Signal, responsive to the frequency hopping, and
`Switching the radio frequency mode of the at least a portion
`of the network from the frequency hopping Spread spectrum
`mode to the fixed frequency mode having the Second fre
`quency. Additionally, the preferred communication
`Sequence path can be updated periodically to allow the
`preferred communication Sequence path to vary over time.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
`preferred communication Sequence path is Selected to maxi
`mize the number of communication nodes in the commu
`nications path for at least a portion of the mesh indication
`network and/or can be Selected to minimize network con
`gestion.
`0027 Embodiments of the present invention also advan
`tageously provide a computer readable medium that is
`readable by a computer collecting utility meter usage data.
`For example, a computer readable medium according to an
`embodiment of the present invention can include a set of
`instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the
`computer to perform the following operations: Sensing meter
`usage data from each of a plurality of utility meters posi
`tioned remote from each other, collecting utility usage data
`by each of a plurality of meter data collectors each posi
`tioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of utility meters,
`collecting utility usage data from the plurality of meter data
`collectors, Storing the collected utility usage data for each of
`the plurality of meter data collectors in a database of utility
`usage readings defining a consumption file associated with
`the plurality of meter data collectors and located in memory
`of a field host data collector; requesting the consumption file
`from the field host data collector by a host computer; and
`receiving the consumption file to thereby Store and process
`the collected utility usage data. The instructions can also
`include those for performing the operation of varying the
`radio frequency mode between a fixed radio frequency mode
`and a frequency hopping spread spectrum mode, to enhance
`mesh communication network performance. This can be
`accomplished by preferably Switching the radio frequency
`mode of at least a portion of the network back and forth, as
`necessary, from a fixed frequency mode having a single
`frequency or band to a frequency hopping spread spectrum
`mode having a plurality of the preselected frequencies/
`bands,