United States Patent (19)
`Cunningham et al.
`
`USOO6124.806A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`6,124,806
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`54
`(75)
`
`WIDE AREA REMOTE TELEMETRY
`
`Inventors: James D. Cunningham, Broken Arrow;
`Chris L. Schuermann, Sand Springs;
`Gregg G. Wonderly, Tulsa, all of
`Okla.; Keith D. Hollcroft; Donald I.
`Wallace, both of Overland Park, Kans.;
`John K. Holmes, Tulsa, Okla.
`
`ASSignee:
`
`Williams Wireless, Inc., Tulsa, Okla.
`
`Appl. No.:
`09/152,010
`Sep. 11, 1998
`Filed:
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 60/058,978, Sep. 12, 1997, and
`provisional application No. 60/094,057, Jul. 24, 1998.
`Int. Cl. ................................................... G08B 23/00
`340/870.02; 340/870.19
`U.S. C.
`Field of Search
`340/870.11, 870.03, 870.19, 825.06
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 340/870.02, 870.07,
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Wensley .................................. 340/151
`4,008,458 2/1977
`4.264,897 4/1981
`Farnsworth ....
`340/870
`4,296.411 10/1981
`Romanelli et al.
`340/870
`4,315,248 2/1982
`Ward ..............
`340/825
`4,350,980 9/1982
`Ward ...
`340/870
`4,388,690 6/1983
`Lumsden .
`. 364/483
`4,463,354 7/1984
`Sears .......
`340/870
`4,495,596
`1/1985
`Sciulli ........
`. 364/900
`4,614,945 9/1986
`Brunius et al.
`340/870
`4,646,084 2/1987
`Burrowes et all
`340/870
`4,654,662 3/1987
`Van Orsdel ....
`340/870
`4,692.761 9/1987
`Robinton ....
`340/825
`4,724,435 2/1988
`Moses et al. .....
`340/870
`Fitzemeyer et al. ..
`340/870
`4,749,992 6/1988
`455/617
`4,780,910 10/1988
`Huddleston et al. .
`4,799,059
`1/1989
`Grindahl et al. ...
`340/870
`Rouse et al. ...
`340/310
`4,804,938 2/1989
`4,811,011
`3/1989
`Sollinger ................................. 340/870
`4,817,131 3/1989
`through et al. ............... 3R.
`4,839,642 6/1989
`aZe all. ............
`4,850,010 7/1989
`Stanbury et al. .....
`379/107
`Thornborough et al.
`379/107
`4.866,761 9/1989
`Gastouniotis et al. ...
`340/870
`4,940,976 7/1990
`5,053,766 10/1991
`Ruiz-del-Portal et al.
`340/870
`Johnson et al. ......................... 340/637
`5,086.292 2/1992
`
`5,107,440 4/1992 Callahan et al. ........................ 364/492
`5,136,613 8/1992 Dumestre, III ............................. 375/1
`5,179,569
`1/1993 Sawyer ........................................ 375/1
`5,194,860 3/1993 Jones et al.
`... 340/370
`5,204,896 4/1993 Oliver .............
`... 379/106
`5,270,704 12/1993 Quintana et al.
`... 340/870
`5.432,507 7/1995 Mussino et al. ...
`... 340/870
`5,438,329 8/1995 Gastouniotis et al.
`... 340/870
`... 340,870
`5.448,230 9/1995 Schanker et al. ...
`5,451,938 9/1995 Brennan, Jr. ...
`... 340/870
`5,475.867 12/1995 Blum ...................................... 455/53.1
`5,481,259
`1/1996 Bane ....................................... 340/870
`5,485,150
`1/1996. Hisanaga et al.
`... 340/870
`5,491,473 2/1996 Gilbert .........
`... 340/870
`5,493.287 2/1996 Bane ...
`... 340/825
`5,495,239 2/1996 Ouellette .
`... 340/870
`5,523,751 6/1996 Byford et al. ..
`... 340/870
`5,528,507 6/1996 McNamara et al.
`... 364/483
`5,528,675 6/1996 Chen ...............
`... 379/106
`5,541,589 7/1996 Delaney ...
`... 340/870
`5,553,094 9/1996 Johnson et al. .
`340/870.03
`5,559,870 9/1996 Patton et al............................. 379/107
`5,590,179 12/1996 Shincovich et al.
`... 379/107
`5,602,744 2/1997 Meek et al......
`... 364/464
`5,617,084 4/1997 Sears ...
`... 340/870
`5,631,636 5/1997 Bane ...............
`... 340/825
`5,659,300 8/1997 Dresselhuys et al.
`... 340/870
`... 340,870
`5,659,303 8/1997 Adair, Jr. ............
`5,673.252 9/1997 Johnson et al.
`... 370/94.1
`5,684,472 11/1997 Bane ....................................... 340/870
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0629098A2 5/1994 European Pat. Off. ......... HO4O 9/00
`2613739 3/1976 Germany ......................... GO1B 7/30
`Primary Examiner Brian Zimmerman
`Assistant Examiner Timothy Edwards, Jr.
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Head, Johnson & Kachigian
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A wide-area remote telemetry System which monitors and
`controls remote devices by means of a information control
`System. The System uses a plurality of Sensor interface
`modules which constantly monitor devices for triggering
`events. The Sensor interface modules transmit information to
`at least one data collection module which gathers, process,
`Stores and transmits information to a host System via Stan
`dard external communication Systems. The host module
`receives, records, processes, and transmits information to
`h
`k. The inf
`hen b
`itted
`the network. The information may then be transmitte tO
`customers or may be accessed by customers as desired.
`
`
`
`2 Claims, 42 Drawing Sheets
`
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`Emerson Exhibit 1018
`Emerson Electric v. Ollnova
`IPR2023-00626
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 42
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`6,124,806
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 42
`
`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00003
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 42
`
`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 42
`Sheet 4 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00005
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet S of 42
`Sheet 5 of 42
`
`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00006
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 42
`Sheet 6 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`6,124,806
`
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`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00007
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 42
`Sheet 7 of 42
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`6,124,806
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 8 of 42
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`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 42
`Sheet 9 of 42
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`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00010
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 10 of 42
`Sheet 10 Of 42
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`6,124,806
`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00011
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00011
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 11 of 42
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`6,124,806
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 12 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`
`FG, 17
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`One rototion of the mognet in this configuration
`Open/Close indicotes the Stotus of the Contacts of the reed Switch
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00013
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 13 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`
`FG, 8
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`Used Second SensOr to detect tonpering
`Be Sure thCt the Second SenSOr COeSnOt
`detect the rotating magnet,
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00014
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 14 Of 42
`
`6,124,806
`
`FG, 9
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`PAN COnnection to Telemetry GoteWOy Vio
`short range spread spectrum transceiver
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`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00015
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 15 of 42
`Sheet 15 of 42
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`6,124,806
`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00016
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`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 16 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`
`Reset Interrupt mosk
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00017
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 17 Of 42
`
`6,124,806
`
`FG, 23
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00018
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Sheet 18 of 42
`Sheet 18 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`6,124,806
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`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00019
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00019
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 19 Of 42
`
`6,124,806
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`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 20 of 42
`Sheet 20 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`6,124,806
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00021
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00021
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 21 of 42
`
`6,124,806
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`6,124,806
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 26, 2000
`Sep. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 22 of 42
`Sheet 22 of 42
`
`6,124,806
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00023
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00023
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 23 of 42
`
`6,124,806
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`FG, 29
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00024
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 24 of 42
`
`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00025
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 25 of 42
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`6,124,806
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00026
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`IPR2023-00626 Page 00027
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 26, 2000
`
`Sheet 27 of 42
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`6,124,806
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`1
`WIDE AREA REMOTE TELEMETRY
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`The present application is related to U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application Ser. No. 60/058,978, filed Sep. 12, 1997,
`entitled WIDE AREA REMOTE TELEMETRY and U.S.
`Provisional Patent Application No. 60/094,057, filed Jul. 24,
`1998, entitled WIDE AREA REMOTE TELEMETRY,
`which are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention is directed to the fields of automatic
`meter reading of electric, gas, water meters and other
`Systems, automatic reading of flow data, monitoring of Such
`usage, and distribution of information thereon.
`The need for near real-time information is becoming
`critical to the efficient operation of many types of industries.
`This invention addresses a need for information from remote
`monitoring locations. This disclosure will center on pre
`ferred embodiments of a monitoring System for the electrical
`and gas utility industry, although this monitoring System
`could be used for other areas Such as gas pipeline metering,
`pipeline monitoring, water System monitoring, Security
`Systems, vending machines, energy control devices, or other
`areas where remote monitoring is necessary.
`The need for near real-time information from remote
`locations is becoming more pronounced due to the deregu
`lation of Several industries. For the utility industries, deregu
`lation means an increase in competition which demands
`increased efficiencies in the utility Systems. These increased
`efficiencies require better information about, and better
`control over, the Systems involved. Increased efficiency
`heightens the need for near real-time information monitor
`ing. Thus, the utilities need the ability to obtain near
`real-time information on consumer demand, Supply, and
`overall System operations.
`AS an example, electric utilities need this information to
`balance the generation of electricity against consumer
`demand, and to operate the transmission System as effi
`ciently as possible.
`In general, electricity is generated at a generating plant,
`transformed for transmission over distances, and trans
`formed again for the distribution to customers. The deregu
`lation of the electrical utility industry will require innovative
`Solutions to balance the generated electrical Supply against
`the consumer demand for electricity. These solutions will
`require a reduction in the System costs, by increasing the
`System efficiencies, to match the competition levels of the
`deregulated industry. An increase in the electrical transmis
`Sion System efficiency will require access to remotely
`located consumer-usage information to enable the utilities to
`eliminate the excessive generation of electricity. Thus,
`increasing the System efficiency will require the utility to
`reduce excessive generation and balance the amount of
`generated electricity against the consumer demand.
`The onset of deregulation of the electrical utility industry,
`and other similar industries, will result in unbundling of
`utility operations and Segmenting of the marketplace.
`Deregulation will widen the gap between the Supplier and
`consumer and increase the competition in the industry. This
`widened gap and increased competition results in the for
`mation a new type of organization in the electrical utility
`industry called the independent Sales organization (ISO).
`
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`The ISO will operate as an intermediary between the elec
`trical generating facilities and the consumers by buying
`generated electricity, transmitting it from the generating
`location to the consumer area, and reselling the electricity to
`the consumers.
`Bulk users of electricity will generally have more nego
`tiating power in the purchasing of electricity. To take advan
`tage of bulk rates, local consumerS may join together to form
`a distribution pool which has associated demand levels and
`other characteristics. These distribution pools of customers
`will compare prices for electricity and purchase electricity
`from the lowest cost supplier or ISO. Because of varying
`electricity prices, the electricity bought and sold by an ISO
`for use in a particular distribution pool of customers, Such as
`Tulsa, Okla., may actually be generated in remote locations,
`Such as Colorado on one day and in Florida on the next.
`Thus, potential problems will arise in balancing the
`generation, transmission, and usage of the nation's electrical
`transmission system. To avoid these problems, the ISO will
`need increased access to information in order to predict
`customer demand, purchase electricity, and resell the elec
`tricity to the consumer.
`The present invention is additionally capable of providing
`a number of Services to energy users Such as energy usage
`analysis, energy management Services, Internet inquiry
`Services, and billing Services.
`2. Prior Art
`Systems and methods for monitoring various types of
`meters, and collecting information to a centralized location
`are widely described in the prior art. Examples of these
`Systems can be seen in the following patents:
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,976, issued to Gastouniotis et al. on
`Jul. 10, 1990 describing an AUTOMATED REMOTE
`WATER METER READOUT SYSTEM, U.S. Pat. No.
`5,053,766, issued to Ruiz-del-Portal et al. on Oct. 1, 1991
`describing a TELEMETERING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRI
`CAL POWER CONSUMED BY VARIOUS USERS; U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,451,938, issued to Brennan, Jr. on Sep. 19, 1995
`describing a RF METER READING SYSTEM; U.S. Pat.
`No. 5,475.867, issued to Blum on Dec. 12, 1995 describing
`a DISTRIBUTED SUPERVISORY CONTROLAND DATA
`ACOUISITION SYSTEM; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,252,
`issued to Johnson et al. on Sep. 30, 1997 describing a
`COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL FOR REMOTE DATA
`GENERATING STATIONS. A brief discussion of these
`various examples is outlined in the following discussion.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,976, issued to Gastouniotis et al. on
`Jul. 10, 1990 describes an AUTOMATED REMOTE
`WATER METER READOUT SYSTEM. This system cre
`ates a periodic electrical Signal whose frequency is propor
`tional to the flow rate. This signal is Stored into a Solid State
`counter from which this information is transmitted to a
`remote receiver by a Standard radio frequency telemetry
`link. The receiver stores the information for multiple meters
`and periodically sends the data to the data processing office
`by means of a telephone line, CATV cable, or RF link. The
`transmitting link between the Solid State counter and the
`remote receiver occurs every time the flow counter is
`incremented as well as periodically whenever a timer gen
`erates a pulse.
`The Gastouniotis et al. 976 patent uses Sensing and
`transmitting units which both randomly and periodically
`Sends one burst of consumption data at times throughout the
`day to the receiving interface unit for the area. This data is
`then accumulated in memory which is disgorged to the
`central billing site either periodically or on demand. This
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00044
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`

`

`15
`
`3
`System teaches away from the use of multiple transmission
`to assure Successful information transmittal. This System
`does not disclose any method for Signal verification of the
`transmission from the Sensing and transmitting unit. In
`addition, this System teaches an inefficient method of double
`counting the usage information and then dividing it before
`transmitting.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,766, issued to Ruiz-del-Portal et al. on
`Oct. 1, 1991 describes a TELEMETERING SYSTEM FOR
`ELECTRICAL POWER CONSUMED BY VARIOUS
`USERS. This system monitors consumer power usage from
`meters with disk revolution indicators of power consump
`tion by utilizing a pulse generator, light generating LEDs,
`light and dark regions on the revolving disk, and Sensors
`which monitor the passage of the light and dark regions of
`the revolving disk. The System detects and monitors disk
`revolutions and uses a Sending means for transmitting a
`consumption signal to a meter concentrator, and a means for
`communicating the information acquired into a central com
`puter.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,938, issued to Brennan, Jr. on Sep.19,
`1995 describes a RF METER READING SYSTEM. Bren
`nan 938 collects data from the meter and stores the data for
`transmission. At preselected pseudorandom timing intervals,
`the transmitter encodes the data, creates a Synch Signal, Start
`Signal, message Signal, and a verification signal. The RF
`transmitter Sends the information signals to the RF receiver
`which identifies the Start Signal, receives the transmission,
`and Verifies the accuracy of the transmission.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,867, issued to Blum. on Dec. 12, 1995
`describes a DISTRIBUTED SUPERVISORY CONTROL
`AND DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM. This system is
`designed to overcome the inherent problems in short range
`radio broadcast communication by using Supplemental con
`trollers to enhance the transmission and control range of
`master controllers. Supplemental controllers are placed
`within the range of the master controller, but are capable of
`broadcasting to Supplemental remote terminal units outside
`of the master controller's range. The Supplemental controller
`transmits messages from the master controller to the Supple
`mental remote terminal units, and relayS responses from the
`Supplemental remote terminal units. This allows for the
`Supplemental remote control units to be placed outside the
`normal broadcast range of the master controller and, thus,
`extend the operating range of the master controller.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,252, issued to Johnson et al. on Sep.
`30, 1997 describes a COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL
`FOR REMOTE DATA GENERATING STATIONS. This
`System is used to gather information and transmit the
`gathered information to a central location. Specifically, this
`system uses a Network Service Module (NSM) which
`communicates with a Remote Cell Node (RCN). The RCN
`communicates through an optional Intermediate Data Ter
`minal (IDT) to get information to a Central Data Terminal
`(CDT). As an alternative to the separate IDT, the IDT
`functions may be implemented by the CDT.
`In Johnson 252, the NSM is used to acquire information
`from utility meters, disconnect Service, manage load, or
`monitor for alarm conditions. The NSM includes a
`transmitter, processor, memory, antenna, and optionally
`includes a receiver. The NSM processor monitors, collects,
`and arranges acquired information into packets of data for a
`pre-determined monitoring Scheme and Stores the acquired
`data in memory. Once the NSM has acquired a period or
`65
`segment of data for the monitoring scheme, the NSM
`transmits all of the acquired data as a data packet. This
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`transmission takes place at a predetermined time period over
`a single frequency to the RCN. Alarm messages are not
`Stored into memory, but are immediately transmitted to the
`RCN. The NSM transmits and can receive information
`through this first frequency and can also receive information
`through a second carrier frequency. The NSM is designed to
`utilize a maximum of two frequencies which are controlled
`by the design of the unit.
`Johnson 252 collects information through the RCN
`which receives, stores, and processes the NSM signals. The
`RCN includes a transmitter, receiver, processor, memory,
`and antenna. The RCN receives the NSM data packets and
`temporarily stores them in memory. The RCN then collates
`the information, identifies duplicates of NSM data packets
`already transmitted by other RCN modules and acknowl
`edged by IDT modules, and deletes the duplicate NSM data
`packets from its memory. The RCN transmits its collated
`information as a single packet of RCN information when
`polled by the IDT and deletes the stored information upon
`acknowledgement of the transmission by the IDT.
`Johnson 252 either uses an IDT or a CDT which per
`forms the functions of an IDT. The IDT includes a
`transmitter, processor, memory, and receiver. The IDT trans
`mits a polling signal to the RCNs, receives the RCN
`information, transmits an acknowledgment of the receipt of
`the RCN information, and stores the RCN information in
`memory. The IDT collates the RCN information and deletes
`any duplicate NSM data packets to form IDT information
`which is sent to the CDT.
`The Johnson 252 CDT element includes a transmitter,
`receiver, processor, and memory. The CDT receives IDT
`information and deletes any duplicate NSM data packets.
`The CDT then processes and stores the received informa
`tion.
`The prior art as evidenced by the described patents suffers
`from excessive duplicate information transmission, required
`polling for Second layer information retrieval, being overly
`complicated, and having excessive parts which are Suscep
`tible to failure. Further, the systems disclosed in the patents
`do not appear to maintain temporary duplicate information
`at efficient levels for transmission failures and other System
`problems.
`Hence, there remains a need for a simplified remote
`Sensing information collection and information distribution
`System which addresses these and other problems.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The need for near real-time processed information on
`consumer utility usage which is available to the utility or
`other parties will require innovative Solutions to remote
`device System monitoring. An effective monitoring System
`can be developed through the use of a Sensor interface
`module, a data collection module, commercially available
`information transmission Systems, and a host module.
`The sensor interface module will constantly monitor
`individual customer demand and usage to gather information
`for the monitoring System. The Sensor interface module will
`Send this information to the data collection module over
`unlicensed radio frequency bands. The data collection mod
`ules will gather the information from Sensor interface mod
`ules or other inputs wired directly and transmit the infor
`mation to the host module over the commercially available
`information transmission Systems. The host module will
`gather, Store, and process the information from the Sensor
`interface modules as needed, and communicate through
`commercially available information transmission Systems to
`Send the processed information to the appropriate consumers
`as desired.
`
`IPR2023-00626 Page 00045
`
`

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`6,124,806
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`S
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the general monitoring
`System and the information flow from Sensor interface
`modules to a customer in a wide area remote telemetry
`System constructed in accordance with the present inven