Telephonic communications – Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical... – Remote indication over telephone line
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-03
2001-12-25
Chan, Wing F. (Department: 2743)
Telephonic communications
Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical...
Remote indication over telephone line
C340S870020, C455S067150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333975
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to utility meters, and, more particularly, to systems with the ability to remotely communicate with and read utility meters
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are numerous types of commercial and industrial, intelligent utility meters, as well as other related monitoring and control devices, that are provided by numerous manufacturers. Each of these devices is generally provided with a communication protocol that is unique to the manufacturer. As such, any system that is implemented to remotely read the utility meters, as well as monitoring and control devices, must be able to accommodate the numerous communication protocols, or alternatively, replace the existing devices with devices having a communication protocol that is compatible with the remote communication and reading system.
Obviously, replacing existing devices with devices having a compatible communication protocol adds an extreme amount of additional cost to any remote meter reading system and, as such, is likely not feasible. As such, some proposals for automatic remote meter reading systems presume a certain communication protocol or suggest the retro-fitting of a utility meter to assume a certain communication protocol, e.g. RF communication. Others, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,575, suggest using multiple types of communication links, e.g. wires, coaxial cable, optical fiber, or RF link, to accommodate each communication protocol of each device. Changing the type of link for each communication protocol can make for costly, time-consuming installation and maintenance. Further the data collection system requires a complicated software package for recognizing the various communication signals and converting each of them to a useable format.
Therefore, there is a need for a remote meter reading system that can accommodate a plurality of communication protocols without requiring the replacement of existing equipment and that can simplify the data collection system by requiring it to recognize a single communication protocol.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The needs described above are in large measure addressed by a meter reading system of the present invention. The meter reading system preferably includes an external modem module (EMM), a hub and a data collection system. The EMM communicates with one or more utility meters and, as such, is preferably selected on the basis that it incorporates a communication format that is compatible with the communication format of the utility meter such that the utility meter does not require modification to be communicatively coupled to the EMM. The EMM obtains meter data from the utility meter and converts to a radio frequency communication format. The radio frequency formatted data is then transferred to the hub. The hub then translates the radio frequency data into an analog or digital telephone communication format, which is then transferred to the data collection system for use by the utility as desired, e.g. utility billing, tracking, control, etc. The data collection system need only recognize one communication format rather than attempting to accommodate numerous message formats such as wires, coaxial cable, optical fiber, or radio frequency.
The present invention also includes a method for collecting data from utility meters, where the utility meters have an identifiable communication format. The method includes the step of selecting an EMM on the basis that the EMM includes a communication format that is identical to the format of the utility meter. Also, the step of communicating with the utility meter via the EMM to obtain utility meter data. The step of translating the utility meter data into a first pre-established communication format, e.g. radio frequency format, if the communication format of the utility meter is not equivalent to the first pre-established communication format. The step of translating the data in the first pre-established communication format to a second pre-established communication format, e.g. analog or digital telephone communication format. And, the step of collecting utility meter data that is only in the second pre-established communication format.
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Brunn Brian T.
Lofstad Eric W.
MacConnell John W.
Maleysson Laurent
Chan Wing F.
Itron, Inc.
Patterson Thuente Skaar & Christensen P.A.
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