US5684472A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for remotely accessing meter status information in a meter reading system
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1996-05-08
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2016-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A meter reading system (10) for reading meter status information from meters (150) includes a meter reading device (15) for transmitting messages at a first data rate, i.e., a higher data rate, and at a second data rate, i.e., a lower data rate. Externally powered meter interface units (14) receive at least the messages transmitted at the higher data rate, and battery powered meter interface units (12) only receive the messages transmitted at the lower data rate.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald L. Bane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/002; G; G01; G01D; G01D4/00; G01D4/002; G01D4/006; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/06; G01F15/061; G01F15/063; G08; G08C; G08C17/00; G08C17/02; H04L; H04L25/00; H04L25/02; H04L25/0262; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A communication system for reading information, comprising: a transmitting device for transmitting messages at a first data rate and messages at a second data rate; externally powered receiving devices for receiving at least the messages transmitted at the first data rate; and battery powered receiving devices for receiving only the messages transmitted at the second data rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
A communication system for reading information, comprising: a transmitting device for transmitting messages at a first data rate and messages at a second data rate; externally powered receiving devices for receiving at least the messages transmitted at the first data rate; and battery powered receiving devices for receiving only the messages transmitted at the second data rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The communication system of claim 1, wherein: the communication system comprises a meter reading system; the information comprises meter status information read from meters; the transmitting device comprises a meter reading device; and the externally powered receiving devices and the battery powered receiving devices comprise externally powered meter interface units and battery powered meter interface units, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The communication system of claim 2, wherein the meter reading device comprises: a transmitter for transmitting, at the second data rate, a preamble that can be recognized by both the battery powered meter interface units and the externally powered meter interface units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The communication system of claim 2, wherein the meter reading device further comprises: a data rate detector for detecting channel activity at the first and second data rates; and a transmitter coupled to the data rate detector for transmitting the messages when there is no channel activity at either of the first and second data rates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The communication system of claim 2, wherein the battery powered meter interface units comprise: a receiver for receiving a signal; a data rate detector coupled to the receiver for determining whether the signal is transmitted at the second data rate; and a controller coupled to the data rate detector for recovering the messages from the signal only when the signal is transmitted at the second data rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The communication system of claim 5, wherein the battery powered meter interface units further comprise: a battery coupled to the controller for providing power thereto; and a meter interface coupled to a meter and the controller for gathering the meter status information for subsequent transmission to the meter reading device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The communication system of claim 2, wherein the externally powered meter interface units comprise: a receiver for receiving a signal; a data rate detector coupled to the receiver for determining whether the signal is transmitted at the first data rate; and a controller coupled to the data rate detector for recovering the messages from the signal when the signal is transmitted at the first data rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The communication system of claim 7, wherein the externally powered meter interface units further comprise: a meter interface coupled to a meter for gathering the meter status information for subsequent transmission to the meter reading device; and a power interface coupled to an external power source for receiving power therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication system of claim 7, wherein the externally powered meter interface units further comprise: detecting means for detecting whether the signal is transmitted at the second data rate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for remotely accessing meter status information in a meter reading system comprising a meter reading device, battery powered meter interface units, and externally powered meter interface units, the method comprising the steps of: the meter reading device transmitting messages at a first data rate and at a second data rate; the externally powered meter interface units detecting at least the first data rate and receiving at least the messages transmitted at the first data rate in response to detecting the first data rate; and the battery powered meter interface units detecting only the second data rate, and not the first data rate, and receiving only the messages transmitted at the second data rate in response to detecting the second data rate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for remotely accessing meter status information in a meter reading system comprising a meter reading device, battery powered meter interface units, and externally powered meter interface units, the method comprising the steps of: the meter reading device transmitting messages at a first data rate and at a second data rate; the externally powered meter interface units detecting at least the first data rate and receiving at least the messages transmitted at the first data rate in response to detecting the first data rate; and the battery powered meter interface units detecting only the second data rate, and not the first data rate, and receiving only the messages transmitted at the second data rate in response to detecting the second data rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: the externally powered meter interface units detecting the second data rate as well as the first data rate and receiving the messages at the first and second data rates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising, in the meter reading device, the steps of: receiving, prior to transmitting the messages, a signal; determining whether the signal is transmitted at any of the first and second data rates; not transmitting the messages at the first data rate when the signal is transmitted at the first data rate; and not transmitting the messages at the second data rate when the signal is transmitted at the second data rate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the messages comprises, in the meter reading device, the steps of: transmitting the messages at the first data rate only when there is no channel activity at the first data rate; and transmitting the messages at the second data rate only when there is no channel activity at the second data rate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising, in the externally powered meter interface units, the steps of: receiving a signal; determining whether the signal is transmitted at the first data rate; and recovering the messages from the signal in response to determining that the signal is transmitted at the first data rate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising, in the externally powered meter interface units, the steps of: determining whether the signal is transmitted at the second data rate; recovering the messages from the signal in response to determining that the signal is transmitted at the second data rate; and processing the messages.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising, in the battery powered meter interface units, the steps of: receiving a signal; determining whether the signal is transmitted at the second data rate; and recovering the messages from the signal in response to determining that the signal is transmitted at the second data rate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising, in the battery powered meter interface units, the steps of: determining that the signal is not transmitted at the second data rate, in response to which the messages are not recovered from the signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: the externally powered meter interface units gathering the meter status information in response to message reception; and the externally powered meter interface units transmitting the meter status information to the meter reading device at the first data rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the step of transmitting the meter status information comprises, in the externally powered meter interface units, the step of: transmitting the meter status information to the meter reading device at the first data rate only when there is no channel activity at the first data rate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: the battery powered meter interface units gathering the meter status information in response to message reception; and the battery powered meter interface units transmitting the meter status information to the meter reading device at the second data rate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of transmitting the meter status information comprises, in the battery powered meter interface units, the step of: transmitting the meter status information to the meter reading device at the second data rate only when there is no channel activity at the second data rate.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-03 | 2001-05-05 | 2001-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-03 | 2005-05-05 | 2005-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-03 | 2009-05-05 | 2009-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |