US6778099B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless area network communications module for utility meters
Assignee: Elster Solutions LLC
•
Filing: 1999-04-29
•
Granted: 2004-08-17
•
Expires: 2019-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A communications module that permits remote meter reading of a utility meter via a wireless modem that communicates using data packet networks along a communications system, such as ARDIS. The communications module is a microprocessor-based transmitter/receiver which receives data collection requests from a system server, initiates data collection from a utility meter, and reports the data back to a host computer system residing, for example, at a central office. Preferably, session-based communication using the meter protocol is implemented between the communications module and the meter, and packet switching is used between the communications server and the communications module through the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter R. Meyer
- 👤 Garry M. Loy
- 👤 David F. Dunn
- 👤 Rodney C. Hemminger
- 👤 Charles Cunningham, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; G; G01; G01D; G01D4/00; G01D4/002; G01D4/004; G01R; G01R22/00; G08; G08C; G08C17/00; G08C17/02; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/002; H04Q2209/00; H04Q2209/40; H04Q2209/60; H04Q2209/80; H04Q2209/82; H04Q2209/823; H04W; H04W24/00; H04W4/00; H04W4/18; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/12; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A metering system comprising: a meter comprising an option board having an isolated power supply and serial communications device; and a communications module for transmitting data between the meter and a host over a network, comprising: a connector coupled to the meter for receiving meter data from the meter via the serial communications device and providing said meter data to a controller; said controller for controlling the operation of the communications module and for converting said meter data into a plurality of data packets having a host protocol representing said meter data and host data and for providing said data to a radio modem; said radio modem for transmitting and receiving signals representing said meter data and host data to and from the host using said data packets and wireless packet switching along the network; a power supply coupled to the meter power supply, said controller, and said radio modem for supplying power to said controller and said radio modem; and an antenna coupled to said radio modem.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A metering system comprising: a meter comprising an option board having an isolated power supply and serial communications device; and a communications module for transmitting data between the meter and a host over a network, comprising: a connector coupled to the meter for receiving meter data from the meter via the serial communications device and providing said meter data to a controller; said controller for controlling the operation of the communications module and for converting said meter data into a plurality of data packets having a host protocol representing said meter data and host data and for providing said data to a radio modem; said radio modem for transmitting and receiving signals representing said meter data and host data to and from the host using said data packets and wireless packet switching along the network; a power supply coupled to the meter power supply, said controller, and said radio modem for supplying power to said controller and said radio modem; and an antenna coupled to said radio modem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The metering system according to claim 1 , wherein the module is connectable to a plurality of meters for multipoint meter reading.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The metering system according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory coupled to said controller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The metering system according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is adapted to detect at least one alarm condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The metering system according to claim 1 , wherein said host protocol is one of ARDIS RF and RAP.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The metering system according to claim 1 , wherein the communications module further comprises at least one capacitor coupled to the power supply for storing power to be used by said power supply during normal data transmission and during a power outage report transmission, the capacitor having a capacity to support said radio modem for normal data transmission and having a capacity to enable said controller and said radio modem to report a power outage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The metering system according to claim 1 , further comprising a power outage detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The metering system according to claim 7 , wherein said power outage detector is configured to alert the host of a power outage after a predetermined programmable time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The metering system according to claim 1 , wherein said antenna comprises a double-tapered dipole and a one-to-one balun.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The metering system according to claim 9 , wherein said antenna is internal, and the communications module further comprises an external antenna.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The metering system according to claim 10 , wherein said external antenna is one of a ground-plane antenna, an omni-directional antenna, a ¼-wave antenna, and a ½-wave whip antenna.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4833618A
Cited
US6172616B1
Cited
US5430430A
Cited
US5473322A
Cited
US5576700A
Cited
US5594740A
Cited
US5982862A
Cited
US6014089A
Cited
US5898387A
Cited
US5874903A
Cited
US5914672A
Cited
US6034623A
Cited
US6470083B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-08-17 | 2008-02-16 | 2008-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-17 | 2012-02-16 | 2012-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-17 | 2016-02-16 | 2016-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |