Utility meter readings on a reverse channel of a two-way paging system
US5883886A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S20/30
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A meter reading device (22) for wirelessly transmitting meter readings from a plurality of meters (30) includes a receiver (44) for receiving a synchronization signal (60), a clock (40) connected to the receiver, a wireless transmitter (46) connected to the receiver for transmitting meter readings in synchronization with the synchronization signal, and a microcomputer (32) pre-programmable to receive meter readings from the meter and to actuate the wireless transmitter at a different specific time for each of the meters. The transmitter transmits a radio frequency signal carrying only meter readings on a reverse channel of a two-way paging system (10) during a particular reverse channel time-slot (90) of a synchronous two-way paging protocol. A messaging terminal (18) of a the two-way paging system transfers signals carrying meter readings, along with time-slot identification, to a meter reading correlator (24) which correlates the signals with each of the meters based upon the time-slot identification alone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.