Modular wireless fixed network for wide-area metering data collection and meter module apparatus
US7884737B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 2006 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S20/30
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A one-way direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications wide-area network is the data collection channel (uplink) of an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, and a paging network, or other suitable communication channel is the optional forward (downlink) channel. The communications network may include one-way meter modules (transmitters) each communicatively coupled to a corresponding electric, gas or water utility meter, and may include two-way meter modules (transceivers) each coupled to such a corresponding utility meter. The meter modules monitor, store, encode and periodically transmit metering data via radio signals (air messages) in an appropriate RF channel. Metering data air messages are collected by a network of receiver Base Stations (BS) and forwarded to a Data Operations Center (DOC), which acts as a metering data gateway. The reception range of each base station is typically over 5 miles in urban areas, allowing sparse infrastructure deployment for a wide variety of metering data collection applications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.