WO2008033287A2 - Home area networking (han) with handheld for diagnostics - Google Patents

Home area networking (han) with handheld for diagnostics Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008033287A2
WO2008033287A2 PCT/US2007/019614 US2007019614W WO2008033287A2 WO 2008033287 A2 WO2008033287 A2 WO 2008033287A2 US 2007019614 W US2007019614 W US 2007019614W WO 2008033287 A2 WO2008033287 A2 WO 2008033287A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
devices
end devices
portable device
metering system
communications
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2007/019614
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2008033287A3 (en
Inventor
Michael T. Garrison Stuber
John E. Buffington
Original Assignee
Itron, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Itron, Inc. filed Critical Itron, Inc.
Priority to CA2662363A priority Critical patent/CA2662363C/en
Priority to MX2009002800A priority patent/MX2009002800A/en
Publication of WO2008033287A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008033287A2/en
Publication of WO2008033287A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008033287A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01DMEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D4/00Tariff metering apparatus
    • G01D4/002Remote reading of utility meters
    • G01D4/006Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/66Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02BCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B90/00Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02B90/20Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04SSYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S20/00Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
    • Y04S20/30Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Definitions

  • the present technology relates to utility meter communication networks.
  • the present technology relates to apparatus and methodologies for providing portable communications between communications system coupled components in an Advanced Metering System (AMS).
  • AMS Advanced Metering System
  • the general object of metrology is to monitor one or more selected physical phenomena to permit a record of monitored events.
  • Such basic purpose of metrology can be applied to a variety of metering devices used in a number of contexts.
  • One broad area of measurement relates, for example, to utility meters.
  • Such role may also specifically include, in such context, the monitoring of the consumption or production of a variety of forms of energy or other commodities, for example, including but not limited to, electricity, water, gas, or oil.
  • More particularly concerning electricity meters mechanical forms of registers have been historically used for outputting accumulated electricity consumption data. Such an approach provided a relatively dependable field device, especially for the basic or relatively lower level task of simply monitoring accumulated kilowatt-hour consumption.
  • Electricity meters typically include input circuitry for receiving voltage and current signals at the electrical service. Input circuitry of whatever type or specific design for receiving the electrical service current signals is referred to herein generally as current acquisition circuitry, while input circuitry of whatever type or design for receiving the electrical service voltage signals is referred to herein generally as voltage acquisition circuitry.
  • Electricity meter input circuitry may be provided with capabilities of monitoring one or more phases, depending on whether monitoring is to be provided in a single or multiphase environment. Moreover, it is desirable that selectively configurable circuitry may be provided so as to enable the provision of new, alternative or upgraded services or processing capabilities within an existing metering device. Such variations in desired monitoring environments or capabilities, however, lead to the requirement that a number of different metrology configurations be devised to accommodate the number of phases required or desired to be monitored or to provide alternative, additional or upgraded processing capability within a utility meter.
  • ANSI C12.22 is the designation of the latest subclass of the ANSI C12.xx family of Meter Communication and Data standards presently under development.
  • Presently defined standards include ANSI C12.18 relating to protocol specifications for Type 2 optical ports; ANSI C12.19 relating to Utility industry Meter Data Table definitions; and ANSI C12.21 relating to Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) transport of C12.19 Data Tables definition.
  • POTS Plain Old Telephone Service
  • C12.22 As a standard protocol, that, at least at the time of filing the present application, such protocol is still being developed so that the present disclosure is actually intended to describe an open protocol that may be used as a communications protocol for networked metrology and is referred to for discussion purposes as the C12.22 standard or C12.22 protocol.
  • C12.22 provides for a common application layer for metering devices.
  • Benefits of using such a standard include the provision of: a methodology for both session and session less communications; common data encryption and security; a common addressing mechanism for use over both proprietary and nonproprietary network mediums; interoperability among metering devices within a common communication environment; system integration with third- party devices through common interfaces and gateway abstraction; both 2-way and 1-way communications with end devices; and enhanced security, reliability and speed for transferring meter data over heterogeneous networks.
  • Internet providers depend on the use of open protocols to provide e-mail service. E-mails are sent and received as long as e- mail addresses are valid, mail boxes are not full, and communication paths are functional. Most e-mail users have the option of choosing among several internet providers and several technologies, from dial-up to cellular to broadband, depending mostly on the cost, speed, and mobility.
  • the e-mail addresses are in a common format, and the protocols call for the e-mail to be carried by communication carriers without changing the e-mail.
  • the open protocol laid out in the ANSI C.12.22 standard provides the same opportunity for meter communications over networks.
  • AMS Advanced Metering System
  • AMS Advanced Metering System
  • the present technology provides for the use of a handheld or portable device to provide communications with various residential or customer premises metrology devices.
  • One positive aspect of this type of arrangement is that on site message delivery and retrieval can be achieve with differing low level transport layers by using a common network node as a communications relay for other nodes.
  • Another positive aspect of this communication methodology is that it improves opportunities to respond to exception reports from end devices where such responses require on site visits.
  • One exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter relates to an advanced metering system, comprising a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, with such network configured for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices, and with selected of such end devices configured to accumulate utility consumption data; and a portable device configured for local bi-directional communications with selected of such plurality of end devices. Additional details as referenced herein may be used in further alternative present combinations for providing further exemplary embodiments of a present advanced metering system.
  • Such exemplary methodology relates to a method for providing local communications to node devices within a network.
  • Such exemplary methodology may comprise establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices; configuring selected of the end devices to accumulate utility consumption data; and providing a portable device configured for local bidirectional communications with selected of the plurality of end devices.
  • Still further alternatives of such present exemplary embodiment may variously include additional features and/or steps, such as further disclosed herein.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram overview illustration of an Advanced Metering System (AMS) in accordance with the present subject matter
  • Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary Advanced Metering System deployment incorporating various methodology aspects of the present subject matter
  • Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary meter incorporating interface features in accordance with the present subject matter.
  • the present subject matter is particularly concerned with an improved apparatus and methodology for providing portable communications capabilities with home area network connected network nodes.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram overview illustration of an Advanced Metering System (AMS) in accordance with the present subject matter.
  • AMS Advanced Metering System
  • AMS 100 in accordance with the present subject matter is designed to be a comprehensive system for providing advanced metering information and applications to utilities.
  • AMS 100 is build around industry standard protocols and transports, and is designed to work with standards compliant components from third parties.
  • AMS 100 include meters 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 154, 156, 158; one or more radio networks including RF neighborhood area network (RF NAN) 162 and accompanying Radio Relay 172 and power line communications neighborhood area network (PLC NAN) 164 and accompanying PLC Relay 174; an IP based Public Backhaul 180; and a Collection Engine 190.
  • Other components within AMS 100 include a utility LAN 192 and firewall 194 through which communications signals to and from Collection Engine 190 may be transported from and to meters 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 154, 156, 158 or other devices including, but not limited to, Radio Relay 172 and PLC Relay 174.
  • AMS 100 is configured to be transportation agnostic or transparent; such that meters 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 154, 156, 158 may be interrogated using Collection Engine 190 regardless of what network infrastructure lay in between. Moreover, due to this transparency, the meters may also respond to Collection Engine 190 in the same manner.
  • Collection Engine 190 is capable of integrating Radio, PLC, and IP connected meters.
  • AMS 100 uses ANSI C12.22 meter communication protocol for networks.
  • C12.22 is a network transparent protocol, which allows communications across disparate and asymmetrical network substrates.
  • C12.22 details all aspects of communications, allowing C12.22 compliant meters produced by third parties to be integrated into a single advanced metering interface (Ml) solution.
  • AMS 100 is configured to provide meter reading as well as load control / demand response, in home messaging, and outage and restoration capabilities. All data flowing across the system is sent in the form of C12.19 tables.
  • TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
  • UDP User Datagram Protocol
  • a Native Network Interface in accordance with the present technology provides access to the physical, i.e., native, network protocol from the C12.22 protocol stack in C12.22 Host applications.
  • the design includes a base class for reuse in development of the transport layer.
  • the main interface methods provide standard sessionless server and client methods for sending and receiving data although session-based communication may also be employed.
  • the base class also includes access to a standard logging mechanism, common instrumentation through Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and standard status and diagnostic reporting.
  • WMI Windows Management Instrumentation
  • a static method is used to load the transport layer assembly, transparently to the client application.
  • the transport layer assemblies may be configurable to include more control over incoming messages to accommodate variable length messages more efficiently, and provide a configurable security interface.
  • a first data collection methodology in accordance with the present subject matter allows AMR responses to be distributed randomly over time, thus optimizing the use of available AMR network bandwidth while avoiding advanced management techniques.
  • a handheld or portable device 280 may be provided for local collection of data.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates for exemplary purposes only a single RF LAN cell, with multiple member nodes organized into three levels, as well as four directly connected IP meters 270, 272, 274, and 276.
  • respective meter devices 210, 220, 230, 232, 240, 242, 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, 266, 270, 272, 274, and 276, Cell Relay 202, and Collection Engine 290 have C12.22 network addresses.
  • Collection Engine 290 may in accordance with the present subject matter have multiple C12.22 addresses to allow for separate addressing between different services (functionalities).
  • Meter (or master) data management system 292 is not part of the C12.22 network, but preferably it will be implemented so as to communicate over the Utility LAN 294 to Collection Engine 290 via Web Services. Communications between Cell Relay 202 and Utility LAN 294 variously involve Public Backhaul 298 and firewall 296, in a manner analogous to that discussed above in conjunction with Public Backhaul 180 and firewall 194 ( Figure I), as well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • a first exemplary meter data acquisition process begins with the Meter (or Master) Data Management System 292 initiating a request for data. Such operation is done through a web services call to Collection Engine 290 and may be performed without knowledge of the configured functionality of the end-device.
  • Collection Engine 290 analyzes the request for data, and formulates a series of C12.22 multicast (or broadcast) data requests. Such requests are then sent out either directly to the device (in the case of an IP connected meter, such as 270), or to Cell Relay 202 that relays the message out to all appropriate nodes. Broadcast and multicast messages are sent by Cell Relay 202 to all members of the cell, either via an AMS RF LAN-level broadcast, or by the Cell Relay repeating the message. For efficiency sake, the use of an RF LAN level broadcast may be preferred. [0046] Typically these requests are sent as a call to a manufacturer's stored procedure.
  • stored procedure calls are performed as writes to a predetermined table, "table 7."
  • the stored procedure will send the default upload configured for such device.
  • a given meter may be configured to upload two channels of hourly interval data, plus its event history.
  • Another meter might be programmed to send up its TOU registers.
  • the stored procedure will require four parameters to be fully operative in accordance with the present subject matter: data start time, data end time, response start time, and response end time.
  • the data start and end time are be used to select which data to send.
  • the response start time and end time are used to determine the window within which the upstream system wants to receive the data.
  • the various AMS enabled meters of Figure 2 are preferably field programmable, via C12.22 tables, as to the type data to be included in a default upload.
  • the response processing section can use the configured data about an end device and the response message from the end device to determine the results from the device.
  • the response processing section begins operation associated with a specific job in a task list, but can be switched between any active job that is awaiting a response.
  • Such operation allows responses that contain logs from the device to be parsed by each job that could be waiting for an action to be completed within the end-device.
  • Such also would allow unsolicited messages to be parsed by the IMA (Interface between Meter and Application) code and then later associated with any possible jobs, as determined by the IMA, all in accordance with the present subject matter.
  • IMA Interface between Meter and Application
  • the AMS meters will support chaining a series of C12.22 Extended Protocol Specification for Electronic
  • EPSEM Energy Metering
  • meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 may correspond to electricity meters in a meter group; meters 250, 254, 260, and 264 may correspond to water meters associated with meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 respectively and meters 252, 256, 262, and 266 may correspond to gas meters associated with meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 respectively.
  • electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 may include communications equipment that is constantly energized by way of the individual meters connection to a source of alternating current (AC) electricity.
  • Meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266, on the other hand, are not coupled to an AC source but rather their communications equipment may be supplied by way of an onboard battery power supply.
  • electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 form hubs for a home area network through which meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266 may communicate with Collection Engine 290 or other network nodes.
  • Such other network nodes may include other types of devices residing within a residence or customer premises include devices such as, but not limited to, appliances, display devices, and electronic control devices.
  • battery operated meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266 may be associated with the respective electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 so that communications between battery powered meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266 may be conducted with Collection Engine 290 by way of the respective electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 by providing in the electricity meters dedicated portions of memory configured to serve as "mailboxes" for the battery powered meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266.
  • a protocol stack for the RF LAN advantageously takes the message and constructs a node path for the message to take before actually transmitting the packet.
  • Such pre-constructed node path allows Cell Relay 202 per the present subject matter to push a message down through the tree of the cell without creating redundant radio messages.
  • Collection Engine 290 wants to do an on-demand read to gas meter 256, it starts by sending the message to Cell Relay 202.
  • Cell Relay 202 in turn sends out a transmission that will be heard by both respective electricity meters 210 and 220 (in the exemplary configuration of present Figure 2).
  • Meter 220 could go ahead and retransmit the message, but this wouldn't get the message to gas meter 256. Instead, it would simply waste bandwidth.
  • meters 210 and 220 With the node path provided to by the RF LAN protocol stack, meters 210 and 220 will hear the message, but per the present subject matter only meter 210 will retransmit the message. The retransmitted message of meter 210 will be heard by both meters 230 and 232, but only meter 232 will be in the node path, again meaning other parts of the cell (such as meters 250 and 252) won't receive a message that would be useless to them.
  • electricity meter 232 has contained there in dedicated storage space configured to operate as a mailbox for gas meter 256 as well as water meter 254 and possibly an oil meter (not illustrated) or other home area network devices including such as might be installed separately within a residence or customer premises.
  • the battery operated meters associated with electricity meter 232 in this case meters 254 and 256, are configured to "wake up" only periodically in order to save battery power
  • the mailbox in electricity meter 232 associated with gas meter 256 will store any message directed to gas meter 256's address until such time as gas meter 256 wakes up and checks its mail in its mailbox.
  • the mailbox may also store messages sent from the gas meter 256 or any other home area network device until such time as the message may be forwarded to Collection Engine 290 or other network address.
  • Register Board 320 will decrypt the message based on shared keys, and then respond to the request, encrypting it and returning it to the calling ApTitle either directly via the RF LAN (as the gas meter 256 is now awake) or by way of its mailbox for later delivery. In the case of the RF LAN, the message is simply forwarded to the next layer up in the cell. Messages are forwarded from one layer to the next until they finally reach Cell Relay 202, which relays it across the IP backhaul 298 to the communications server that initiated the transaction. [0060] With further reference to Fig.
  • Handheld or portable device 280 generally corresponds to a device capable of communicating directly with RF LAN connected components including Cell Relay 202 and meters 210, 220, 230, 232, 240, and 242.
  • handheld or portable device 280 may conduct communications using a radio frequency link established through onboard radio frequency transceiving equipment via antenna 286 as represented by double headed arrow 288 with, for example, meter 242.
  • Handheld or portable device 280 may also or alternatively communicate with meter 242 via direct electrical or optical coupling by way of communications port 244 associated with meter 242 or similar such communications ports associated with other network nodes (meters).
  • Handheld or portable device 280 may further be provided with an information display component 282 as well as a keypad or other operations facilitating control elements generally 284.
  • Information display component 282 may correspond to a liquid crystal display (LCD) or any other suitable type of display depending on the exact nature of the information to be displayed. It is anticipated that different types of portable devices may be provided with differing capabilities thus requiring different display capabilities as well as differing input or control capabilities via control elements 284.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • device 280 may be configured for onsite communications with and control of home area network devices.
  • device 280 may provide diagnostic capabilities to assist
  • service personnel in resolving problems or service requirements as may arise with home area network connected nodes.
  • service personnel installing or configuring water meter 264 or gas meter 266 for association with electricity meter 242 may employ device 280 to assign mailboxes in electricity meter 242 to water meter 264 and/or gas meter 266 as well as assign specific network addresses for any or all of the meters.
  • service personnel may read data (mail) from or send data to water meter 264 and/or gas meter 266 via previously established mailboxes associated with electricity meter 242.
  • communications may also be conducted by device 280 using electricity meter 242 as a relaying device with other devices coupled to a home area network established through electricity meter 242.
  • Such other home area network devices may include, but are not limited to, devices located within a residence or customer premises such as appliances, display devices, heating control devices, security devices and other devices as may advantageously be controlled over or communicated with via utility LAN 294.
  • meter 300 incorporates several major components including metrology 310, a register board 320 and one or more communications devices.
  • meter 300 may include an RF LAN Interface 330 and accompanying antenna 332 and a Zigbee Interface 340 and its accompanying antenna 342.
  • an Option Slot 350 may be provided to accommodate a third party network or communications module 352.
  • Metrology 310 may correspond to a solid-state device configured to provide an internal C12.18 blurt communications to register board 320. Communications within meter 300 is conducted via C12.22 Extended Protocol Specification for Electronic Metering (EPSEM) messages.
  • EPSEM Extended Protocol Specification for Electronic Metering
  • the meter register board 320 is configured to fully support C12.19 tables and C12.22 extensions. While all meter data will be accessible via standard C12.19 tables, in order to facilitate very low bandwidth communications, manufacturers tables or stored procedures are included which provide access to specific time-bound slices of
  • AMS enabled devices will process each request sequentially, allowing a series of operations to be handled in a single command, each building on the next, such that a read subsequent to a write would reflect the results of the request write. If a command in an EPSEM chain cannot be completed, remaining commands in the chain are rejected with appropriate error messages, per the present subject matter.
  • a respective device When a respective device receives a request, it evaluates the multi-cast address specified. If the device is a member of the multicast group, it responds to the request; otherwise, it discards it. Membership in different multicast groups is determined via use of C12.22 standard table 122.
  • On-demand reading per the present subject matter is similar to the Daily Meter Data Acquisition Process; however, rather than sending a broadcast or multicast request, the on- demand reading process in accordance with the present subject matter communicates directly to desired respective meters. Such process begins with a user initiated an on-demand read through an AMS User Interface, or through a web services call from an upstream system. Per the present subject matter, an orchestration layer of the Collection Engine 290 begins by evaluating the current system load of the communications substrate through which the respective device is connected. Requests for an on-demand read from a saturated cell may be rejected.
  • Collection Engine 290 determines that the request can be honored, it selects per the present subject matter an appropriate communication server within the Collection Engine, and submits the command to retrieve data from the device and return it.
  • the communications server forms a C12.22 table read request, encrypts it, and sends it to the device directly, if IP connected, or to Cell Relay 202 for RF LAN connected devices.
  • the Cell Relay software retrieves the message from the IP backhaul 298, and evaluates the message.
  • the destination address (in C12.22 terminology, the called ApTitle) may be stripped off to save bandwidth on the network, relying instead on the underlying RF LAN addressing scheme for delivering the message.
  • the Cell Relay software must also examine whether the destination ApTitle is still valid within the cell. If the destination ApTitle is no longer valid, the Cell Relay rejects the message, returning an error packet to the
  • Meter 300 may be variously configured to provide differing communications capabilities depending on whether the metrology is designed for electricity meters and thus has available a continuously available AC supply source or is configured as a battery operated device to be activated for communications sessions on an intermittent or scheduled basis to monitor water, gas or oil consumption.
  • one or more of GPRS, Ethernet, and RF LAN communications modules may be provided.
  • GPRS will allow meters to be IP addressable over a public backhaul and provide more bandwidth than the meter will ever require, but may incur ongoing subscriptions costs.
  • Ethernet connectivity can be used to bridge to third party technologies, including WiFi, WiMax, in-home gateways, and BPL, without integrating any of these technologies directly into the metering device, but with the tradeoff of external wiring and a two part solution.
  • Ethernet devices may be used primarily in pilots and other special applications; though they may be ideal for certain high- density RF-intolerant environments such as meter closets.
  • WAN connected meters may include an additional circuit board dedicated to WAN connectivity. This board will interface with meter 300 using EPSEM messages and Option Slot 350.
  • Option Slot 350 within meter 300 provides the advantage that it will make meter 300 available for integration with third party backhauls, such as PLC.
  • third party devices will need to include both a communications board and a C12.22 compliant relay to couple communications signals from the third party's proprietary network to an IP connection.
  • third parties could integrate meter 300 it into their own end-to-end solution.
  • the communications protocol between meter 300 and communications modules 330, 340, and WAN module or optional third part communications module 352 follow the C12.22 standards, allowing any third party to design to the standard and be assured of relatively straightforward integration.
  • Communication to the Collection Engine 190 is performed over an Internet Protocol connection.
  • the Wide-Area-Network is a fully routable, addressable, IP network that may involve a variety of different technologies including, but not limited to, GPRS, WiFi, WiMax, Fiber, Private Ethernet, BPL, or any other connection with sufficiently high bandwidth and ability to support full two- way IP communication.
  • GPRS GPS Service
  • WiFi Wireless Fidelity
  • WiMax Wireless Fidelity
  • While communications may be conducted through a firewall 194, it is not necessary that such be proxied, unless the proxy is itself a C12.22 node functioning as a relay between a private IP network and the public IP WAN.
  • local communications with meter 300 may be established via handheld or portable device 280 (Fig. 2) via RF LAN Interface 330, Zigbee Interface 340, or alternately via other methods or devices via Option Slot 350 mounted devices. Such other alternate methods may include optical or direct connections as previously noted.
  • the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Abstract

Disclosed are handheld or portable apparatus subject matters and associated methodologies for providing local communications to metrology devices within an Advanced Metering System (AMS). The metrology devices may be associated with AC supplied device that are configured with mailboxes for associated battery powered devices or with other home or customer premises area network devices. Battery powered metrology devices may include such as water, gas, and oil meters collocated with electricity meters. Communications between the handheld or portable device may be by way of direct wired or radio frequency connections for providing communications and diagnostic services for home area network coupled components in an Advanced Metering System.

Description

TITLE: HOME AREA NETWORKING (HAN) WITH HANDHELD FOR DIAGNOSTICS
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims the benefit of previously filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled "HOME AREA NETWORKING (HAN) WITH HANDHELD FOR DIAGNOSTICS," assigned USSN 60/845,058, filed September 15, 2006, and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present technology relates to utility meter communication networks.
More particularly, the present technology relates to apparatus and methodologies for providing portable communications between communications system coupled components in an Advanced Metering System (AMS).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The general object of metrology is to monitor one or more selected physical phenomena to permit a record of monitored events. Such basic purpose of metrology can be applied to a variety of metering devices used in a number of contexts. One broad area of measurement relates, for example, to utility meters. Such role may also specifically include, in such context, the monitoring of the consumption or production of a variety of forms of energy or other commodities, for example, including but not limited to, electricity, water, gas, or oil. [0004] More particularly concerning electricity meters, mechanical forms of registers have been historically used for outputting accumulated electricity consumption data. Such an approach provided a relatively dependable field device, especially for the basic or relatively lower level task of simply monitoring accumulated kilowatt-hour consumption. [0005] The foregoing basic mechanical form of register was typically limited in its mode of output, so that only a very basic or lower level metrology function was achieved. Subsequently, electronic forms of metrology devices began to be introduced, to permit relatively higher levels of monitoring, involving different forms and modes of data.
[0006] In the context of electricity meters specifically, for a variety of management and billing purposes, it became desirable to obtain usage data beyond the basic kilowatt-hour consumption readings available with many electricity meters. For example, additional desired data included rate of electricity consumption, or date and time of consumption (so-called "time of use" data). Solid state devices provided on printed circuit boards, for example, utilizing programmable integrated circuit components, have provided effective tools for implementing many of such higher level monitoring functions desired in the electricity meter context.
[0007] In addition to the beneficial introduction of electronic forms of metrology, a variety of electronic registers have been introduced with certain advantages. Still further, other forms of data output have been introduced and are beneficial for certain applications, including wired transmissions, data output via radio frequency transmission, pulse output of data, and telephone line connection via such as modems or cellular linkups. [0008] The advent of such variety and alternatives has often required utility companies to make choices about which technologies to utilize. Such choices have from time to time been made based on philosophical points and preferences and/or based on practical points such as, training and familiarity of field personnel with specific designs. [0009] Another aspect of the progression of technology in such area of metrology is that various retrofit arrangements have been instituted. For example, some attempts have been made to provide basic metering devices with selected more advanced features without having to completely change or replace the basic meter in the field. For example, attempts have been made to outfit a basically mechanical metering device with electronic output of data, such as for facilitating radio telemetry linkages.
[0010] Another aspect of the electricity meter industry is that utility companies have large- scale requirements, sometimes involving literally hundreds of thousands of individual meter installations, or data points. Implementing incremental changes in technology, such as retrofitting new features into existing equipment, or attempting to implement changes to basic components which make various components not interchangeable with other configurations already in the field, can generate considerable industry problems. [0011] Electricity meters typically include input circuitry for receiving voltage and current signals at the electrical service. Input circuitry of whatever type or specific design for receiving the electrical service current signals is referred to herein generally as current acquisition circuitry, while input circuitry of whatever type or design for receiving the electrical service voltage signals is referred to herein generally as voltage acquisition circuitry.
[0012] Electricity meter input circuitry may be provided with capabilities of monitoring one or more phases, depending on whether monitoring is to be provided in a single or multiphase environment. Moreover, it is desirable that selectively configurable circuitry may be provided so as to enable the provision of new, alternative or upgraded services or processing capabilities within an existing metering device. Such variations in desired monitoring environments or capabilities, however, lead to the requirement that a number of different metrology configurations be devised to accommodate the number of phases required or desired to be monitored or to provide alternative, additional or upgraded processing capability within a utility meter.
[0013] More recently a new ANSI protocol, ANSI C12.22, is being developed that may be used to permit open protocol communications among metrology devices from various manufacturers. C12.22 is the designation of the latest subclass of the ANSI C12.xx family of Meter Communication and Data standards presently under development. Presently defined standards include ANSI C12.18 relating to protocol specifications for Type 2 optical ports; ANSI C12.19 relating to Utility industry Meter Data Table definitions; and ANSI C12.21 relating to Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) transport of C12.19 Data Tables definition. It should be appreciated that while the remainder of the present discussion may describe C12.22 as a standard protocol, that, at least at the time of filing the present application, such protocol is still being developed so that the present disclosure is actually intended to describe an open protocol that may be used as a communications protocol for networked metrology and is referred to for discussion purposes as the C12.22 standard or C12.22 protocol.
[0014] Much as HTTP protocol provides for a common application layer for web browsers, C12.22 provides for a common application layer for metering devices. Benefits of using such a standard include the provision of: a methodology for both session and session less communications; common data encryption and security; a common addressing mechanism for use over both proprietary and nonproprietary network mediums; interoperability among metering devices within a common communication environment; system integration with third- party devices through common interfaces and gateway abstraction; both 2-way and 1-way communications with end devices; and enhanced security, reliability and speed for transferring meter data over heterogeneous networks. [0015] To understand why utilities are keenly interested in open protocol communications; consider the process and ease of sending e-mails from a laptop computer or a smart phone. Internet providers depend on the use of open protocols to provide e-mail service. E-mails are sent and received as long as e- mail addresses are valid, mail boxes are not full, and communication paths are functional. Most e-mail users have the option of choosing among several internet providers and several technologies, from dial-up to cellular to broadband, depending mostly on the cost, speed, and mobility. The e-mail addresses are in a common format, and the protocols call for the e-mail to be carried by communication carriers without changing the e-mail. The open protocol laid out in the ANSI C.12.22 standard provides the same opportunity for meter communications over networks. [0016] In addition, the desire for increased processing capabilities as well as other considerations including, but not limited to, a desire to provide portable devices for conducting communications between communications system coupled components in an Advanced Metering System (AMS) that may include a variety of consumption monitoring devices, leads to requirements for supplying communications capabilities to a significant number of meters that may be installed over a significant area often encompassing many square miles and having various data transmission and communications capabilities. [0017] As such, it is desired to provide a universal metrology technology and associated methodology that permits transportation of communications within a metrology system including various types of metrology components including not only electricity meters, but also other types including water, gas, and oil. While various aspects and alternative embodiments may be known in the field of utility metering, no one design has emerged that generally encompasses the above- referenced characteristics and other desirable features associated with utility metering technology as herein presented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] In view of the recognized features encountered in the prior art and addressed by the present subject matter, an improved apparatus and methodology for providing portable communications capabilities with home area network connected network nodes has been provided. [0019] In an exemplary arrangement, a methodology has been provided to provide diagnostic capabilities for nodes (meters) coupled together over a home area network.
[0020] In one of its simpler forms, the present technology provides for the use of a handheld or portable device to provide communications with various residential or customer premises metrology devices.
[0021] One positive aspect of this type of arrangement is that on site message delivery and retrieval can be achieve with differing low level transport layers by using a common network node as a communications relay for other nodes. [0022] Another positive aspect of this communication methodology is that it improves opportunities to respond to exception reports from end devices where such responses require on site visits.
[0023] Yet another positive aspect of type of arrangement is that selected nodes may be able to be queried without the need for special programming from a remote data Collection Engine. [0024] One exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter relates to an advanced metering system, comprising a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, with such network configured for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices, and with selected of such end devices configured to accumulate utility consumption data; and a portable device configured for local bi-directional communications with selected of such plurality of end devices. Additional details as referenced herein may be used in further alternative present combinations for providing further exemplary embodiments of a present advanced metering system. [0025] Still further, it is to be understood that the present subject matter equally relates to associated methodology. One present example of such methodology relates to a method for providing local communications to node devices within a network. Such exemplary methodology may comprise establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices; configuring selected of the end devices to accumulate utility consumption data; and providing a portable device configured for local bidirectional communications with selected of the plurality of end devices. Still further alternatives of such present exemplary embodiment may variously include additional features and/or steps, such as further disclosed herein. [0026] Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth in, or will be apparent to, those of ordinary skill in the art from the detailed description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referred and discussed features and elements hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the present subject matter without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. [0027] Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, or the like.
[0028] Still further, it is to be understood that different embodiments, as well as different presently preferred embodiments, of the present subject matter may include various combinations or configurations of presently disclosed features, steps, or elements, or their equivalents including combinations of features, parts, or steps or configurations thereof not expressly shown in the figures or stated in the detailed description of such figures. Additional embodiments of the present subject matter, not necessarily expressed in the summarized section, may include and incorporate various combinations of aspects of features, components, or steps referenced in the summarized objects above, and/or other features, components, or steps as otherwise discussed in this application. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: [0030] Figure 1 is a block diagram overview illustration of an Advanced Metering System (AMS) in accordance with the present subject matter; [0031] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary Advanced Metering System deployment incorporating various methodology aspects of the present subject matter; and
[0032] Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary meter incorporating interface features in accordance with the present subject matter. [0033] Repeat use of reference characters throughout the present specification and appended drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] As discussed in the Summary of the Invention section, the present subject matter is particularly concerned with an improved apparatus and methodology for providing portable communications capabilities with home area network connected network nodes.
[0035] Selected combinations of aspects of the disclosed technology correspond to a plurality of different embodiments of the present subject matter. It should be noted that each of the exemplary embodiments presented and discussed herein should not insinuate limitations of the present subject matter. Features or steps illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used in combination with aspects of another embodiment to yield yet further embodiments. Additionally, certain features may be interchanged with similar devices or features not expressly mentioned which perform the same or similar function.
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the subject home area network communications methodology and apparatus. Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a block diagram overview illustration of an Advanced Metering System (AMS) in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0037] Advanced Metering System (AMS) 100 in accordance with the present subject matter is designed to be a comprehensive system for providing advanced metering information and applications to utilities. AMS 100 is build around industry standard protocols and transports, and is designed to work with standards compliant components from third parties.
[0038] Major components of AMS 100 include meters 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 154, 156, 158; one or more radio networks including RF neighborhood area network (RF NAN) 162 and accompanying Radio Relay 172 and power line communications neighborhood area network (PLC NAN) 164 and accompanying PLC Relay 174; an IP based Public Backhaul 180; and a Collection Engine 190. Other components within AMS 100 include a utility LAN 192 and firewall 194 through which communications signals to and from Collection Engine 190 may be transported from and to meters 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 154, 156, 158 or other devices including, but not limited to, Radio Relay 172 and PLC Relay 174. [0039] AMS 100 is configured to be transportation agnostic or transparent; such that meters 142, 144, 146, 148, 152, 154, 156, 158 may be interrogated using Collection Engine 190 regardless of what network infrastructure lay in between. Moreover, due to this transparency, the meters may also respond to Collection Engine 190 in the same manner.
[0040] As illustrated in Fig. 1 , Collection Engine 190 is capable of integrating Radio, PLC, and IP connected meters. To facilitate this transparency, AMS 100 uses ANSI C12.22 meter communication protocol for networks. C12.22 is a network transparent protocol, which allows communications across disparate and asymmetrical network substrates. C12.22 details all aspects of communications, allowing C12.22 compliant meters produced by third parties to be integrated into a single advanced metering interface (Ml) solution. AMS 100 is configured to provide meter reading as well as load control / demand response, in home messaging, and outage and restoration capabilities. All data flowing across the system is sent in the form of C12.19 tables. The system provides full two-way messaging to every device; however, many of its functions may be provided through broadcast or multicast messaging and session-less communications. [0041] In accordance with the present subject matter, the disparate and asymmetrical network substrates may be accommodated by way of a native network interface having the capability to plug in different low level transport layers using .NET interfaces. In accordance with an exemplary configuration, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) may be employed and the remainder of the present discussion is directed to such a choice of transport layer. It should be appreciated, however, that TCP/IP is not the only such low level transport layer protocol available and that other protocols such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) may be used. [0042] A Native Network Interface in accordance with the present technology provides access to the physical, i.e., native, network protocol from the C12.22 protocol stack in C12.22 Host applications. The design includes a base class for reuse in development of the transport layer. The main interface methods provide standard sessionless server and client methods for sending and receiving data although session-based communication may also be employed. The base class also includes access to a standard logging mechanism, common instrumentation through Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and standard status and diagnostic reporting. A static method is used to load the transport layer assembly, transparently to the client application. The transport layer assemblies may be configurable to include more control over incoming messages to accommodate variable length messages more efficiently, and provide a configurable security interface.
[0043] While data collection can be addressed by scheduling AMR nodes to connect at different times or by contacting AMR nodes individually, such a methodology would require a significant amount of time as well as a great deal of program management. A first data collection methodology in accordance with the present subject matter allows AMR responses to be distributed randomly over time, thus optimizing the use of available AMR network bandwidth while avoiding advanced management techniques. In accordance with a second data collection methodology, a handheld or portable device 280 may be provided for local collection of data.
[0044] With present reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that an exemplary Advanced Metering System (AMS) generally 200 deployment has been illustrated. Figure 2 illustrates for exemplary purposes only a single RF LAN cell, with multiple member nodes organized into three levels, as well as four directly connected IP meters 270, 272, 274, and 276. In such system, respective meter devices 210, 220, 230, 232, 240, 242, 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, 266, 270, 272, 274, and 276, Cell Relay 202, and Collection Engine 290, have C12.22 network addresses. Collection Engine 290 may in accordance with the present subject matter have multiple C12.22 addresses to allow for separate addressing between different services (functionalities). Meter (or master) data management system 292 is not part of the C12.22 network, but preferably it will be implemented so as to communicate over the Utility LAN 294 to Collection Engine 290 via Web Services. Communications between Cell Relay 202 and Utility LAN 294 variously involve Public Backhaul 298 and firewall 296, in a manner analogous to that discussed above in conjunction with Public Backhaul 180 and firewall 194 (Figure I), as well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. [0045] A first exemplary meter data acquisition process begins with the Meter (or Master) Data Management System 292 initiating a request for data. Such operation is done through a web services call to Collection Engine 290 and may be performed without knowledge of the configured functionality of the end-device. Collection Engine 290 analyzes the request for data, and formulates a series of C12.22 multicast (or broadcast) data requests. Such requests are then sent out either directly to the device (in the case of an IP connected meter, such as 270), or to Cell Relay 202 that relays the message out to all appropriate nodes. Broadcast and multicast messages are sent by Cell Relay 202 to all members of the cell, either via an AMS RF LAN-level broadcast, or by the Cell Relay repeating the message. For efficiency sake, the use of an RF LAN level broadcast may be preferred. [0046] Typically these requests are sent as a call to a manufacturer's stored procedure. In C12.22, stored procedure calls are performed as writes to a predetermined table, "table 7." The stored procedure will send the default upload configured for such device. For example, a given meter may be configured to upload two channels of hourly interval data, plus its event history. Another meter might be programmed to send up its TOU registers. The stored procedure will require four parameters to be fully operative in accordance with the present subject matter: data start time, data end time, response start time, and response end time. The data start and end time are be used to select which data to send. The response start time and end time are used to determine the window within which the upstream system wants to receive the data. The various AMS enabled meters of Figure 2 are preferably field programmable, via C12.22 tables, as to the type data to be included in a default upload.
[0047] When data is sent to Collection Engine 290, is it sent as C12.19 table self-write with the notification bit set, and the do-not-respond bit set. The result is that per the present subject matter no C12.22 acknowledgement is sent in response to the Collection Engine's broadcast, nor does the Collection Engine 290 in response to the notify-write send any response; however, the notify-write effectively serves per the present subject matter as an acknowledgement to the receipt of the broadcast. [0048] The response processing section can use the configured data about an end device and the response message from the end device to determine the results from the device. The response processing section begins operation associated with a specific job in a task list, but can be switched between any active job that is awaiting a response. Such operation allows responses that contain logs from the device to be parsed by each job that could be waiting for an action to be completed within the end-device. Such also would allow unsolicited messages to be parsed by the IMA (Interface between Meter and Application) code and then later associated with any possible jobs, as determined by the IMA, all in accordance with the present subject matter. [0049] While most operations will not require this, the AMS meters will support chaining a series of C12.22 Extended Protocol Specification for Electronic
Metering (EPSEM) messages, such as multiple table reads and writes in a single request. This is functionality that is required in the C12.22 specification, and will assist in improving the efficiency of the system, as it avoids the overhead of Collection Engine. Provided that the destination is still valid, the Cell Relay software sends the message to the device across the RF LAN, per the present subject matter.
[0053] In accordance with present technology, several of the groupings of meters illustrated in Fig. 2 may correspond to various types of meters at or near a residence or customer premises that may take advantage of the AMS communication system of the present subject matter to form a home area network. In particular, Meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 may correspond to electricity meters in a meter group; meters 250, 254, 260, and 264 may correspond to water meters associated with meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 respectively and meters 252, 256, 262, and 266 may correspond to gas meters associated with meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 respectively.
[0054] According to present technology, electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 may include communications equipment that is constantly energized by way of the individual meters connection to a source of alternating current (AC) electricity. Meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266, on the other hand, are not coupled to an AC source but rather their communications equipment may be supplied by way of an onboard battery power supply. In this manner, electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 form hubs for a home area network through which meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266 may communicate with Collection Engine 290 or other network nodes. Such other network nodes may include other types of devices residing within a residence or customer premises include devices such as, but not limited to, appliances, display devices, and electronic control devices. [0055] In order to conserve battery power, battery operated meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266 may be associated with the respective electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 so that communications between battery powered meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266 may be conducted with Collection Engine 290 by way of the respective electricity meters 230, 232, 240, and 242 by providing in the electricity meters dedicated portions of memory configured to serve as "mailboxes" for the battery powered meters 250, 252, 254, 256, 260, 262, 264, and 266.
13 [0056] When, for example, a message is broadcast, multicast, or specifically addressed to an individual network node (meter), a protocol stack for the RF LAN advantageously takes the message and constructs a node path for the message to take before actually transmitting the packet. Such pre-constructed node path allows Cell Relay 202 per the present subject matter to push a message down through the tree of the cell without creating redundant radio messages. [0057] If Collection Engine 290 wants to do an on-demand read to gas meter 256, it starts by sending the message to Cell Relay 202. Cell Relay 202 in turn sends out a transmission that will be heard by both respective electricity meters 210 and 220 (in the exemplary configuration of present Figure 2). Meter 220 could go ahead and retransmit the message, but this wouldn't get the message to gas meter 256. Instead, it would simply waste bandwidth. With the node path provided to by the RF LAN protocol stack, meters 210 and 220 will hear the message, but per the present subject matter only meter 210 will retransmit the message. The retransmitted message of meter 210 will be heard by both meters 230 and 232, but only meter 232 will be in the node path, again meaning other parts of the cell (such as meters 250 and 252) won't receive a message that would be useless to them. [0058] In accordance with the present technology, electricity meter 232 has contained there in dedicated storage space configured to operate as a mailbox for gas meter 256 as well as water meter 254 and possibly an oil meter (not illustrated) or other home area network devices including such as might be installed separately within a residence or customer premises. As the battery operated meters associated with electricity meter 232, in this case meters 254 and 256, are configured to "wake up" only periodically in order to save battery power, the mailbox in electricity meter 232 associated with gas meter 256 will store any message directed to gas meter 256's address until such time as gas meter 256 wakes up and checks its mail in its mailbox. The mailbox may also store messages sent from the gas meter 256 or any other home area network device until such time as the message may be forwarded to Collection Engine 290 or other network address.
[0059] Once the message is received at gas meter 256, the meter must unpack the request and act on it. The communications module within the device will pull
14 the C12.22 message out of its mailbox housed on electricity meter 232 and provide it to its Register Board 320 (Figure 3). Register Board 320 will decrypt the message based on shared keys, and then respond to the request, encrypting it and returning it to the calling ApTitle either directly via the RF LAN (as the gas meter 256 is now awake) or by way of its mailbox for later delivery. In the case of the RF LAN, the message is simply forwarded to the next layer up in the cell. Messages are forwarded from one layer to the next until they finally reach Cell Relay 202, which relays it across the IP backhaul 298 to the communications server that initiated the transaction. [0060] With further reference to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that a second exemplary data collection apparatus and methodology is illustrated in the form of a handheld or portable device generally illustrated at 280. Handheld or portable device 280 generally corresponds to a device capable of communicating directly with RF LAN connected components including Cell Relay 202 and meters 210, 220, 230, 232, 240, and 242. In accordance with the present technology, handheld or portable device 280 may conduct communications using a radio frequency link established through onboard radio frequency transceiving equipment via antenna 286 as represented by double headed arrow 288 with, for example, meter 242. Handheld or portable device 280 may also or alternatively communicate with meter 242 via direct electrical or optical coupling by way of communications port 244 associated with meter 242 or similar such communications ports associated with other network nodes (meters). [0061] Handheld or portable device 280 may further be provided with an information display component 282 as well as a keypad or other operations facilitating control elements generally 284. Information display component 282 may correspond to a liquid crystal display (LCD) or any other suitable type of display depending on the exact nature of the information to be displayed. It is anticipated that different types of portable devices may be provided with differing capabilities thus requiring different display capabilities as well as differing input or control capabilities via control elements 284.
[0062] In accordance with the present subject matter, device 280 may be configured for onsite communications with and control of home area network devices. In addition, device 280 may provide diagnostic capabilities to assist
15 service personnel in resolving problems or service requirements as may arise with home area network connected nodes. As an example, service personnel installing or configuring water meter 264 or gas meter 266 for association with electricity meter 242 may employ device 280 to assign mailboxes in electricity meter 242 to water meter 264 and/or gas meter 266 as well as assign specific network addresses for any or all of the meters. Alternatively, service personnel may read data (mail) from or send data to water meter 264 and/or gas meter 266 via previously established mailboxes associated with electricity meter 242. [0063] Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that communications may also be conducted by device 280 using electricity meter 242 as a relaying device with other devices coupled to a home area network established through electricity meter 242. Such other home area network devices may include, but are not limited to, devices located within a residence or customer premises such as appliances, display devices, heating control devices, security devices and other devices as may advantageously be controlled over or communicated with via utility LAN 294.
[0064] With reference now to Fig. 3, there is illustrated a block diagram of an exemplary meter 300 incorporating interface features in accordance with the present subject matter. Meter 300 incorporates several major components including metrology 310, a register board 320 and one or more communications devices. In the presently illustrated configuration, meter 300 may include an RF LAN Interface 330 and accompanying antenna 332 and a Zigbee Interface 340 and its accompanying antenna 342. In addition, an Option Slot 350 may be provided to accommodate a third party network or communications module 352. [0065] Metrology 310 may correspond to a solid-state device configured to provide an internal C12.18 blurt communications to register board 320. Communications within meter 300 is conducted via C12.22 Extended Protocol Specification for Electronic Metering (EPSEM) messages. The meter register board 320 is configured to fully support C12.19 tables and C12.22 extensions. While all meter data will be accessible via standard C12.19 tables, in order to facilitate very low bandwidth communications, manufacturers tables or stored procedures are included which provide access to specific time-bound slices of
16 sending a separate message for each EPSEM command. AMS enabled devices will process each request sequentially, allowing a series of operations to be handled in a single command, each building on the next, such that a read subsequent to a write would reflect the results of the request write. If a command in an EPSEM chain cannot be completed, remaining commands in the chain are rejected with appropriate error messages, per the present subject matter. [0050] When a respective device receives a request, it evaluates the multi-cast address specified. If the device is a member of the multicast group, it responds to the request; otherwise, it discards it. Membership in different multicast groups is determined via use of C12.22 standard table 122.
[0051] On-demand reading per the present subject matter is similar to the Daily Meter Data Acquisition Process; however, rather than sending a broadcast or multicast request, the on- demand reading process in accordance with the present subject matter communicates directly to desired respective meters. Such process begins with a user initiated an on-demand read through an AMS User Interface, or through a web services call from an upstream system. Per the present subject matter, an orchestration layer of the Collection Engine 290 begins by evaluating the current system load of the communications substrate through which the respective device is connected. Requests for an on-demand read from a saturated cell may be rejected.
[0052] Once Collection Engine 290 determines that the request can be honored, it selects per the present subject matter an appropriate communication server within the Collection Engine, and submits the command to retrieve data from the device and return it. The communications server forms a C12.22 table read request, encrypts it, and sends it to the device directly, if IP connected, or to Cell Relay 202 for RF LAN connected devices. In cases where traffic flows through the RF LAN, the Cell Relay software retrieves the message from the IP backhaul 298, and evaluates the message. The destination address (in C12.22 terminology, the called ApTitle) may be stripped off to save bandwidth on the network, relying instead on the underlying RF LAN addressing scheme for delivering the message. The Cell Relay software must also examine whether the destination ApTitle is still valid within the cell. If the destination ApTitle is no longer valid, the Cell Relay rejects the message, returning an error packet to the
12 data, such as the last calendar day's worth of interval data or other customized "groupings" of data.
[0066] Meter 300 may be variously configured to provide differing communications capabilities depending on whether the metrology is designed for electricity meters and thus has available a continuously available AC supply source or is configured as a battery operated device to be activated for communications sessions on an intermittent or scheduled basis to monitor water, gas or oil consumption. In exemplary configurations, one or more of GPRS, Ethernet, and RF LAN communications modules may be provided. GPRS will allow meters to be IP addressable over a public backhaul and provide more bandwidth than the meter will ever require, but may incur ongoing subscriptions costs. Ethernet connectivity can be used to bridge to third party technologies, including WiFi, WiMax, in-home gateways, and BPL, without integrating any of these technologies directly into the metering device, but with the tradeoff of external wiring and a two part solution. Ethernet devices may be used primarily in pilots and other special applications; though they may be ideal for certain high- density RF-intolerant environments such as meter closets. [0067] Due to the increased complexity of managing a WAN interface, with its more sophisticated link negotiation requirements and TCP/IP stack, WAN connected meters may include an additional circuit board dedicated to WAN connectivity. This board will interface with meter 300 using EPSEM messages and Option Slot 350.
[0068] The availability of Option Slot 350 within meter 300 provides the advantage that it will make meter 300 available for integration with third party backhauls, such as PLC. In order for such third party devices to be integrated into AMS 100, on the other hand, third party devices will need to include both a communications board and a C12.22 compliant relay to couple communications signals from the third party's proprietary network to an IP connection. Alternatively, third parties could integrate meter 300 it into their own end-to-end solution.
[0069] The communications protocol between meter 300 and communications modules 330, 340, and WAN module or optional third part communications module 352 follow the C12.22 standards, allowing any third party to design to the standard and be assured of relatively straightforward integration. [0070] Communication to the Collection Engine 190 is performed over an Internet Protocol connection. The Wide-Area-Network is a fully routable, addressable, IP network that may involve a variety of different technologies including, but not limited to, GPRS, WiFi, WiMax, Fiber, Private Ethernet, BPL, or any other connection with sufficiently high bandwidth and ability to support full two- way IP communication. Several assumptions may be made regarding the IP WAN. Collection Engine 190 is assumed to be able to communicate directly with other nodes on the IP WAN. While communications may be conducted through a firewall 194, it is not necessary that such be proxied, unless the proxy is itself a C12.22 node functioning as a relay between a private IP network and the public IP WAN. [0071] In accordance with present technology, local communications with meter 300 may be established via handheld or portable device 280 (Fig. 2) via RF LAN Interface 330, Zigbee Interface 340, or alternately via other methods or devices via Option Slot 350 mounted devices. Such other alternate methods may include optical or direct connections as previously noted. [0072] While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing local communications to node devices within a network, comprising: establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices; configuring selected of the end devices to accumulate utility consumption data; and providing a portable device configured for local bi-directional communications with selected of the plurality of end devices.
2. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising: providing selected of the plurality of end devices with memory portions; and transmitting signals to selected of the plurality of end devices with memory portions to configure the memory portions as one or more mailboxes for selected others of the plurality of end devices.
3. A method as in claim 2, wherein transmitting signals, comprises transmitting signals from the portable device.
4. A method as in claim 2, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting radio frequency signals.
5. A method as in claim 3, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting Zigbee signals.
6. A method as in claim 3, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting optical signals.
7. A method as in claim 3, further comprising: providing the portable device with a display portion; providing the portable device with a manual input portion; and transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the plurality of end devices to perform diagnostic services.
8. A method as in claim 7, further comprising: locating selected of the plurality of end devices within a customer premise; and configuring selected of the plurality of end devices located within a customer premise to be controlled over the network.
9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising configuring selected of the plurality of end devices as relay devices to relay messages to other of the plurality of end devices.
10. A method as in claim 9, further comprising configuring selected of the relay devices to accumulate electricity consumption data.
11. A method as in claim 9, further comprising configuring selected of the end devices to accumulate utility consumption data based on consumption of one of water, gas and oil.
12. A method as in claim 9, further comprising transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the relay devices for relay to end devices located within a customer premise.
13. A method as in claim 10, further comprising: transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the devices configured to accumulate electricity consumption to instruct the devices to transmit data indicative of the accumulated electricity consumption; and displaying indications of the transmitted data on the display portion of the portable device.
14. A method as in claim 11 , further comprising: transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the devices configured to accumulate utility consumption data based on consumption of one of water, gas and oil to instruct the devices to transmit data indicative of the accumulated consumption; and displaying indications of the transmitted data on the display portion of the portable device.
15. A method as in claim 14, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting a message to a mailbox assigned to the device.
16. An advanced metering system, comprising: a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, with said network configured for bi-directional communications between said central facility and each of said plurality of end devices, and with selected of said end devices configured to accumulate utility consumption data; and a portable device configured for local bi-directional communications with selected of said plurality of end devices.
17. An advanced metering system as in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of memory devices respectively associated with selected of said plurality of end devices, portions of said memory devices being configured as one or more mailboxes for selected others of said plurality of end devices.
18. An advanced metering system as in claim 16, wherein said portable device is configured to transmit a wireless signal to selected of said plurality of end devices.
19. An advanced metering system as in claim 16, wherein said portable device is configured to transmit a Zigbee signal to selected of said plurality of end devices.
20. An advanced metering system as in claim 16, wherein said portable device is configured to transmit an optical signal to selected of said plurality of end devices.
21. An advanced metering system as in claim 16, further comprising a display portion and a manual input portion associated with said portable device, whereby signals transmitted between said portable device and selected of said plurality of end devices may be used to perform diagnostic services.
22. An advanced metering system as in claim 16, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are located within a customer premise and are configured to be controlled over said network by one of said central facility and said portable device.
23. An advanced metering system as in claim 22, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are configured as relay devices to relay messages to other of said plurality of end devices.
24. An advanced metering system as in claim 22, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are configured to accumulate electricity consumption data.
25. An advanced metering system as in claim 22, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are battery operated and configured to accumulate utility consumption data based on consumption of one of water, gas and oil.
PCT/US2007/019614 2006-09-15 2007-09-07 Home area networking (han) with handheld for diagnostics WO2008033287A2 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2662363A CA2662363C (en) 2006-09-15 2007-09-07 Home area networking (han) with handheld for diagnostics
MX2009002800A MX2009002800A (en) 2006-09-15 2007-09-07 Home area networking (han) with handheld for diagnostics.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84505806P 2006-09-15 2006-09-15
US60/845,058 2006-09-15
US11/899,561 2007-09-06
US11/899,561 US8138944B2 (en) 2006-09-15 2007-09-06 Home area networking (HAN) with handheld for diagnostics

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008033287A2 true WO2008033287A2 (en) 2008-03-20
WO2008033287A3 WO2008033287A3 (en) 2008-06-19

Family

ID=39184274

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2007/019614 WO2008033287A2 (en) 2006-09-15 2007-09-07 Home area networking (han) with handheld for diagnostics

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US8138944B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2662363C (en)
MX (1) MX2009002800A (en)
WO (1) WO2008033287A2 (en)

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009067262A2 (en) * 2007-11-25 2009-05-28 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Collector device and system utilizing standardized utility metering protocol
WO2010026477A2 (en) * 2008-09-05 2010-03-11 Atkinson & Company Intellectual Property Limited Facilitating secure communication
WO2011039758A1 (en) * 2009-10-02 2011-04-07 Miltel Communications Ltd. Method and system for providing web-enabled cellular access to meter reading data
EP2401835A1 (en) * 2009-02-27 2012-01-04 Certicom Corp. System and method for securely communicating with electronic meters
US8138934B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2012-03-20 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for false alert filtering of event messages within a network
US8171364B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2012-05-01 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for power outage and restoration notification in an advanced metering infrastructure network
US8289182B2 (en) 2008-11-21 2012-10-16 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Methods and systems for virtual energy management display
US8319658B2 (en) 2009-03-11 2012-11-27 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Process, device and system for mapping transformers to meters and locating non-technical line losses
US8332055B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2012-12-11 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Energy use control system and method
US8334787B2 (en) 2007-10-25 2012-12-18 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Gas meter having ultra-sensitive magnetic material retrofitted onto meter dial and method for performing meter retrofit
EP2552055A1 (en) * 2011-07-26 2013-01-30 Itron Metering Solutions UK Ltd Registration of an electronic device with han capacities with a home area network
US8502640B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2013-08-06 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for transmitting and receiving information on a neighborhood area network
US8699377B2 (en) 2008-09-04 2014-04-15 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for implementing mesh network communications using a mesh network protocol
US8832428B2 (en) 2010-11-15 2014-09-09 Trilliant Holdings Inc. System and method for securely communicating across multiple networks using a single radio
US8856323B2 (en) 2011-02-10 2014-10-07 Trilliant Holdings, Inc. Device and method for facilitating secure communications over a cellular network
US8970394B2 (en) 2011-01-25 2015-03-03 Trilliant Holdings Inc. Aggregated real-time power outages/restoration reporting (RTPOR) in a secure mesh network
US9001787B1 (en) 2011-09-20 2015-04-07 Trilliant Networks Inc. System and method for implementing handover of a hybrid communications module
US9013173B2 (en) 2010-09-13 2015-04-21 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Process for detecting energy theft
US9041349B2 (en) 2011-03-08 2015-05-26 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for managing load distribution across a power grid
US9084120B2 (en) 2010-08-27 2015-07-14 Trilliant Networks Inc. System and method for interference free operation of co-located transceivers
US9282383B2 (en) 2011-01-14 2016-03-08 Trilliant Incorporated Process, device and system for volt/VAR optimization

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2932352B1 (en) * 2008-06-05 2010-07-30 Sagem Comm METHOD FOR REMOTELY MEASURING ELECTRICAL METERS
US20100175012A1 (en) * 2009-01-06 2010-07-08 Allstrom Peter E System and Method for Remote Monitoring and Control of Field Device
US8842712B2 (en) 2011-03-24 2014-09-23 Gregory C. Hancock Methods and apparatuses for reception of frequency-hopping spread spectrum radio transmissions
JP6089359B2 (en) * 2012-09-28 2017-03-08 パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, RELAY DEVICE, AND PROGRAM
US9472093B2 (en) * 2012-12-17 2016-10-18 Itron, Inc. Near field communications for utility meters

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0395495A1 (en) * 1989-04-27 1990-10-31 SCHLUMBERGER INDUSTRIES, INC. (a Delaware corporation) Adaptive network routing for power line communications
US20020115447A1 (en) * 2000-05-23 2002-08-22 Martin Jeffrey W. Methods and systems for correlating telecommunication antenna infrastructure placement information to provide telecommunication quality of service information
US6570880B1 (en) * 1998-08-21 2003-05-27 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Control data over a ring network
US7004907B2 (en) * 2004-04-07 2006-02-28 Triage Wireless, Inc. Blood-pressure monitoring device featuring a calibration-based analysis

Family Cites Families (134)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4799062A (en) 1987-04-27 1989-01-17 Axonn Corporation Radio position determination method and apparatus
US4998102A (en) 1988-08-02 1991-03-05 Distribution Control Systems, Inc. Integrated meter transponder
US5987058A (en) 1988-11-02 1999-11-16 Axonn Corporation Wireless alarm system
US5095493A (en) 1988-11-02 1992-03-10 Axonn Corporation Wireless alarm system
US5067136A (en) 1988-11-02 1991-11-19 Axonn Corporation Wireless alarm system
US4977577A (en) 1988-11-02 1990-12-11 Axonn Corporation Wireless alarm system
USRE35829E (en) 1990-08-27 1998-06-23 Axonn Corporation Binary phase shift keying modulation system and/or frequency multiplier
US5119396A (en) 1990-08-27 1992-06-02 Axonn Corporation Binary phase shift keying modulation system
US5198796A (en) 1991-06-27 1993-03-30 Distribution Control Systems, Inc. Outbound signal detector system and method
US5604768A (en) 1992-01-09 1997-02-18 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Frequency synchronized bidirectional radio system
US5377232A (en) 1992-01-09 1994-12-27 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Frequency synchronized bidirectional radio system
US5311541A (en) 1992-05-08 1994-05-10 Axonn Corporation Frequency agile radio
AU4393693A (en) 1992-05-08 1994-12-20 Axonn Corporation A frequency agile radio
US5668828A (en) 1992-05-08 1997-09-16 Sanconix, Inc. Enhanced frequency agile radio
US5310075A (en) 1992-11-27 1994-05-10 Distribution Control Systems, Inc. Waterproof, gasketless enclosure
US5486805A (en) 1993-07-06 1996-01-23 Distribution Control Systems, Inc. Method of receiving unsolicited messages on an electrical distribution network communications system
US5457713A (en) 1994-03-07 1995-10-10 Sanconix, Inc. Spread spectrum alignment repositioning method
US5696441A (en) 1994-05-13 1997-12-09 Distribution Control Systems, Inc. Linear alternating current interface for electronic meters
US5661750A (en) 1995-06-06 1997-08-26 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Direct sequence spread spectrum system
US5920589A (en) 1995-06-07 1999-07-06 Sanconix Inc. Direct sequence spread spectrum DSP system
US5626755A (en) 1995-11-08 1997-05-06 Micronair, Inc. Method and apparatus for waste digestion using multiple biological processes
US6195018B1 (en) 1996-02-07 2001-02-27 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Metering system
US10152876B2 (en) 1996-03-27 2018-12-11 Gtj Ventures, Llc Control, monitoring, and/or security apparatus and method
US6246677B1 (en) 1996-09-06 2001-06-12 Innovatec Communications, Llc Automatic meter reading data communication system
US6044062A (en) 1996-12-06 2000-03-28 Communique, Llc Wireless network system and method for providing same
US7054271B2 (en) 1996-12-06 2006-05-30 Ipco, Llc Wireless network system and method for providing same
US7046682B2 (en) 1997-02-12 2006-05-16 Elster Electricity, Llc. Network-enabled, extensible metering system
US6900737B1 (en) 1997-02-12 2005-05-31 Elster Electricity, Llc Remote access to electronic meters using the short message service
US6396839B1 (en) 1997-02-12 2002-05-28 Abb Automation Inc. Remote access to electronic meters using a TCP/IP protocol suite
US6430268B1 (en) 1997-09-20 2002-08-06 Statsignal Systems, Inc. Systems for requesting service of a vending machine
US5926531A (en) 1997-02-14 1999-07-20 Statsignal Systems, Inc. Transmitter for accessing pay-type telephones
US6233327B1 (en) 1997-02-14 2001-05-15 Statsignal Systems, Inc. Multi-function general purpose transceiver
US6618578B1 (en) 1997-02-14 2003-09-09 Statsignal Systems, Inc System and method for communicating with a remote communication unit via the public switched telephone network (PSTN)
US7079810B2 (en) 1997-02-14 2006-07-18 Statsignal Ipc, Llc System and method for communicating with a remote communication unit via the public switched telephone network (PSTN)
US6628764B1 (en) 1997-02-14 2003-09-30 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System for requesting service of a vending machine
US5999561A (en) 1997-05-20 1999-12-07 Sanconix, Inc. Direct sequence spread spectrum method, computer-based product, apparatus and system tolerant to frequency reference offset
US6263009B1 (en) 1997-06-23 2001-07-17 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Acquiring a spread spectrum signal
US6178197B1 (en) 1997-06-23 2001-01-23 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Frequency discrimination in a spread spectrum signal processing system
US6456644B1 (en) 1997-06-23 2002-09-24 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Bandpass correlation of a spread spectrum signal
US6047016A (en) 1997-06-23 2000-04-04 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Processing a spread spectrum signal in a frequency adjustable system
US6538577B1 (en) 1997-09-05 2003-03-25 Silver Springs Networks, Inc. Electronic electric meter for networked meter reading
US6617879B1 (en) 1997-09-17 2003-09-09 Sony Corporation Transparently partitioned communication bus for multi-port bridge for a local area network
US5933072A (en) 1997-11-07 1999-08-03 Distribution Control Systems, Inc. Current level control for TWACS inbound communications
US6100816A (en) 1998-01-16 2000-08-08 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Utility meter adapter
US6778099B1 (en) 1998-05-01 2004-08-17 Elster Electricity, Llc Wireless area network communications module for utility meters
US6914893B2 (en) 1998-06-22 2005-07-05 Statsignal Ipc, Llc System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices
US6891838B1 (en) 1998-06-22 2005-05-10 Statsignal Ipc, Llc System and method for monitoring and controlling residential devices
US6437692B1 (en) 1998-06-22 2002-08-20 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices
US6218953B1 (en) 1998-10-14 2001-04-17 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System and method for monitoring the light level around an ATM
US6914533B2 (en) 1998-06-22 2005-07-05 Statsignal Ipc Llc System and method for accessing residential monitoring devices
US6028522A (en) 1998-10-14 2000-02-22 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System for monitoring the light level around an ATM
US6414605B1 (en) 1998-09-02 2002-07-02 Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc. Utility meter pit lid mounted antenna assembly and method
AU6106399A (en) 1998-09-29 2000-04-17 Scientific Generics Limited Magnetic flow meter
US7103511B2 (en) 1998-10-14 2006-09-05 Statsignal Ipc, Llc Wireless communication networks for providing remote monitoring of devices
US6232885B1 (en) 1998-10-15 2001-05-15 Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc. Electricity meter
US6700902B1 (en) 1998-10-19 2004-03-02 Elster Electricity, Llc Method and system for improving wireless data packet delivery
US6424270B1 (en) 1998-10-30 2002-07-23 Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc. Utility meter interface unit
US6377609B1 (en) 1999-03-05 2002-04-23 Neptune Technology Group Inc. Spread spectrum frequency hopping system and method
US6747557B1 (en) 1999-03-18 2004-06-08 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System and method for signaling a weather alert condition to a residential environment
US20040183687A1 (en) 1999-03-18 2004-09-23 Petite Thomas D. System and method for signaling a weather alert condition to a residential environment
US6181258B1 (en) 1999-05-17 2001-01-30 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Receiver capable of parallel demodulation of messages
US6452986B1 (en) 1999-05-17 2002-09-17 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. Detector tolerant of frequency misalignment
US6163276A (en) 1999-05-17 2000-12-19 Cellnet Data Systems, Inc. System for remote data collection
GB9912559D0 (en) * 1999-05-28 1999-07-28 Fusion Meters Ltd Meter reader
US6885309B1 (en) 2000-06-01 2005-04-26 Cellnet Innovations, Inc. Meter to internet pathway
US6369769B1 (en) 2000-02-25 2002-04-09 Innovatec Communications, Llc Flush mounted pit lid antenna
US6426027B1 (en) 2000-05-17 2002-07-30 Neptune Technology Group, Inc. Method of injection molding for creating a fluid meter housing
US6604434B1 (en) 2000-06-23 2003-08-12 Neptune Technology Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for determining the direction and rate of a rotating element
US6836737B2 (en) 2000-08-09 2004-12-28 Statsignal Systems, Inc. Systems and methods for providing remote monitoring of consumption for a utility meter
US6918311B2 (en) 2000-09-22 2005-07-19 M&Fc Holding, Llc Weather resistant automatic meter reading unit
US7505426B2 (en) 2000-12-29 2009-03-17 Tropos Networks Multi-channel mesh network
US7551562B2 (en) 2000-12-29 2009-06-23 Tropos Networks Determining bidirectional path quality within a wireless mesh network
US6704301B2 (en) 2000-12-29 2004-03-09 Tropos Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus to provide a routing protocol for wireless devices
US6965575B2 (en) 2000-12-29 2005-11-15 Tropos Networks Selection of routing paths based upon path quality of a wireless mesh network
US6612188B2 (en) 2001-01-03 2003-09-02 Neptune Technology Group Inc. Self-powered fluid meter
US20020146985A1 (en) 2001-01-31 2002-10-10 Axonn Corporation Battery operated remote transceiver (BORT) system and method
US6784807B2 (en) 2001-02-09 2004-08-31 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System and method for accurate reading of rotating disk
US7047293B2 (en) 2001-02-14 2006-05-16 Ricoh Co., Ltd. Method and system of remote diagnostic, control and information collection using multiple formats and multiple protocols with delegating protocol processor
US7031293B1 (en) 2001-03-26 2006-04-18 Tropos Networks, Inc. Method and system to provide increased data throughput in a wireless multi-hop network
ES2312581T3 (en) 2001-03-30 2009-03-01 M&FC HOLDING, LLC SYSTEM, PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS OF DATA COMMUNICATION BY PACKAGES, WIRELESS, IMPROVED, APPLICABLE BOTH TO LARGE AREA NETWORKS AND TO LOCAL AREA NETWORKS.
US6982651B2 (en) 2001-05-02 2006-01-03 M & Fc Holding, Llc Automatic meter reading module
AR033319A1 (en) 2001-05-04 2003-12-10 Invensys Metering Systems Nort PROVISION AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL OF AUTOMATED METER READING
US20020169643A1 (en) 2001-05-11 2002-11-14 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System and method for remotely processing reservations
AR034913A1 (en) 2001-07-27 2004-03-24 Invensys Metering Systems SOLID STATE ELECTRICAL POWER METER
US20030036810A1 (en) 2001-08-15 2003-02-20 Petite Thomas D. System and method for controlling generation over an integrated wireless network
US6671586B2 (en) 2001-08-15 2003-12-30 Statsignal Systems, Inc. System and method for controlling power demand over an integrated wireless network
US7009530B2 (en) 2001-09-13 2006-03-07 M&Fc Holding, Llc Modular wireless fixed network for wide-area metering data collection and meter module apparatus
US20030063723A1 (en) 2001-09-28 2003-04-03 Derek Booth Interactive system for managing and remotely connecting customer utility loads
US7480501B2 (en) 2001-10-24 2009-01-20 Statsignal Ipc, Llc System and method for transmitting an emergency message over an integrated wireless network
US7424527B2 (en) 2001-10-30 2008-09-09 Sipco, Llc System and method for transmitting pollution information over an integrated wireless network
US20030179149A1 (en) 2001-11-26 2003-09-25 Schlumberger Electricity, Inc. Embedded antenna apparatus for utility metering applications
US7352715B2 (en) 2001-11-30 2008-04-01 Cellnet Innovations, Inc. Time synchronization using dynamic thresholds
US6867707B1 (en) 2002-04-24 2005-03-15 Elster Electricity, Llc Automated on-site meter registration confirmation using a portable, wireless computing device
US7019666B2 (en) 2002-06-10 2006-03-28 Tantalus Systems Corp. Adapter for a meter
US6816538B2 (en) 2002-06-26 2004-11-09 Elster Electricity, Llc Frequency hopping spread spectrum decoder
US6838867B2 (en) 2002-06-27 2005-01-04 Elster Electricity, Llc Electrical-energy meter
US7119713B2 (en) 2002-06-27 2006-10-10 Elster Electricity, Llc Dynamic self-configuring metering network
US20040113810A1 (en) 2002-06-28 2004-06-17 Mason Robert T. Data collector for an automated meter reading system
US20040004555A1 (en) 2002-07-03 2004-01-08 Schlumbergersema Inc. Field selectable communication network
US20040040368A1 (en) 2002-09-04 2004-03-04 Guckenberger Carl R. Apparatus and method for quantity meter testing
WO2004040828A2 (en) * 2002-10-30 2004-05-13 Veco Gas Technology, Inc. Intelligent wireless multicast network
US6850197B2 (en) 2003-01-31 2005-02-01 M&Fc Holding, Llc Printed circuit board antenna structure
US6859186B2 (en) 2003-02-03 2005-02-22 Silver Spring Networks, Inc. Flush-mounted antenna and transmission system
US6931445B2 (en) 2003-02-18 2005-08-16 Statsignal Systems, Inc. User interface for monitoring remote devices
US7406298B2 (en) 2003-03-25 2008-07-29 Silver Spring Networks, Inc. Wireless communication system
US6940396B2 (en) 2003-05-06 2005-09-06 Distribution Control Systems, Inc. Concurrent phase communication in TWACS
US20050038326A1 (en) 2003-05-30 2005-02-17 Michael Mathur System, device, and method for remote monitoring and servicing
US7016328B2 (en) 2003-06-24 2006-03-21 Tropos Networks, Inc. Method for allowing a client to access a wireless system
US7649866B2 (en) 2003-06-24 2010-01-19 Tropos Networks, Inc. Method of subnet roaming within a network
US7376087B2 (en) 2003-08-13 2008-05-20 Tropos Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus for monitoring and displaying routing metrics of a network
US7336200B2 (en) * 2003-09-05 2008-02-26 Itron, Inc. Data communication protocol in an automatic meter reading system
US7099770B2 (en) 2003-09-08 2006-08-29 Axonn L.L.C. Location monitoring and transmitting device, method, and computer program product using a simplex satellite transmitter
US7129900B2 (en) 2003-09-08 2006-10-31 Tantalus Systems Corp. Meter antenna
US6836108B1 (en) 2003-11-03 2004-12-28 M & Fc Holding, Llc Three-phase electricity meter including integral test switch
US7382778B2 (en) 2004-01-05 2008-06-03 Tropos Networks, Inc. Link layer emulation
US7802015B2 (en) 2004-01-26 2010-09-21 Tantalus Systems Corp. Communications system of heterogeneous elements
GB0402319D0 (en) 2004-02-03 2004-03-10 M & Fc Holdings Llc Wide range power supply for polyphase electricity meter
US6972555B2 (en) 2004-02-05 2005-12-06 M&Fc Holding, Llc Electronic electricity meter having configurable contacts
US7756086B2 (en) 2004-03-03 2010-07-13 Sipco, Llc Method for communicating in dual-modes
US8031650B2 (en) 2004-03-03 2011-10-04 Sipco, Llc System and method for monitoring remote devices with a dual-mode wireless communication protocol
US7218531B2 (en) 2004-04-05 2007-05-15 Elster Electricity, Llc Switching regulator with reduced conducted emissions
US7362737B2 (en) 2004-04-08 2008-04-22 Tropos Networks, Inc. Minimization of channel filters within wireless access nodes
US20050251403A1 (en) 2004-05-10 2005-11-10 Elster Electricity, Llc. Mesh AMR network interconnecting to TCP/IP wireless mesh network
US20050251401A1 (en) 2004-05-10 2005-11-10 Elster Electricity, Llc. Mesh AMR network interconnecting to mesh Wi-Fi network
US7489932B2 (en) 2004-06-03 2009-02-10 Tropos Networks Channel assignments within a mesh network
US7142106B2 (en) 2004-06-15 2006-11-28 Elster Electricity, Llc System and method of visualizing network layout and performance characteristics in a wireless network
US7450552B2 (en) 2004-07-02 2008-11-11 Tropos Networks, Inc. Access point control of client roaming
US20060012935A1 (en) 2004-07-13 2006-01-19 Elster Electricity, Llc Transient protector circuit for multi-phase energized power supplies
US7460489B2 (en) 2004-07-21 2008-12-02 Tropos Networks, Inc. Wireless mesh network timed commit provisioning
US7379791B2 (en) 2004-08-03 2008-05-27 Uscl Corporation Integrated metrology systems and information and control apparatus for interaction with integrated metrology systems
US7355867B2 (en) 2004-08-17 2008-04-08 Elster Electricity, Llc Power supply for an electric meter having a high-voltage regulator that limits the voltage applied to certain components below the normal operating input voltage
US7176807B2 (en) 2004-09-24 2007-02-13 Elster Electricity, Llc System for automatically enforcing a demand reset in a fixed network of electricity meters
US7327998B2 (en) * 2004-12-22 2008-02-05 Elster Electricity, Llc System and method of providing a geographic view of nodes in a wireless network
US20060184659A1 (en) 2005-01-11 2006-08-17 Tetsuro Motoyama Method and system for extracting information from networked devices using multiple implementations of protocol access functions

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0395495A1 (en) * 1989-04-27 1990-10-31 SCHLUMBERGER INDUSTRIES, INC. (a Delaware corporation) Adaptive network routing for power line communications
US5032833A (en) * 1989-04-27 1991-07-16 Schlumberger Industries, Inc. Adaptive network routing for power line communications
US6570880B1 (en) * 1998-08-21 2003-05-27 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Control data over a ring network
US20020115447A1 (en) * 2000-05-23 2002-08-22 Martin Jeffrey W. Methods and systems for correlating telecommunication antenna infrastructure placement information to provide telecommunication quality of service information
US7004907B2 (en) * 2004-04-07 2006-02-28 Triage Wireless, Inc. Blood-pressure monitoring device featuring a calibration-based analysis

Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8334787B2 (en) 2007-10-25 2012-12-18 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Gas meter having ultra-sensitive magnetic material retrofitted onto meter dial and method for performing meter retrofit
US8144596B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2012-03-27 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Communication and message route optimization and messaging in a mesh network
US8502640B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2013-08-06 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for transmitting and receiving information on a neighborhood area network
US8370697B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2013-02-05 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for power outage and restoration notification in an advanced metering infrastructure network
WO2009067262A2 (en) * 2007-11-25 2009-05-28 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Collector device and system utilizing standardized utility metering protocol
WO2009067262A3 (en) * 2007-11-25 2009-12-30 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Collector device and system utilizing standardized utility metering protocol
US8725274B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2014-05-13 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Energy use control system and method
US8332055B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2012-12-11 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Energy use control system and method
US8171364B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2012-05-01 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for power outage and restoration notification in an advanced metering infrastructure network
US8138934B2 (en) 2007-11-25 2012-03-20 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for false alert filtering of event messages within a network
US8699377B2 (en) 2008-09-04 2014-04-15 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for implementing mesh network communications using a mesh network protocol
US9621457B2 (en) 2008-09-04 2017-04-11 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for implementing mesh network communications using a mesh network protocol
WO2010026477A2 (en) * 2008-09-05 2010-03-11 Atkinson & Company Intellectual Property Limited Facilitating secure communication
CN102204214A (en) * 2008-09-05 2011-09-28 翁佐有限公司 Facilitating secure communication between utility devices
WO2010026477A3 (en) * 2008-09-05 2010-06-10 Atkinson & Company Intellectual Property Limited Facilitating secure communication between utility devices
US8289182B2 (en) 2008-11-21 2012-10-16 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Methods and systems for virtual energy management display
EP2401835A1 (en) * 2009-02-27 2012-01-04 Certicom Corp. System and method for securely communicating with electronic meters
EP2401835A4 (en) * 2009-02-27 2014-04-23 Certicom Corp System and method for securely communicating with electronic meters
US9037844B2 (en) 2009-02-27 2015-05-19 Itron, Inc. System and method for securely communicating with electronic meters
US8319658B2 (en) 2009-03-11 2012-11-27 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Process, device and system for mapping transformers to meters and locating non-technical line losses
US9189822B2 (en) 2009-03-11 2015-11-17 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Process, device and system for mapping transformers to meters and locating non-technical line losses
WO2011039758A1 (en) * 2009-10-02 2011-04-07 Miltel Communications Ltd. Method and system for providing web-enabled cellular access to meter reading data
US9084120B2 (en) 2010-08-27 2015-07-14 Trilliant Networks Inc. System and method for interference free operation of co-located transceivers
US9013173B2 (en) 2010-09-13 2015-04-21 Trilliant Networks, Inc. Process for detecting energy theft
US8832428B2 (en) 2010-11-15 2014-09-09 Trilliant Holdings Inc. System and method for securely communicating across multiple networks using a single radio
US9282383B2 (en) 2011-01-14 2016-03-08 Trilliant Incorporated Process, device and system for volt/VAR optimization
US8970394B2 (en) 2011-01-25 2015-03-03 Trilliant Holdings Inc. Aggregated real-time power outages/restoration reporting (RTPOR) in a secure mesh network
US8856323B2 (en) 2011-02-10 2014-10-07 Trilliant Holdings, Inc. Device and method for facilitating secure communications over a cellular network
US9041349B2 (en) 2011-03-08 2015-05-26 Trilliant Networks, Inc. System and method for managing load distribution across a power grid
EP2552055A1 (en) * 2011-07-26 2013-01-30 Itron Metering Solutions UK Ltd Registration of an electronic device with han capacities with a home area network
US9001787B1 (en) 2011-09-20 2015-04-07 Trilliant Networks Inc. System and method for implementing handover of a hybrid communications module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20080068214A1 (en) 2008-03-20
US8138944B2 (en) 2012-03-20
CA2662363A1 (en) 2008-03-20
WO2008033287A3 (en) 2008-06-19
CA2662363C (en) 2016-04-05
MX2009002800A (en) 2009-03-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2662363C (en) Home area networking (han) with handheld for diagnostics
CA2663067C (en) Distributing metering responses for load balancing an amr network
US9354083B2 (en) Home area networking (HAN) with low power considerations for battery devices
US20080074285A1 (en) Interface between meter and application (IMA)
US8024724B2 (en) Firmware download
US8724490B2 (en) Zigbee IP/6LowPan router
WO2008027455A2 (en) Orchestration manager
KR101093611B1 (en) Method and system for remote meter reading
WO2011129994A1 (en) Gateway-based ami network
AU2011379361B2 (en) Multi-WAN module
US8384558B2 (en) Extending contact life in remote disconnect applications
US8312103B2 (en) Periodic balanced communication node and server assignment
WO2008033293A2 (en) Distributing metering responses for load balancing an amr network
Pandey et al. Design and review of water management system using ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11 n, modbus, and other communication standards
US20130181845A1 (en) Ami network with workforce management hotspot access
US20080071930A1 (en) Native network transport
Page et al. Design of an open smart energy gateway for smart meter data management

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 07837945

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2662363

Country of ref document: CA

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: MX/A/2009/002800

Country of ref document: MX

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 07837945

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2