Itron Gmbh

Iris Systems Inc.

Dennis F Johnson

Michael Wiebe

Erwin Holowick

James J Schellenberg

Nathan R Jacob

Michael S Stasenski

Michael F Murphy

Michael F Murhpy

Don Marcynuk

A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the messages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from a previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.

Radio communication network for collecting data from utility meters

Wide area communications network for remote data generating stations

A wide area communications network communicating data from a plurality of network service modules through a plurality of remote cell nodes and intermediate data terminals to a central data terminal. The wide area communicates network collects network generated by a plurality of physical devices such as gas, water or electricity meters, located within a geographical area. The wide area communications network is a layered network have a hierarchical communications topology. The central data terminal controls network operation. Intelligence exists at all layers of the network, thereby easing the workload of the central data terminal. The intelligence attributed to each module is a function of the application of that module.

A method for communicating data between a central data terminal, a plurality of intermediate data terminals, a plurality of remote cell nodes, and a plurality of network service modules, using a plurality of frames with each frame having a plurality of channels. The plurality of intermediate data terminals transmit IDT-synchronization signals to the plurality of remote cell nodes on a first channel of the frame. The plurality of remote cell nodes transmit RCN-synchronization signals to the plurality of network service modules on a second channel of the frame. The network service modules transmit data from a plurality of physical devices, using radio waves, as NSM-packet signals to the plurality of remote cell nodes using a fourth channel of the frame. The plurality of remote cell nodes store the incoming NSM-packet signals and, responsive to a first polling signal transmitted in a third channel of the frame from a particular intermediate data terminal, transmit the NSM-packet signals to the intermediate data terminal as RCN-packet signals on a fifth channel of the frame. The intermediate data terminal in turn stores the RCN-packet signals received from the plurality of remote cell nodes and, responsive to a second polling signal transmitted from the central data terminal on a sixth channel of the frame, transmits the RCN-packet signals as an IDT-packet signal on a seventh channel of the frame to the central data terminal.

Communications protocol for remote data generating stations

A wide area communications network communicating data from a plurality of network service modules through a plurality of remote cell nodes and intermediate data terminals to a central data terminal. The wide area communications network collects network data generated by a plurality of physical devices such as gas, water or electricity meters, located within a geographical area. The wide area communications network is a layered network having a hierarchical communications topology. The central data terminal controls network operation. Intelligence exists at all layers of the network, thereby easing the workload of the central data terminal. The intelligence attributed to each module is a function of the application of that module.

Radio communication network for remote data generating stations

A system for detection of tampering with a utility meter provides not only an indication that tampering has occurred but also sufficient information to enable an estimation of actual consumption to be made as opposed to the tampered metered consumption. The device includes a plurality of tampering sensors sensing tilt, electric field, magnetic field, temperature, sound, reverse rotation of a moving element and excessive difference between metered consumption and an approximate actual consumption. The device also measures the movement of the moving element. These sensed signals are recorded in sequential time periods of for example eight hours so that an analysis can be made on a daily basis to provide an accurate pattern of consumption as opposed to the tampered meter consumption pattern.

Tamper detection device for utility meter

A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the mesages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from the previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.

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Winnipeg, Canada

Dennis F Johnson