The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1999
David E. Campbell, Mountain View, CA (US);
Eric T. Kiser, Lesage, WV (US);
American Meter Co., Scott Depot, WV (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a unidirectional protocol for communicating data from a plurality of utility meters and a meter adapted to carry out this protocol. The meters are adapted to monitor and measure the respective utility parameters which may include those for gas, water, electric or other utilities, and wirelessly download the information to a meter reading device. The protocol basically includes a synchronization pattern followed by the desired information. For a valid transmission, the synchronization pattern and subsequent data are provided in a first transmission sequence, which is immediately repeated after the end of the first sequence. Preferably, a bit is toggled during the retransmission of the transmission sequence for security.