초록 ▼

The meter reading data transmission system includes a transmission unit having a meter reading transmitter coupled to a meter. The transmission unit further has an associated node for sending wireless meter reading messages. An intermediate transmission unit including a node receives the meter readi

The meter reading data transmission system includes a transmission unit having a meter reading transmitter coupled to a meter. The transmission unit further has an associated node for sending wireless meter reading messages. An intermediate transmission unit including a node receives the meter reading messages, and retransmits the messages. The retransmitted messages are received by a remotely located data collection station to enable the meter to be monitored from a distance.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A water reading data transmission system for communicating meter reading information for a group of meters, comprising:one set of meter reading transmitter/node means coupled to the meters for sending wireless meter reading messages periodically, wherein said meter readin

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A water reading data transmission system for communicating meter reading information for a group of meters, comprising:one set of meter reading transmitter/node means coupled to the meters for sending wireless meter reading messages periodically, wherein said meter reading messages include the meter reading information for each one of said plurality of meters;conductors means;said one set of meter reading transmitter/node means including a meter reading transmitter unit connected electrically to a plurality of the meters in the group by said conductor means to enable said meter reading transmitter unit to receive the meter reading information for each one of the plurality of meters;another set of meter reading transmitter/node means for receiving and re-transmitting said messages;a remotely located data collection station for receiving the re-transmitted messages to enable the meters to be monitored;said meter reading transmitter unit including processing means for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined event to enable said meter reading messages to be transmitted to said data collection station, wherein said meter reading messages are transmitted by said one set of meter reading transmitter/node means and received by said remotely located data collection station when the occurrence of said predetermined event is detected by said processing means;wherein said processing means includes counter means for accumulating the meter reading information, and said meter reading transmitter unit further including a transmitter responsive to said processing means for sending the accumulated meter reading information as the meter reading messages;wherein said one set of meter reading transmitter/node means further includes a node unit having a receiver for receiving the meter reading messages, and a transmitter responsive to the receipt of the messages for re-transmitting them to relay them toward the data collection station;wherein said node unit includes another processing means for adding a receiving node identity signal to the meter reading messages to enable a receiving node unit to identify meter reading messages intended to be received by said receiving node unit, and for adding a sending node identity signal to the meter reading messages to enable said receiving node unit to determine the identity of the node unit sending the meter reading messages;wherein said another processing means causes only those received messages having a higher node identity number to be retransmitted, as well as any messages received from meter reading transmitter units; andwherein the another processing means stores the identity of the lowest node identity number of a node unit transmitting a test message during an initialization mode of operation.