초록

The AMR reporting sequence in each cell is assigned based upon the physical distance of an MIU which is being assigned an AMR reporting sequence number from the MIU which had been assigned the prior AMR reporting sequence number.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An improved cellular based, fixed network AMR system of the type which comprises:(i) at least one cell containing a concentrator unit which is able to use RF communications to transmit to meter interface units ("MIUs") within the cell and to receive RF communications from MIUs with

[ We claim:] [1.] An improved cellular based, fixed network AMR system of the type which comprises:(i) at least one cell containing a concentrator unit which is able to use RF communications to transmit to meter interface units ("MIUs") within the cell and to receive RF communications from MIUs within the cell; and(ii) means within each of said MIUs for transmitting data to said concentrator in a serial fashion such that upon receipt by said MIU of a command from the concentrator unit within said cell to transmit data, each of said MIUs will transmit its data to said concentrator serially, such that only one of said MIUs in each cell is transmitting its data at any time,the improvement comprising means for assigning to each MIU a number which constitutes said MIU's reporting sequence, said means for assigning being adapted to select MIUs to have adjacent temporal reporting sequences which are sufficiently distant from one another that the first of said MIUs to report will be far enough away from the following MIU to report that said following MIU to report will be unable to receive the RF transmission from said first MIU.