초록 ▼

A great number (typically over 1 million) radio-communicating monitors of electricity consumption (typically all-electronic computerized wattmeters) distributed over a large geographical area (typically over 4500 square miles) communicate over radio frequency band (typically V.H.F. band at a one of

A great number (typically over 1 million) radio-communicating monitors of electricity consumption (typically all-electronic computerized wattmeters) distributed over a large geographical area (typically over 4500 square miles) communicate over radio frequency band (typically V.H.F. band at a one of three different frequencies) to multiple (typically over 45) regional central stations. Communication both to and from distant monitors is multi-path multi-link radio through intervening monitors, commonly located each in an associated annular concentric ring centered about a regional central station. Individual monitors from 0 to typically 5.64 miles distance from regional central stations are individually interrogated of typically 25 bytes information in typically up to 5 relays both outgoing and incoming during a time interval of up to typically 9.78 seconds at data transfer rates of typically 6 kbaud/second. Some 1.2 million monitors, called "demand relay meters" can typically be read out in 55 hours. Any individual demand relay meter can be accessed for instantaneous electrical consumption, and well as a demand profile history, for load monitoring and for load-sensitive billing purposes.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [5.] A communications system for addressably communicating, at least in part by radio, with each individual one of a great multiplicity of monitors of the usage of electricity per periods, the multiplicity of monitors being distributed over a geographical area, the communicati

[ What is claimed is:] [5.] A communications system for addressably communicating, at least in part by radio, with each individual one of a great multiplicity of monitors of the usage of electricity per periods, the multiplicity of monitors being distributed over a geographical area, the communications system comprising:a great multiplicity of uniquely-identified geographically-distributed radio-communicating monitors divided into a multiplicity of geographically-adjoining groups each of which groups contains a multiplicity of monitors, no more than six groups adjoining any one group in a tessellation of the geographical area, the multiplicity of monitors within each group being both (i) individually addressable by radio each in accordance with its unique identification, (ii) to report by radio, at a one or more radio frequencies that are both different from all radio frequencies of each adjoining group and insufficiently strong so as to interfere with radio communications transpiring within non-adjoining groups, making that at most three different frequencies or groups of frequencies need be used for and between all groups;a central monitoring station within each of the multiplicity of groups, each central monitoring stationsequentially addressing by radio at known times of its sole choice each of the multiplicity of monitors within the associated group,so as to sequentially receive by radio data regarding the use of electricity per periods from each of the each of the addressed monitors at the times that each said monitor is addressed, andfurther communicating received monitor-specific data to a headquarters station; anda headquarters station, communicating in parallel with each of the central monitoring stations within each of the multiplicity of groups in orderto direct the sequential addressing of monitors within the associated group transpiring concurrently at each of the central monitoring stations, andto receive the monitor-specific data from the great multiplicity of monitors each via the central monitoring stations of its associated group, the central monitoring stations of the multiplicity of groups communicating with the headquarters station concurrently, and in parallel;wherein radio communication to, and from, the great multiplicity of monitors is transpiring in parallel within the geographical area, and so is communication between the headquarters station and the multiplicity of central monitoring stations;wherein the central monitoring stations are capable of interpreting, in consideration of the known times at which communications were made to each monitor, the communicated usages of electricity per periods from each monitor, and from many monitors in parallel, so as to thereby produce composite time of day and of week and month and year information that is supportive of, inter alia, electrical generation planning and load leveling.