초록 ▼

A system for communication between multiple remote meter interfaces (RMI)s and a central office. The system includes multiple RMIs for reading meters and transmitting wireless data signals including meter readout information; multiple base repeater stations for receiving the wireless data signals wh

A system for communication between multiple remote meter interfaces (RMI)s and a central office. The system includes multiple RMIs for reading meters and transmitting wireless data signals including meter readout information; multiple base repeater stations for receiving the wireless data signals where each particular base repeater station recognizes the wireless data signal only from particular RMIs that have been identified to the base repeater station, concentrates the information from the identified RMIS, and passes the concentrated information through a master base station and a wide area network (WAN) to a central office. The base repeater station includes a receiver for receiving the wireless data signal, a transmitter for passing concentrated information to the master station, and a microcontroller including an identification (ID) list including the IDs of the RMIs with which the base repeater station is enabled to communicate.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for communicating with remote interfaces, comprising steps of:organizing time in a repeater station for alternating between scheduled time segments allocated to scheduled ones of said remote interfaces for scheduled communications with said scheduled remote inter

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for communicating with remote interfaces, comprising steps of:organizing time in a repeater station for alternating between scheduled time segments allocated to scheduled ones of said remote interfaces for scheduled communications with said scheduled remote interfaces and acquisition time segments for unscheduled communications with unscheduled ones of said remote interfaces, one of said scheduled time segments alternating with one of said acquisition time segments;allocating a first of said scheduled time segments in said repeater station to a first of said scheduled remote interfaces having a first identification;initiating a first of said scheduled communications within said first scheduled time segment by transmitting a data signal having sensor data and said first identification from said first scheduled remote interface;receiving first scheduled time segment signal energy including said data signal at said repeater station during said first scheduled time segment;transmitting a repeater signal including said sensor data from said repeater station when said first identification is detected in said first scheduled time segment signal energy;receiving said repeater signal at a master station; andtransmitting said sensor data from said master station for use by a central office.