초록 ▼

An automatic meter reading data communication system having an integrated digital encoder and two-way wireless transceiver that is attachable to a wide variety of utility meters for meter data collection and information management. The integrated encoder and transceiver communicates commodity usage

An automatic meter reading data communication system having an integrated digital encoder and two-way wireless transceiver that is attachable to a wide variety of utility meters for meter data collection and information management. The integrated encoder and transceiver communicates commodity usage information over a two-way 900 MHz spread spectrum local area network (LAN) to a remotely located communication node. The communication node transmits this data to a utility service provider over a commercially available fixed wide area network (WAN). The utility service provider may also request data from the communication node over the same fixed wide area network.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An automatic meter reading data communication system for obtaining commodity utilization data from a commodity meter, said automatic meter reading data communication system comprising:an interface management unit removably attachable to the exterior of the commodity met

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An automatic meter reading data communication system for obtaining commodity utilization data from a commodity meter, said automatic meter reading data communication system comprising:an interface management unit removably attachable to the exterior of the commodity meter, the interface management unit including a sealed housing enclosing a digital encoder having an input positionable to obtain commodity utilization data from the commodity meter through the sealed housing, the interface management unit including software programmable to interpret the commodity utilization data based upon the type of commodity meter to which the interface management unit is attached;a gateway node located remotely from interface management unit and communicating with the interface management unit over a two-way wireless local area network; andwherein said gateway node communicates with a utility service provider over a two-way fixed common carrier wide area network.