Device, and associated method, for monitoring a meter
View Patent ↗An antenna is adapted for receiving via a CDMA/1xRTT digital wireless cellular radio communications network incoming data from a client remote control station, and for transmitting via a wireless cellular communications network outgoing data to the client remote control station. A cellular modem is connected to the antenna for establishing a wireless telephony data connection, and a processor is connected to the modem for receiving and processing incoming data, and for processing and communicating outgoing data to the modem for transmission via the antenna and the wireless cellular communications network to the client remote control station. A communication interface is connected to the processor and connectable to the meter for communicating incoming data from the processor to the meter, and for communicating the outgoing data from the meter to the processor. A power supply is connected for supplying power to the processor and the modem.
1. A device for monitoring a meter, the device comprising:
an antenna adapted for receiving via a network incoming data from a client remote control station, and for transmitting via a network outgoing data to said client remote control station;
a cellular modem coupled to said antenna for establishing a wireless telephony data connection;
a server processor coupled to said server modem for receiving and processing incoming data, and for processing and communicating outgoing data to said modem for transmission via said antenna and said network to said client remote control station;
a communication interface connected to said server processor and connectable to said meter for communicating incoming data from said server processor to said meter, and for communicating said outgoing data from said meter to said server processor; and
program code residing in said modem for:
receiving a message inquiring whether the network is available;
generating a reply indicating network availability;
receiving an instruction to listen for an inbound data call;
generating an acknowledgment of the instruction received;
facilitating the opening of a traffic channel between the modem and the network;
generating a message to the server processor indicating that there is a traffic channel open on the network;
facilitating establishing a point-to-point protocol (PPP) between the modem and the network;
generating a message to the server processor that a PPP is set up between the modem and the network;
facilitating establishing a mobile IP number between the modem and the network;
generating a message to the server processor to enter into a Listen mode;
generating a request to establish a connection between the modem and the client remote control station;
generating a connection message to the server processor;
facilitating establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) between the modem and client remote control station;
generating a message to the server processor to enable data carrier detect (DCD) signaling;
facilitating the transmission of data between the server processor and the client remote control station;
closing the connection between the modem and client remote control station;
generating a message to the server processor to disable DCD signaling;
generating a message to the server processor to enter a Listen mode;
generating a request to close the connection between the server processor and the client remote control station and enter into one of a circuit switch data (CSD) mode and a TCP-IP mode;
receiving from the server processor a message indicating that the server processor is exiting from the Listen mode;
generating an acknowledgment that the server processor is no longer in the Listen mode;
facilitating closing of the mobile IP and PPP connection between the modem and the network; and
generating a message to the server processor to disconnect from the modem.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said communication interface is a serial communication interface.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said communication interface is operable utilizing a transistor-to-transistor logic (TTL) communication protocol.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said communication interface is operable utilizing an RS-232 communication protocol.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said communication interface further comprises an optical-isolation circuit effective for electrically isolating said device from the meter.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said processor is operable for buffering data.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said processor further comprises two or more communication ports and Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters (USARTs) operable for simultaneous communications with two or more components.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said antenna is adapted for communicating at two or more frequencies.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said antenna is configured for being mounted within said meter.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said antenna is configured for being mounted externally of said meter.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said modem is a circuit-switched modem.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is configured for being mounted within said meter.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device is configured for being mounted externally of said meter.
14. The device of claim 1 , wherein said power supply is adapted for receiving power externally from the power source supplying power to said meter.
15. The device of claim 1 , wherein said power supply is an auto-ranging power supply.
16. The device of claim 1 , wherein said power supply is an auto-ranging power supply adapted for receiving power having a voltage from about 80 volts AC RMS to about 520 volts AC RMS.
17. The device of claim 1 , wherein said power supply comprises a battery.
18. The device of claim 1 , wherein said modem is operable for receiving incoming data and transmitting outgoing data utilizing a protocol comprising one of IS-95A/B, Dynamic Host Configurable Protocol (DHCP), and a static Internet protocol (IP).
19. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a serial communications port connected to said processor for facilitating diagnostics of said device, diagnostics of said meter, diagnostics of a remote terminal unit (RTU), programming of said meter, programming of said modem, programming of said processor, communications with other end point devices.
20. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a TTL port connected to said processor for facilitating diagnostics and programming of said processor and said modem.
21. The device of claim 1 , wherein said meter is at least one of an electric meter, a gas meter, a water meter, an automated teller machine (ATM), a remote terminal unit (RTU), and an endpoint device comprising at least one of a pump, an electric power regulator, capacitors, relays, an operational control reclosure (OCR), a device which may be monitored via a communications interface, a device requiring changes, and a device requiring a status update.
22. The device of claim 1 , wherein said network is a packet data serving node (PDSN).
23. The device of claim 1 , wherein said network is a digital wireless cellular communications network.
24. A method for monitoring a meter, comprising steps performed by a modem of:
receiving from a server processor a message inquiring whether a network is available;
generating to said server processor a reply indicating network availability;
receiving from said server processor an instruction to listen for an inbound data call;
generating to said server processor an acknowledgment of the instruction received;
facilitating the opening of a traffic channel between the modem and the network;
generating a message to the server processor indicating that there is a traffic channel open on the network;
facilitating establishing a point-to-point protocol (PPP) between the modem and the network;
generating a message to the server processor that a PPP is set up between the modem and the network;
facilitating establishing a mobile IP number between the modem and the network;
generating a message to the server processor to enter into a Listen mode;
generating a request to establish a connection between the modem and a client remote control station;
generating a connection message to the server processor;
facilitating establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) between the modem and client remote control station;
generating a message to the server processor to enable data carrier detect (DCD) signaling;
facilitating the transmission of data between the server processor and the client remote control station;
closing the connection between the modem and client remote control station;
generating a message to the server processor to disable DCD signaling;
generating a message to the server processor to enter a Listen mode;
generating a request to close the connection between the server processor and the client remote control station and enter into one of a circuit switch data (CSD) mode and a TCP-IP mode;
receiving from the server processor a message indicating that the server processor is exiting from the Listen mode;
generating an acknowledgment that the server processor is no longer in the Listen mode;
facilitating closing of the mobile IP and PPP connection between the modem and the network; and
generating a message to the server processor to disconnect from the modem.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein said step of receiving a message further comprises receiving said message via a wireless digital cellular communications network.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein said step of forwarding said message further comprises buffering said message and adjusting the baud rate of the transmission of said message from said modem to said meter.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein said step of forwarding said data to said modem further comprises buffering said data and adjusting the baud rate of the transmission of said message from said meter to said modem.
28. The method of claim 24 , wherein said communication to said client remote control station further comprises communication via a wireless digital cellular communications network to said client remote control station.
29. The method of claim 24 , wherein said steps of forwarding said message and receiving said meter data further comprise using a transistor-to-transistor logic (TTL) communication protocol.
30. The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of entering a wait state following of step of forwarding said message from said modem to said meter and until the step of receiving said meter data from said meter.
31. The method of claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the steps of receiving a message and forwarding said message are performed simultaneously.
32. The method of claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the steps of receiving said meter data and forwarding said meter data are performed simultaneously.
33. The method of claim 24 , wherein said network is a packet data serving node (PDSN).
34. The method of claim 24 , wherein said network is a digital wireless cellular communications network.