High traffic data transmission

1. A method of receiving data by a collector node, comprising:

listening, by the collector node, during a first listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel;

in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel;

collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices;

receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices;

listening, during a second listening period, for an alert notification;

if an alert notification is received in response to listening for the alert notification, terminating receiving data from one of the plurality of RF devices; and

receiving an alert data message from an RF device,

wherein the first listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, sending an acknowledgement to the one of the plurality of RF devices.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving data from the at least one of the plurality of RF devices includes receiving utility usage data read at a utility meter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first listening period and the collecting period are based on a time of day.

5. A method of transmitting data to a collector node, comprising:

initiating, by a first remote node, transmitting data to the collector node during a first transmitting period, wherein initiating transmitting data to the collector node during the first transmitting period further comprises:

sending a hailing signal to the collector node on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel, and

in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the collector node responsive to the hailing signal, the first remote node switching to the specified data channel and sending data to the collector node on the specified data channel;

in response to receiving a request from the collector node during a second transmitting period, transmitting data to the collector node;

responsive to the occurrence of an alert condition, transmitting, by a second remote node, an alert to the collector node;

if an alert notification is received in response to listening for the alert notification, terminating receiving data from one of the plurality of RF devices; and

receiving an alert data message from an RF device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein transmitting the alert notification occurs during one of the first transmitting period and the second transmitting period.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein a single device comprises the first remote node and the second remote node.

8. A collector node, comprising:

a processor;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;

an antenna; and

a memory, the memory being configured to store instructions to be executed by the processor for performing the following:

listening, by the collector node, during a first listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel;

in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel;

collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices;

receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices;

listening, during a second listening period, for an alert notification;

receiving an alert notification from a second RF device during the collecting of, the one of the plurality of RF devices,

terminating receiving data from the one of the plurality of RF devices; and

receiving an alert data message from the second RF device,

wherein the listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.

9. The collector node of claim 8 , wherein the memory is further configured to perform the following:

in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, sending an acknowledgement to the one of the plurality of RF devices.

10. The collector node of claim 8 , wherein receiving data from the at least one of the plurality of RF devices includes receiving utility usage data read at a utility meter.

11. The collector node of claim 8 , wherein the first listening period and the collecting period are based on a time of day.

12. A method for collecting data by a collector node, comprising:

listening, by the collector node, during a first listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel;

in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel;

collecting, by the collector node, data from the plurality of RF devices; receiving, on a first transceiver of the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices;

listening, on a second transceiver of the collector node, for an alert notification;

if an alert notification is received in response to listening for the alert notification, terminating receiving data from one of the plurality of RF device; and

receiving an alert data message from an RF device.