Water monitoring system using a random phase multiple access system
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, are configured for receiving monitor data from a water meter. A data stream is created based upon the monitor data. The data stream is spread with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code that is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point. The spread data stream is transmitted at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset. The spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset. The second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code.
1. A method of monitoring a water service, the method comprising:
receiving, at a processor, monitor data from a water meter;
creating a data stream based upon the monitor data;
spreading the data stream with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code, wherein the common PN code is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point; and
transmitting the spread data stream at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset, wherein the spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted, wherein the second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code, and wherein the second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if water pressure of the water service falls below a threshold;
initiating a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the determining if the water pressure of the water service falls below the threshold.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitor data comprises data representing water pressure, burst detection, leak detection, reversed flow, low battery, temperature, or tank levels.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining tampering of the water meter; and
initiating a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the determination of tampering.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first command to disconnect the water service monitored by the water meter; and
sending a second command to the water meter to disconnect the water service.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the access point, a monitor read schedule, wherein receiving the monitor data is based upon the received monitor read schedule.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the spread data stream is based upon a transmission schedule.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the access point, a transmission schedule, wherein transmitting the monitor data is based upon the received transmission schedule.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first randomly selected timing offset is between zero and a spreading factor used to spread the data stream minus one.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retransmitting the spread data stream with a third randomly selected timing offset if an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time period.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the common PN code comprises a gold code.
12. A water meter comprising:
a monitor configured to:
monitor a water service; and
provide monitor data based upon the monitoring of the water service; and
a transmit apparatus comprising:
a pseudo-noise (PN) spreader configured to receive a data stream comprising the monitor data and spread the data stream with a common PN code, wherein the common PN code is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point;
a delay module configured to generate a randomly selected timing offset for the spread data stream; and
a transmitter configured to transmit the spread data stream at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset, wherein the spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted, wherein the second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code, and wherein the second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset.
13. The water meter of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to:
determine if water pressure of the water service falls below a threshold;
initiate a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the determining if the water pressure of the water service falling below the threshold.
14. The water meter of claim 12 , wherein the monitor data comprises data representing water pressure, burst detection, leak detection, reversed flow, low battery, temperature, or tank levels.
15. The water meter of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to:
determine tampering of the water meter; and
initiate a transmission of the spread data stream based upon the determination of tampering.
16. The water meter of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to:
receive a first command to disconnect the water service monitored by the water meter; and
disconnect the water service.
17. The water meter monitor of claim 12 , further comprising a receiver configured to receive, from the access point, a monitor read schedule, wherein the monitor provides the monitor data based upon the monitor read schedule.
18. The water meter monitor of claim 12 , wherein the first randomly selected timing offset is between zero and a spreading factor used to spread the data stream minus one.
19. The water meter monitor of claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to retransmit the spread data stream with a third randomly selected timing offset provided by the delay module if an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time period.
20. The water meter of claim 12 , wherein the common PN code comprises a gold code.