Meter apparatus, metering network, and metering method thereof

1. A meter apparatus, comprising:

a pulse generator, configured to generate a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource;

an optical sensor, configured to detect the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader;

a spinning disc, configured to produce an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource;

a magnetic sensor, configured to detect the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader;

the meter reader, configured to determine that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be less than or equal to a predetermined speed limit, and configured to generate a reading based only on the valid one of the first and second signals.

2. The meter apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the meter reader, configured to determine whether the first and second signals correspond to substantially a same amount of the consumed resource, and generate a reading according to substantially the same amount of the consumed resource when the first and second signals correspond to substantially a same amount of the consumed resource.

3. The meter apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the meter reader, configured to determine that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be a regular speed, and configured to generate the reading based on the valid one of the first and second signals.

4. The meter apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is coupled to the magnetic sensor, and the magnetic sensor is configured to transmit the first and second signals to the meter reader via a common transmission line.

5. A metering network, comprising:

an apparatus, comprising:

a pulse generator, configured to generate a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource;

an optical sensor, configured to detect the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader;

a spinning disc, configured to produce an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource; and

a magnetic sensor, configured to detect the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader; and

the meter reader, configured to determine a reading according to the first and second signals, determine that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be less than or equal to a predetermined speed limit, and generate the reading based only on the valid one of the first and second signals.

6. The metering network of claim 5 , wherein the meter reader is configured to determine whether the first and second signals correspond to substantially a same amount of the consumed resource, and generate a reading according to substantially the same amount of the consumed resource when the first and second signals correspond to substantially a same amount of the consumed resource.

7. The metering network of claim 5 , wherein the meter reader is configured to determine that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be a regular speed, and generate the reading based on the valid one of the first and second signals.

8. The metering network of claim 5 , wherein the optical sensor is coupled to the magnetic sensor, and the magnetic sensor is configured to transmit the first and second signals to the meter reader via a common transmission line.

9. The metering network of claim 5 , further comprising a server, configured to store the reading from the meter reader.

10. A metering method, performed by a meter apparatus, comprising:

generating a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource;

detecting the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader;

producing an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource;

detecting the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader;

determining that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be less than or equal to a predetermined speed limit; and

generating a reading based only on the valid one of the first and second signals.

11. The metering method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a reading according to the first and second signals.

12. The metering method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining whether the first and second signals correspond to substantially a same amount of the consumed resource; and

generating a reading according to substantially the same amount of the consumed resource when the first and second signals correspond to substantially a same amount of the consumed resource.

13. The metering method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be a regular speed; and

generating the reading based only on the valid one of the first and second signals.

14. The metering method of claim 10 , further comprising:

coupling the optical sensor to the magnetic sensor; and

transmitting the first and second signals to the meter reader via a common transmission line.

15. A meter apparatus, comprising:

a pulse generator, configured to generate a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource;

an optical sensor, configured to detect the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader;

a spinning disc, configured to produce an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource;

a magnetic sensor, configured to detect the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader;

the meter reader, configured to determine that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be a regular speed, and configured to generate a reading based on the valid one of the first and second signals.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a pulse generator, configured to generate a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource;

an optical sensor, configured to detect the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader;

a spinning disc, configured to produce an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource; and

a magnetic sensor, configured to detect the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader; and

the meter reader, configured to determine a reading according to the first and second signals, determine that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be a regular speed, and generate the reading based on the valid one of the first and second signals.

17. A metering method, performed by a meter apparatus, comprising:

generating a number of pulses proportional to an amount of a consumed resource;

detecting the number of pulses to generate a first signal, and transmit the first signal to a meter reader;

producing an amount of rotation proportional to the amount of the consumed resource;

detecting the amount of the rotation to generate a second signal, and transmit the second signal to the meter reader;

determining that one of the first and second signals is valid when a speed of the one of the first and second signals is indicated to be a regular speed; and

generating a reading based only on the valid one of the first and second signals.