Abstract: An antenna for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) module comprises a pin and a radiator. The radiator may be a disk radiator for example, that comprises an opening which may receive the pin. Desirably, the pin is affixed to the radiator at one end, and is disposed on a ground plane at the other end. The antenna may be a top loaded short monopole antenna, for example. Additionally, the antenna may be used in a module for a water meter. The pin and disk radiator may be stamped from a single sheet of material.

Abstract: The system includes a number of first meters, which are typically battery powered transmit only devices. The system includes a number of two-way meters, which are operable to both transmit and receive data. The first meters transmit their data to the collector either directly or indirectly via the two-way meters, which serve as intermediaries. Multiple records from each first meter may be stored at each of the two-way meters, thereby ensuring that records from a one-way meter will not be blocked when an attempt is made to forward them to the collector. Furthermore, multiple records from each first meter may be stored at the collector, thereby enabling the transmission and storage of meter records in a number of different formats. Additionally, records from each first meter are marked to reflect a sequence in which they are generated, thereby ensuring that the collector will store the most recent data records available.

Abstract: A load control system that communicates with existing automated meter reading communications systems to interrupt and shed loads at a customer location. The system includes a master controller that listens to communications between a utility meter and the reading system. The controller receives tier and/or pricing information and will instruct a load control unit to interrupt certain loads based on the information. In addition, the system may be employed as a load shedding system where a command may be forwarded to the master controller to disconnect loads based on action levels. The command may be sent via a TCP/IP communications system to a node in the reading system and the forwarded via a radio network to the master controller to reduce latency. Predictive shedding may be performed based on forecast loads.

Abstract: A display system that communicates with existing automated meter reading communications systems to provide information to a user. The display includes a radio that listens to communications between a utility meter and the reading system. When the display recognizes a particular utility meter identifier, it captures meter read information and stores it in memory. The information may then be presented to the user. Alternatively, a broadcast message may be communicated, that when received by the display, causes the display to extract information from the receiver. A manual override button may be provided to allow a user to manually request information from the meter. The display will extract information from the meter upon receipt of the manual request.

Abstract: A system for transferring a sequence of actions to an electronic meter through a bandwidth limited communications channel. The sequence of actions is programmed as a program file that is broken into pieces for transmission to the electronic meter. The pieces are received by the electronic meter, verified not to contain errors, and combined into a single program session. Any errors in the transmission are noted in a status table and the program file is retransmitted. Upon receipt of an execute command, the program session is commenced. After the session has completed the status table is updated. Thus, the electronic meter may be programmed in a programming session that contains more data than can be transferred via the bandwidth limited communications channel.

Abstract: An improved automated meter reading (AMR) device includes only a single electrical connection rather than multiple electrical connections, thereby reducing potential paths of exposure to natural elements. The AMR device monitors the single electrical connection to detect when a programming device is connected to the AMR device. When such a programming device is connected, the AMR device operates in a slave mode that enables the AMR device to be configured for interacting with a particular type of meter. The slave mode may also enable testing of various features of the AMR device such as, for example, its data transmitting capabilities. When the AMR device is not connected to a programming device, the AMR device operates in a master mode that enables the AMR device to interact with a connected meter in accordance with the AMR device's configuration.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of housings for an automatic meter reading device permit the automatic meter reading device to be mounted on a meter such as a water meter, or on a wall remote from the meter. A removable portion of the housing can be separated from a body of the housing when the housing is used to mount the automatic meter reading device on the meter.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for providing a time reference in utility meter network. The novel method includes transmitting a message from a meter to a receiving device (e.g., another meter, a collector, a data collection server), where the message includes an interval and a sequence number. The interval is converted to a time stamp, which is used to time-stamp the message in the receiving device. The novel method reads data from the meter and stores the data as a function of the sequence number.

Abstract: A system for determining a service outages and restorations that includes an outage management server (OMS) that generates reports outages and restoration information for metering endpoints. The outages may be caused by faults at various locations in the distribution network. The metering endpoint may include a transmitter having a battery backup that transmits the outage information upon a failure to detect a voltage at the endpoint. The transmission of the information may be filtered based on configurable criteria. The metering endpoints may also inform the OMS when power is restored. Thus, a utility may better service its customers by focusing manpower efforts using the outage and restoration information generated by the OMS.

Abstract: Methods and systems of enforcing a demand reset in a meter that communicates via a wireless network. When billing data is received by a server, it is accompanied by a demand reset counter. The counter is compared to a counter stored on the server. If they received counter is less than the server counter, it is determined that the meter missed a demand reset. The server then instructs the meter to perform a billing read and to perform a demand reset to ensure that accurate demand data is received by the server.

Abstract: The invention includes an electronic utility meter, a data collector/meter and a method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system. The inventive method includes communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter, and communicating the data with the first electronic utility meter and one or more other meters.

Abstract: A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instructions to the level one meters to scan for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the level one meters. The collector registers meters that respond as level two meters. A qualification threshold used in the registration process is adjustable.

Abstract: Meters are configured using either a program update method or a meter update method. In the program update method, meters associated with a specified configuration program are identified and configured with updated parameters. In the meter update method, a specified set of meters is configured with a specified set of updated configuration parameters. The meter update method enables both time of use and other configuration parameters to be updated. Both methods enable various actions to be performed in conjunction with a meter configuration. Such actions may include, for example, recording a snapshot of current billing data, resetting billing data, and resetting demand data.

Abstract: The system includes a number of first meters, which are typically battery powered transmit only devices. The system includes a number of two-way meters, which are operable to both transmit and receive data. The first meters transmit their data to the collector either directly or indirectly via the two-way meters, which serve as intermediaries. Multiple records from each first meter may be stored at each of the two-way meters, thereby ensuring that records from a one-way meter will not be blocked when an attempt is made to forward them to the collector. Furthermore, multiple records from each first meter may be stored at the collector, thereby enabling the transmission and storage of meter records in a number of different formats. Additionally, records from each first meter are marked to reflect a sequence in which they are generated, thereby ensuring that the collector will store the most recent data records available.