Abstract: A method for enabling a single antenna and a single GPS or other receiver to transmit GPS data to multiple software applications is disclosed herein. A GPS satellite transmits GPS data to a GPS receiver through an antenna. The GPS data travels to a GPS splitter, where the GPS data is transmitted to a GPS utility data collection application and to another GPS application. The software applications can be on a single or on multiple computers.

Abstract: In a system for automatic meter reading of utility meters, a utility supply measuring system may include one or more collector units, wherein each one of the collector units accesses a supply of a utility, wherein the accessing occurs in addition to receiving meter reading data from a telemetry device, such as a telemetry device coupled to a utility. In accessing the supply of the utility, the collector unit component may itself be at least loosely coupled to a utility supply, or may communicate with a device that monitors quality, such as an outage detector. A method for transmitting utility supply data for such communications may include continuously transmitting a PN sequence code over a single channel.

Abstract: A self-calibrating radio frequency transmitter includes an adjustable oscillator, a first frequency counter, a second frequency counter, and a comparer. The radio frequency transmitter is powered by an AC power line, which presents a line frequency. The transmitter contains an adjustable frequency oscillator that oscillates at an oscillator frequency and has a desired operating frequency. The first frequency counter counts the oscillator frequency while the second frequency counter counts the line frequency. The comparer compares the counted oscillator frequency to the counted line frequency and produces an output representative of the difference between the counted line frequency and the counted oscillator frequency. This difference in frequency indicates a deviation in the oscillator frequency from the desired operating frequency. The output from the comparer is input to the oscillator to adjust the oscillator frequency back to the desired operating frequency.

Abstract: A distributed meter reading terminal provides meter communication capabilities. For example, an operator may approach one or more meters with a portable first portion of a distributed meter reading apparatus. Communication is established between the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and the one or more meters so that data can be collected from the one or more meters. Communication is then established between the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and a second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus, which may also be portable and which may include processing capabilities that allow for the management of collected data. The collected data is then transferred from the first portion to the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus. The first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus may otherwise operate independently.

Abstract: A self-calibrating radio frequency transmitter includes an adjustable oscillator, a first frequency counter, a second frequency counter, and a comparer. The radio frequency transmitter is powered by an AC power line, which presents a line frequency. The transmitter contains an adjustable frequency oscillator that oscillates at an oscillator frequency and has a desired operating frequency. The first frequency counter counts the oscillator frequency while the second frequency counter counts the line frequency. The comparer compares the counted oscillator frequency to the counted line frequency and produces an output representative of the difference between the counted line frequency and the counted oscillator frequency. This difference in frequency indicates a deviation in the oscillator frequency from the desired operating frequency. The output from the comparer is input to the oscillator to adjust the oscillator frequency back to the desired operating frequency.

Abstract: A method and system of compensating for reference frequency drift utilizes time stamps from a networked reference clock to adjust a local crystal oscillator of a communications device. In an example embodiment, a microprocessor arrangement of the communications device obtains a synchronization time stamp from a networked clock arrangement and synchronizes the local oscillator clock and a clock circuit of the microprocessor with the time stamp. After a predetermined time duration has transpired, a calibration time stamp is obtained from the network clock and the difference between the calibration time stamp and the current time of the clock circuit is extracted. The clock circuit and the networked clock arrangement are then synchronized and the local crystal oscillator is adjusted for crystal aging as a function of the difference between the calibration time stamp and the current time of the clock circuit.

Abstract: A method and system of compensating for reference frequency drift utilizes time stamps from a networked reference clock to adjust a local crystal oscillator of a communications device. In an example embodiment, a microprocessor arrangement of the communications device obtains a synchronization time stamp from a networked clock arrangement and synchronizes the local oscillator clock and a clock circuit of the microprocessor with the time stamp. After a predetermined time duration has transpired, a calibration time stamp is obtained from the network clock and the difference between the calibration time stamp and the current time of the clock circuit is extracted. The clock circuit and the networked clock arrangement are then synchronized and the local crystal oscillator is adjusted for crystal aging as a function of the difference between the calibration time stamp and the current time of the clock circuit.