A computer-implemented data management system for sensor-centric data management is shown. The management system includes a metering analytics system configured to receive and store meter data received from sensors in or in proximity with utility meters, the meter data being generated by the sensors. The management system further includes a sensor-centric database for storing sensor data according to a sensor identifier, the sensor data describing the sensor associated with the sensor identifier. The database includes a data exchange interface configured to receive a transaction for storage in the sensor-centric database including a record of sensor data and an "assert" or "retract" operation type.
A computer implemented method implemented on a computer system includes non-transient memory storing instructions for configuring a plurality of district metering areas within a utility supply network. The method includes identifying a plurality of flow measurement devices, wherein each flow measurement device is connected by a directional connection to at least one other flow measurement device, generating a utility supply network representation based on the directional connections between the flow measurement devices, and generating a plurality of district metering areas for the utility supply network representation, each district metering area being a directed acyclic graph based on the directional connections and including a subset of the plurality of flow measuring devices and including at least one flow measurement device designated as a supply meter, at least one flow measurement device designated as a demand meter and at least one calculated flow measurement determined based on the flow measurements of the at least one supply meter and the at least one demand meter.
G01F 15/061 - Dispositifs d'indication ou d'enregistrement pour l'indication à distance
G06Q 50/06 - Fourniture d'électricité, de gaz ou d'eau
G01F 15/075 - Intégration pour obtenir le débit total, p.ex. en utilisant un mécanisme intégrateur actionné mécaniquement en utilisant des moyens d'intégration actionnés électriquement
3.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING DISTRICT METERING AREAS BASED ON METER DESIGNATIONS
A computer implemented method implemented on a computer system includes non transient memory storing instructions for configuring a plurality of district metering areas within a utility supply network. The method includes identifying a plurality of flow measurement devices, wherein each flow measurement device is connected by a directional connection to at least one other flow measurement device, generating a utility supply network representation based on the directional connections between the flow measurement devices, and generating a plurality of district metering areas for the utility supply network representation, each district metering area being a directed acyclic graph based on the directional connections and including a subset of the plurality of flow measuring devices and including at least one flow measurement device designated as a supply meter and at least one flow measurement device designated as a demand meter.
G01F 15/00 - MESURE DES VOLUMES, DES DÉBITS VOLUMÉTRIQUES, DES DÉBITS MASSIQUES OU DU NIVEAU DES LIQUIDES; COMPTAGE VOLUMÉTRIQUE - Détails des appareils des groupes ou accessoires pour ces derniers, dans la mesure où de tels accessoires ou détails ne sont pas adaptés à ces types particuliers d'appareils, p.ex. pour l'indication à distance
G06Q 50/06 - Fourniture d'électricité, de gaz ou d'eau
A computer implemented method implemented on a computer system including non-transient memory storing instructions for identifying leak locations based on environmental includes tracking a utility supply usage environment in environmental imagery captured over a period of time, identifying changes in the environmental imagery indicative of a leak location, applying a property profile to the utility supply usage environment to generate leak location property data, identifying one or more flow measurement devices based on the leak location and leak location property data, and generating a leak notification based on the leak location in the environmental imagery, the property profile data and meter data from the identified one or more flow measurement devices
G01M 3/04 - Examen de l'étanchéité des structures ou ouvrages vis-à-vis d'un fluide par utilisation d'un fluide ou en faisant le vide par détection de la présence du fluide à l'emplacement de la fuite
G06Q 50/06 - Fourniture d'électricité, de gaz ou d'eau
G06V 20/00 - RECONNAISSANCE OU COMPRÉHENSION D’IMAGES OU DE VIDÉOS Éléments spécifiques à la scène
5.
ULTRASONIC WATER METER CONFIGURED TO FACILITATE MEASUREMENT ELECTRONICS REPLACEMENT
An ultrasonic flow meter is configured to facilitate replacement of flow measurement electronics. The flow meter includes flow measurement electronics including a plurality of transducer assemblies transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves through a flow for ultrasonic measurement of the flow and a flow meter body. The flow meter body includes a conduit providing a flow passage through the flow meter body, an electronics receptacle configured to receive the flow measurement electronics to form an electronics housing compartment, a plurality of transducer housings configured to receive transducer assemblies and position one or more transducers of the transducer assemblies relative to the conduit, and at least two pass- through apertures directly between the electronics housing into each of the plurality of transducer housings.
A computer implemented method for selecting m appropriately sized meter tor use in a selected application implemented by a computer processor Implementing instructions stored in a non-transient memory is described. The instructions include receiving utility meter data transmitted from a plurality of utility meters, each utility meter being installed at a unique utility monitoring location, identifying incorrectly sized utility meters based on utility meter data for particular utility meters feat displays quantization effects, and selecting an appropriate meter based on the identification of the utility meters displaying quantization effects.
A transmitter assembly for transmitting data from a utility meter to a remote location for disposition in a subsurface utility enclosure is described. The assembly includes a printed circuit board, including a transmitter portion receiving the data from the utility meter and configured to generate a meter data message for transmission to the remote location, an antenna portion including a board mounted antenna receiving the generated meter data message and using the boarding mounted antenna to propagate the generated meter data message to a remote location, and a seal mount portion configured to receive a seal affixed to the printed circuit board. The transmitter assembly further includes a housing configured to receive the printed circuit board, a seal affixed to the printed circuit board at the seal mount portion, wherein the seal interacts with the housing to form a transmitter housing portion and an antenna housing portion, and a flowable material introduced to the housing, said flowable material filling the transmitter housing portion, wherein the seal prevents the flowable material from entering the antenna portion.
An insertion-type flowmeter adapted for removable insertion into a fluid conduit includes an elongate body having a flow opening and a vortex-generating element disposed within the flow opening at distance from the opening entry that is correlated to the size of the flow opening to define a flow conditioning space in the flow opening between the opening entry and the vortex-generating element.
A utility flow meter including a valve having a pressure vessel providing a flow path from a meter inlet to a meter outlet through the valve is magnetically driven. The meter includes a valve member positioned within the valve in the pressure vessel for movement between an open position allowing normal flow through the flow meter and a flow restriction position in which flow through the flow meter is limited to less than the normal flow and an electrically operable control device for controlling movement of the valve member including a dry-side magnet assembly and. a wet-side magnet assembly. The electrically operable control device receives command signals to rotate the dry-side magnet assembly to move the valve member and thereby increase or decrease flow through the metering chamber.
G01F 15/00 - MESURE DES VOLUMES, DES DÉBITS VOLUMÉTRIQUES, DES DÉBITS MASSIQUES OU DU NIVEAU DES LIQUIDES; COMPTAGE VOLUMÉTRIQUE - Détails des appareils des groupes ou accessoires pour ces derniers, dans la mesure où de tels accessoires ou détails ne sont pas adaptés à ces types particuliers d'appareils, p.ex. pour l'indication à distance
10.
AN ELECTRONIC METER REGISTER HAVING A BOTTOM FORMED BY SEALING MATERIAL AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF
A sealed electronic meter register with no moving parts and no bottom wall or bottom cover includes a casing of plastic with an open bottom. A viewing window is snap fitted into a top wall of the casing. A gasket is placed on top of an electronic numerical display and under the viewing window. The display is placed on top of a frame that is positioned face down into the casing. An electronic circuit board with the processing circuitry of the device is attached to the bottom of the frame. A polyurethane compound sealing material is deposited though a hole in the circuit board and onto the backside of the display. An epoxy-resin sealant is then deposited from the bottom of the housing to seal over everything in the housing to protect the components and provide an exposed bottom surface for the assembly.
A water meter (10) and a flow control valve (30) are housed in a common pressure vessel (16), in which the flow control valve (30) restricts flow through a metering chamber (18) to less than the normal flow, while still permitting a flow sufficient for basic human needs, rather than completely interrupting supply of the utility, and in which the flow control valve (30) is controlled electrically through a control valve (40) in an energy efficient manner so as to utilize power from a self-contained power source (27) in another device (25) at the customer site (50).
G05D 7/06 - Commande de débits caractérisée par l'utilisation de moyens électriques
F16K 3/22 - Robinets-vannes ou tiroirs, c. à d. dispositifs obturateurs dont l'élément de fermeture glisse le long d'un siège pour l'ouverture ou la fermeture à faces d'obturation en forme de surfaces de solides de révolution
F16K 21/02 - Obturateurs de distribution pour fluides assurant un faible débit continu
F17D 3/01 - Dispositions pour la surveillance ou la commande des opérations de fonctionnement pour commander, signaler ou surveiller le transfert d'un produit
F17D 3/18 - Dispositions pour la surveillance ou la commande des opérations de fonctionnement pour mesurer la quantité de produit transféré
G01F 3/12 - Compteurs avec éléments de nutation, p.ex. des disques
G01F 15/00 - MESURE DES VOLUMES, DES DÉBITS VOLUMÉTRIQUES, DES DÉBITS MASSIQUES OU DU NIVEAU DES LIQUIDES; COMPTAGE VOLUMÉTRIQUE - Détails des appareils des groupes ou accessoires pour ces derniers, dans la mesure où de tels accessoires ou détails ne sont pas adaptés à ces types particuliers d'appareils, p.ex. pour l'indication à distance
A method and apparatus is disclosed for prioritizing the processing of messages sent between site transceivers (12, 15) at utility meter data origination sites (10) and gateway transceivers (20, 30, 40) in a fixed meter data collection network. To reduce message processing time, priorities are assigned for processing messages destined for mobile gateways, messages sent to assigned gateways, and messages sent to any gateway after not receiving an acknowledge signal from an assigned. gateway. The gateway transceiver also has four receivers for processing four respective messages on four different frequency channels to further reduce processing time and to conserve power usage at the site transceivers.
H04W 68/08 - Avertissement aux utilisateurs, p.ex. alerte ou messagerie, sur l'arrivée d'une communication, un changement de service ou similaires utilisant un avertissement en plusieurs étapes en agrandissant la zone d'avertissement
H04W 4/12 - Messagerie; Boîtes aux lettres; Annonces
H04W 40/04 - Sélection d'itinéraire ou de voie de communication, p.ex. routage basé sur l'énergie disponible ou le chemin le plus court sur la base des ressources nodales sans fil
A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a metering site transceiver (12 or 15) with the ability to operate in a mobile back-up network (26) to signal utility consumption data that would otherwise be transmitted to a fixed receiver (30) in a fixed network AMR system. A mobile collection back-up capability allows a vehicle collection system (26, 27) to be used to read the remote meters (11, 14) in the fixed network, when a gateway (30) is detected as not communicating with the site transceiver (12 or 15).
H04W 60/04 - Rattachement à un réseau, p.ex. enregistrement; Suppression du rattachement à un réseau, p.ex. annulation de l'enregistrement utilisant des événements déclenchés
H04W 84/18 - Réseaux auto-organisés, p.ex. réseaux ad hoc ou réseaux de détection
H04W 92/06 - Interfaces entre des dispositifs formant réseau hiérarchiquement différents entre des passerelles et des dispositifs formant réseau public
A method and apparatus is disclosed for adjusting a transmission power level of a transceiver (12, 15) at a utility meter data origination site (10). A power level of transmission at the site transceiver (12, 15) is adjusted to an optimum level if an acknowledgement is not received from a network gateway (30) in response to data transmissions from the site transceiver (12, 15). Also, for each unsuccessful transmission period, the amount of metering data is increased in the next transmission period to make up for the failed communication tries. Upon establishing communication with the gateway (30), the site transceiver (12, 15) can receive commands from the gateway (30) that further adjust its power level of transmission to optimize reception at the gateway from a large plurality of utility meter data origination sites (10) within a geographical area served by the gateway (30). The gateway (30) communicates utility metering data through a wireless network (40), such as WIFI, GPRS, POE or CDMA to a data collection center (50) for data processing and billing operations.
H04W 52/48 - Commande de puissance d'émission [TPC Transmission power control] le TPC étant effectué dans des situations particulières lors d'une retransmission après erreur ou en l’absence d’accusé de réception
H04W 84/18 - Réseaux auto-organisés, p.ex. réseaux ad hoc ou réseaux de détection
A method and a system for collection of meter readings from meter reading and transmitting devices (12, 14) and for viewing on a web-enabled wireless communication device (28) comprises addressing at least one receiver (15) through the Internet (21) and obtaining a data file of meter data for a plurality of meter reading devices (12, 14) that have previously communicated with the receiver (15). The receiver (15) can then re-transmit the meter data through a wide area network such as the Internet (21) to a web site (10) operated by an organization marketing AMR. systems. The meter data is then accessed and displayed at a customer demonstration site using a handheld wireless smart phone (28) which receives a web page (22) that is reduced in size for transmission through the cellular network to the smart phone (28).
An assembly (10) for installation in a subsurface ground enclosure has an electronic transmitter, an antenna and other circuitry that are encapsulated against moisture conditions. The assembly (10) comprises a circuit board (31) supporting radio frequency transmitter circuitry, the circuit board (31) having at least two orthogonal edges (31b, 31c), an antenna (14, 15) having two 90-degree bent portions extending from orthogonal edges (31b, 31c) of the circuit board (31), a housing bottom portion (11) with an internal barrier (18) separating an L-shaped antenna compartment (13) adjacent two sides of the circuit board (31) from a battery compartment (16) underneath the circuit board (31), sealing material for encapsulating the circuit board (31) and the batteries (17) in the battery compartment (16), and a cover (20) that protects the antenna compartment (13) from entry of the sealing material.
G01F 15/14 - Revêtements, p.ex. avec un matériau spécial
G08C 17/02 - Dispositions pour transmettre des signaux caractérisées par l'utilisation d'une voie électrique sans fil utilisant une voie radio
H01Q 1/02 - Dispositifs de dégivrage; Dispositifs de séchage
H04B 1/03 - TRANSMISSION - Détails des systèmes de transmission non caractérisés par le milieu utilisé pour la transmission Émetteurs - Détails de structure, p.ex. boîtiers, enveloppes
An antenna (14, 15) for installation in a subsurface ground enclosure has an F-shaped radiating element (15) having a rectangular strip (15c) disposed on edge and two spaced apart bars (15a, 15b) disposed substantially perpendicular to the rectangular strip (15c) for connection to a first edge of a circuit board (31) and an L-shaped ground plane extension element (14) extending from a second edge (31b) of the circuit board (31) and then turning substantially perpendicular downward to provide a longer ground plane within a confined rectangular space. The antenna (14, 15) is dimensioned so as to be tuned to a resonant frequency in a range from 450 Mhz to 470 Mhz.
G08C 17/02 - Dispositions pour transmettre des signaux caractérisées par l'utilisation d'une voie électrique sans fil utilisant une voie radio
H01Q 1/04 - Adaptation aux usages souterrains ou subaquatiques
H04B 1/03 - TRANSMISSION - Détails des systèmes de transmission non caractérisés par le milieu utilisé pour la transmission Émetteurs - Détails de structure, p.ex. boîtiers, enveloppes
A method and system by which certain radio transmitters (12a-12d) are assigned to certain reception nodes (14a, 14b) for the purpose of transmitting metering data derived from a plurality of utility meters to a system management computer (16, 17). The reception nodes (14a, 14b) are configured to receive and process data transmissions only from those transmitters (12a-12d) with data paths assigned to particular reception nodes, and to ignore data transmissions from non- listed transmitters, thereby assuring that on a continuous basis, a majority of the transmitters will utilize only one data path. Lists (19a, 19b) may be formed for the transmitters and reception nodes in the system management computer and transmitted to the reception nodes. The status of data transmissions through the repeaters (14a, 14b) may also be uploaded to the system management computer (16, 17) for analysis of data update rates and data path redundancy.
A system for monitoring water quality in a water distribution system having a plurality of metering end points (E) for measuring consumption includes a plurality of chemical biological and environmental sensors (Sl, S2) disposed in a distribution system near or within the distribution end points (A, B), with the sensors (Sl, S2) generating electrical signals through a network (G) that can be processed and communicated to a collection station (D) from the metering end points (E).
The invention provides a method and a transparent housing cover for a meter index for communicating optical signals through an optical port formed on a front face of the transparent housing cover, for further communicating optical signals in a straight line past one side of the meter index,- and for re-directing the optical signals at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to or from an optical transceiver. The cover includes an integrally formed light pipe, the light pipe further forming the optical port near the front of the body and the light pipe extending along one side of the body and behind the meter index; and the light pipe includes a surface at a back end for reflecting light at approximately ninety degrees to and from a light transceiver positioned behind the meter index.
An out-of-route collection capability is provided for an AMR data collection system of a type that collect readings within a geographic area using a radio. If a transmission is received from an out-of-route transmitter, its location is based on a geographic location of the data collector as the data collector receives data from the out-of-route transmitter. The location can further be determined by evaluating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the transmission. The out-of-route transmitter is identified by association with a transmitter identification number. The out-of-route transmitters can be added to the route through operations at the central office.
G08C 17/02 - Dispositions pour transmettre des signaux caractérisées par l'utilisation d'une voie électrique sans fil utilisant une voie radio
G01S 11/06 - Systèmes pour déterminer la distance ou la vitesse sans utiliser la réflexion ou la reradiation utilisant les ondes radioélectriques utilisant des mesures d'intensité
The invention provides a method and circuitry for transmitting signals in a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum, AMR network using mobile receivers operating at greater than 1 milliwatt and providing data profiling data to be read out through an I/O port or transmitted over the RF network, which may use one-way or two-way communication.
G01D 4/14 - Appareils d'indication ou d'enregistrement de demande fixée, c. à d. dont l'indication a lieu lorsqu'une quantité prédéterminée a été consommée pendant un intervalle de temps supérieur ou inférieur à un intervalle de temps prédéterminé
H04B 1/713 - Techniques d'étalement de spectre utilisant des sauts de fréquence
23.
AMR TRANSMITTER WITH PROGRAMMABLE OPERATING MODE PARAMETERS
The invention provides a method and circuitry for programming an AMR transmitter to operate in different modes. The device can be programmed as to any one or all of the following parameters: transmission power according to the physical environment of the installation; power level and modulation type for drive-by or fixed network application; and frequency of data transmission to conserve battery life. A laptop computer or other type of programming device communicates through an optical IR port to enter these parameters.
H04Q 9/00 - Dispositions dans les systèmes de commande à distance ou de télémétrie pour appeler sélectivement une sous-station à partir d'une station principale, sous-station dans laquelle un appareil recherché est choisi pour appliquer un signal de commande ou
G01R 11/00 - Dispositions électromécaniques pour la mesure de l'intégrale dans le temps d'une puissance ou d'un courant électriques, p.ex. de la consommation
24.
AMR TRANSMITTER AND METHOD FOR BOTH NARROW BAND AND FREQUENCY HOPPING TRANSMISSIONS
The invention provides a method and circuitry for transmitting signals in both a narrow band, mobile-receiver type of AMR network and also for operation in the frequency--hopping, spread-spectrum, fixed-receiver type of AMR network. Unlike systems provided with multiple transmitters, the invention provides this in a single transmitter operating with common circuitry to transmit in two modes of transmission in a single operational sequence.
G08C 17/02 - Dispositions pour transmettre des signaux caractérisées par l'utilisation d'une voie électrique sans fil utilisant une voie radio
H04B 1/713 - Techniques d'étalement de spectre utilisant des sauts de fréquence
H04Q 9/00 - Dispositions dans les systèmes de commande à distance ou de télémétrie pour appeler sélectivement une sous-station à partir d'une station principale, sous-station dans laquelle un appareil recherché est choisi pour appliquer un signal de commande ou
brevets
