Methods of performing automated meter reading and processing meter data

Abstract

Methods of performing automated meter reading and processing meter data, are provided. A method can include collecting utility usage data by each of a plurality of meter data collectors, determining by a remote host computer a preferred polling sequence route responsive to a strength of communication signal between the remote computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors and between each of the plurality of meter data collectors, polling each of the plurality of meter data collectors by the remote host computer with the preferred polling sequence, and transmitting utility usage data to the remote host computer from each of the plurality of meter data collectors along the same preferred polling sequence route responsive to the polling by the host computer.

1 . A method of collecting utility meter usage data, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sensing utility usage data from each of a plurality of utility meters positioned remote from each other;    collecting utility usage data by each of a plurality of meter data collectors, each of the plurality of meter data collectors positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of utility meters;    determining by a remote host computer a preferred polling sequence route responsive to a strength of communication signal between the remote computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors and between each of the plurality of meter data collectors;    polling each of the plurality of meter data collectors by the remote host computer with the preferred polling sequence; and    transmitting utility usage data to the remote host computer from each of the plurality of meter data collectors along the same preferred polling sequence route responsive to the polling by the host computer.    
   
   
       2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the steps of polling and determining are periodically performed to update the preferred polling sequence route over time.  
   
   
       3 . A method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of meter data collectors include a first meter data collector, a second meter data collector in communication with the first meter data collector, and a third meter data collector in communication with at least one of the first and second meter data collectors, wherein the first meter data collector is positioned remote from the host computer to thereby have a greater signal strength than the second meter data collector and the third meter data collector, wherein the second meter data collector is positioned remote from host computer to thereby have a greater signal strength than the third meter data collector, and the method further comprising rakingly collecting data from each of the second and third meter data collectors responsive to the polling of the first meter data collector so that utility usage data is collected from each of the first, second, and third meter data collectors responsive to polling the first meter data collector, and routing the rakingly collected utility usage data to the host computer.  
   
   
       4 . A method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of meter data collectors is positioned within the same housing as at least one of the plurality of utility meters, the housing having a glass facing on at least one side thereof, the meter data collector positioned within the housing to transmit through the glass.  
   
   
       5 . A method as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the host computer includes a memory having a meter data collector database associated therewith to thereby store meter collector data associated with each of the plurality of meter data collectors, the meter collector data including collector identification, collector physical address, and strength of signal between meter data collectors.  
   
   
       6 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of meter data collectors include a first meter data collector and a second meter data collector in communication with the first meter data collector, wherein the first meter data collector is positioned remote from the second meter data collector and the host computer, wherein the first meter data collector collects and consolidates utility usage data from at least two utility meters located adjacent each other and adjacent the first meter data collector for transmission to the remote host computer, and wherein the second meter data collector collects and consolidates utility usage data from at least two utility meters located adjacent each other and adjacent the second meter data collector for transmission to the remote host computer.  
   
   
       7 . A method of monitoring a utility meter mounted to a building, the method comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a meter data collector defining a remote collection unit adjacent a utility meter mounted to a building;    collecting meter data from the utility meter by the remote collection unit;    transmitting the utility usage data to a router of a communication network service provider along a predetermined multi-hop communication sequence path responsive to a request by a requesting computer device provided in a data packet, the data packet including routing data to route the utility usage data along a specific route provided by the requesting computer device;    transmitting the utility usage data through a communication network associated with the communication network service provider in the data packet payload; and    receiving the utility usage data from the communication network by the requesting computer device.    
   
   
       8 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the remote collection unit comprises a first remote collection unit, the utility meter comprises a first utility meter, and the building comprises a first building, the method further comprising mounting a second remote collection unit adjacent a second utility meter mounted to a second building, collecting utility usage data from the second utility meter by the second remote collection unit, and transmitting the utility usage data from the second utility meter by the second remote collection unit to the first remote collection unit, and wherein the meter data transmitted to the router by the first remote collection unit comprises utility usage data consolidated from both the first and second remote collection units.  
   
   
       9 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the remote collection unit comprises a first remote collection unit, the utility meter comprises a first utility meter, and the building comprises a first building, the method further comprising mounting a second remote collection unit adjacent a second utility meter mounted to a second building, collecting utility usage data from the second utility meter by the second remote collection unit, rakingly collecting data from each of the first and the second remote collection units responsive to polling of the first meter data collector so that utility usage data is collected from each of the first and second remote collection units responsive to the polling of the first meter data collector, and routing the rakingly collected utility usage data to a host computer.  
   
   
       10 . A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the first remote collection unit is positioned remote from the second meter data collector and the host computer, wherein the first remote collection unit collects and consolidates utility usage data from both the first and a third utility meter located adjacent each other and adjacent the first remote collection unit for transmission to the requesting computer device, and wherein the second remote collection unit collects and consolidates utility usage data from both the second and a fourth utility meter located adjacent each other and adjacent the second remote collection unit for transmission to the requesting computer device.  
   
   
       11 . A method of collecting utility meter data from a plurality of utility meters each mounted to a different building and each in communication with a respective one of a plurality of meter data collectors defining a plurality of remote collection units, the method comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting utility meter data from a first remote collection unit of the plurality of remote collection units to a second remote collection unit of the plurality of collection units;    consolidating the utility meter data of the first remote collection unit with the utility meter data of the second remote collection unit into a same data payload; and    transmitting the consolidated utility meter data to a host computer.    
   
   
       12 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting meter data from a third remote collection unit to the first remote collection unit, wherein the utility meter data transmitted by the first remote collection unit includes utility meter data from the third remote collection unit, and wherein the utility meter data transmitted to the first remote collection unit by at least one of the second or third remote collection units includes utility meter data collected from at least two different types of utility meters.  
   
   
       13 . A method of collecting utility meter data, the method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a meter data collector defining a remote collection unit having bi-directional radio frequency data communication within a housing having a glass facing on at least one side thereof;    collecting utility meter data by the remote collection unit positioned within the housing;    polling the remote collection unit from a host computer by radiofrequency data communication through the glass facing, the polling including sending a message packet including a preferred polling sequence route; and    transmitting the collected utility meter data from the remote collection unit through the glass facing to the host computer along the preferred sequence route provided in the message packet by the host computer responsive to the polling.    
   
   
       14 . A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the utility meter comprises a first utility meter of a plurality of utility meters, wherein the first utility meter comprises one of a gas utility meter, an electric utility meter, and a water meter, wherein a second of the plurality of utility meters comprises a different one of a gas utility meter, an electric utility meter, and a water utility meter, wherein the first and the second utility meters each includes sensors to sense utility usage data, wherein the sensor for the first utility meter senses utility usage data for a first type of service, wherein the sensor for the second utility meter senses utility usage data for a second type of service, wherein the first type of service is different than that of the second type of service, and wherein the step of collecting includes collecting utility meter data from both the first and second utility meters by the remote collection unit, and wherein the step of transmitting includes transmitting utility usage data collected from both the first and the second utility meters in a same payload of a single data packet.  
   
   
       15 . A method of collecting utility meter data, the method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a plurality of meter data collectors defining a plurality of remote collection units adjacent to respective one of a plurality of utility meters, each of the plurality of remote collection units in communication with at least two other of the plurality of remote control units, each of the plurality of remote collection units being mounted to a different building;    polling each of the plurality of remote collection units along a preferred polling sequence route from a collection computer positioned remote from the plurality of remote collection units; and    transmitting meter data from each of the plurality of remote collection units to the collection computer along a same preferred polling sequence route provided in a message packet by a host computer responsive to the polling.    
   
   
       16 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the collection computer comprises a field collection unit, wherein the plurality of remote collection units include a first remote collection unit and a second remote collection unit in communication with the first remote collection unit, wherein the first remote collection unit is positioned remote from the second remote collection unit and the collection computer, wherein the first remote collection unit collects and consolidates utility usage data from at least two utility meters located adjacent each other and adjacent the first remote collection unit for transmission to the collection computer, and wherein the second remote collection unit collects and consolidates utility usage data from at least two utility meters located adjacent each other and adjacent the second remote collection unit for transmission to the collection computer.  
   
   
       17 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the host computer comprises the collection computer, wherein the plurality of remote collection units include a first remote collection unit and a second remote collection unit in communication with the first remote collection unit, wherein the first remote collection unit is positioned remote from the second remote collection unit and the collection computer, wherein the first remote collection unit collects and consolidates utility usage data from at least two utility meters located adjacent each other and adjacent the first remote collection unit for transmission to the collection computer, and wherein the second remote collection unit collects and consolidates utility usage data from at least two utility meters located adjacent each other and adjacent the second remote collection unit for transmission to the collection computer.  
   
   
       18 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the collection computer comprises a field collection unit, and wherein the host computer is positioned remote from and in communication with the field collection unit.  
   
   
       19 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the collection computer comprises a field collection unit, the method further comprising transmitting the utility meter data from the field collection unit to a router of a communication network service provider, communicating the utility meter data through a communication network associated with the communication network service provider, and receiving the utility meter data by the host computer in communication with the communication network.  
   
   
       20 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the collection computer comprises a field collection unit, wherein a first remote collection unit of the plurality of remote collection units transmits utility meter data to a second remote collection unit of the plurality of remote collection units, wherein the second remote collection unit transmits the utility meter data of the first and second remote collection units consolidated in a single data packet payload to a third remote collection unit of the plurality of remote collection units, and wherein the third remote collection unit transmits utility meter data of the first, second, and third remote collection unit consolidated in the single data packet payload to the field collection unit.