Gateway Priority Addressing for Fixed Meter Reading Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic meter reading systems face challenges in efficiently processing and routing utility meter data messages, particularly in managing battery-powered site transceivers and optimizing radio frequency channel usage, which affects data collection efficiency and battery life.

Innovation Solution

Implementing priority addressing and message handling in gateways to manage messages from site transceivers, using four receiver circuits to process multiple frequency hopping channels concurrently, and employing a generic gateway address for system initialization and reassignment, thereby optimizing data collection and extending battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If gateways process all received messages with equal priority, then message handling is simple, but processing time increases and data collection efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoidmessage handling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different priority levels to different types of messages based on their source and content. Site transceivers are assigned specific gateway destinations, while walk-by transceivers use a common destination address. The gateway processes high-priority messages (from assigned site transceivers) differently from low-priority messages (from walk-by transceivers), optimizing processing efficiency for critical data while maintaining simplicity for routine communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The message handling system is segmented into distinct priority categories. The gateway divides incoming messages into high-priority (assigned site transceivers) and low-priority (walk-by transceivers) groups. This segmentation allows the gateway to process messages in an optimized sequence, handling time-critical data first while maintaining overall system throughput and reducing average processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If site transceivers continuously transmit messages to ensure data delivery, then data collection reliability improves, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata delivery reliabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-assigning each site transceiver to a specific gateway destination during initialization. This pre-configuration allows site transceivers to send targeted messages with the correct destination address from the first transmission, eliminating the need for continuous retry transmissions. The preliminary assignment ensures reliable data delivery while minimizing power consumption by reducing unnecessary retransmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway provides feedback by sending acknowledgment messages back to site transceivers when data is successfully received. This feedback mechanism allows site transceivers to confirm successful transmission and enter sleep mode, rather than continuously transmitting. The feedback loop ensures reliable data delivery while enabling battery-powered devices to conserve energy by remaining inactive during non-transmission periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If gateways use multiple receiver circuits to process frequency hopping channels concurrently, then data collection volume increases, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection volumeVSAvoidreceiver circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway's receiver system is segmented into multiple independent receiver circuits, each capable of independently processing a subset of frequency hopping channels. This segmentation allows concurrent processing of multiple frequency channels simultaneously, increasing data collection volume. Each receiver circuit operates autonomously, reducing the complexity burden on any single circuit while achieving the overall goal of enhanced throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from single-dimensional sequential channel processing to multi-dimensional parallel processing by adding multiple receiver circuits operating simultaneously on different frequency channels. This dimensional change from time-sequential to space-parallel architecture increases data collection capacity without proportionally increasing the complexity of individual processing units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS8981959B2Apparatus and method for priority addressing and message handling in a fixed meter reading network

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 BADGER METER INC

AI summary

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.