Patent ID: 7012546
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: G01D,H04B,H04M,H04Q,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A scalable and modular fixed-base wireless network system for wide-area metering data collection comprising: multiple meter modules for monitoring, storing, encoding and periodically transmitting metering data; multiple base stations for receiving, decoding, storing and forwarding metering data; and a data operations center, which communicates with said receiver base station and receives decoded metering data from the base station, said data operations center processing, validating and storing metering data in a database that it maintains for meter modules operating in the network system, wherein: the number of base stations being selected in accordance with frequency channels used in the network system and meter module message bit rate to optimize message delivery probability, metering data latency and meter module battery life.