Patent ID: 6747571
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
A method for facilitating data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, wherein the meter is coupled to a first wireless transceiver with a first hardwired connection and the host device is coupled to a second wireless transceiver with a second hardwired connection and the first transceiver and the second transceiver are operative to wirelessly exchange data therebetween, comprising:providing a gateway meter management component coupled to the first hardwired connection; generating a request for the meter to provide a predetermined set of information with the gateway meter management component; transmitting the request from the gateway meter management component to the meter over the first hardwired connection; upon receipt of the request by the meter, the meter transmitting a meter data set that contains the predetermined set of information to the gateway meter management component over the first hardwired connection; upon receipt of the meter data set by the gateway meter management component, purging the meter data set of at least a portion of information unrelated to the predetermined set of information to provide a processed data set; and transmitting the processed data set with the first transceiver and addressed for receipt by the second wireless transceiver.