Patent ID: 7119713
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: H04Q

Abstract:
1. A system for collecting metering data, comprising: a collector meter, said collector meter comprising electrical circuitry for gathering meter data, wireless communication electronics for sending and receiving data, a processor for implementing instructions, and memory for storing data; a first plurality of meters, each meter in said first plurality comprising electrical circuitry for gathering meter data, wireless communications electronics for sending and receiving data, a process for implementing instructions, and memory for storing data; a second plurality of meters, each meter in said second plurality comprising electrical circuitry for gathering meter data, wireless communications electronics for sending and receiving data, a process for implementing instructions, and memory for storing data; wherein each of said first plurality of meters communicates with said collector meter, is registered in a subnet with said collector meter, and became registered in said subnet after responding to a broadcast request from said collector meter, and wherein each of said second plurality of meters communicates with one of said first plurality of meters, is registered in said subnet with said collector meter, and became registered in said subnet after responding to a broadcast request from one of said first plurality of meters.