Patent ID: 6836737
Filing Date: 2004-12-28
Classification: G01D,G01R,G08C,H02J,H04L,H04Q,H04W,Y02B,Y02E,Y04S

Abstract:
A communication device adapted for use in an automated monitoring system for providing remote monitoring of utility consumption, the automated monitoring system comprising a site controller in communication with a plurality of utility meters via a wireless communication network and in communication with a host computer via a wide area network, the communication device comprising:a data interface configured to receive data related to the consumption measured by a utility meter; memory comprising a unique identifier corresponding to the utility meter; logic configured to receive the data related to the consumption measured by the utility meter, retrieve the unique identifier corresponding to the utility meter, and generate a transmit message using a predefined communication protocol being implemented by the wireless communication network, the transmit message comprising the unique identifier and the data related to the consumption measured by the utility meter and configured such that the transmit message may be received by the site controller via the wireless communication network and such that the site controller may identify the utility meter and notify the host computer of the transmit message; a wireless transceiver configured for communication over the wireless communication network and configured to provide the transmit message to the wireless communication network and receive messages from the wireless communication network; and logic configured to receive a transmit message from another communication device and retransmit the received transmit message.