Abstract:
Methods and apparatus demodulate and decode a plurality of AM and FM arriving signals, which permit, for example, a utility data-collecting unit to concurrently receive and decode transmitted signals of legacy transmitters as well as more recent FM based transmitters, or signals arriving from hybrid systems configured to transmit both AM and FM.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/633,007 and 633,089 filed on Dec. 3, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The embodiments described below relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, relate to simultaneous demodulation and decoding of amplitude-modulated (AM) and frequency-modulated (FM) signals in a utility data collection system.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Historically meter readings of the consumption of utility resources such as water, gas, or electricity have been accomplished manually by human meter readers at customers premises. The relatively recent advances in this area include collection of data by telephone lines, radio transmission, walk-by, or drive-by reading systems using radio communications between the meters and meter reading devices. Although some of these methods require close physical proximity to the meters, they have become more desirable than the manual reading and recording of the consumption levels. Over the last few years, there has been a concerted effort to automate meter reading by installing fixed networks that allow data to flow from the meter to a host computer system without human intervention. These systems are referred to in the art as Automated Meter Reading (AMR) systems.  
         [0004]     A mobile AMR system comprises an Encoder-Receiver-Transmitter (ERT), which is a meter interface device attached to the meter and either periodically or in response to a request transmits utility consumption data. Today, some ERTs transmit AM, while others transmit FM signals. In other fields, there are systems configured to receive both types of signals concurrently. For example in the automotive field, radio receivers possessing both AM and FM reception are common.  
         [0005]     The Kaufman (U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,702), Funabashi (U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,628), von der Neyen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,004), Mason (U.S. Pat. No. 3,206,680), Peil (U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,507), Lundquist et al (U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,467), Ohsawa et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,645) and Denenberg (U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,988) patents are all radio receivers capable of receiving AM and FM signals; however, most automotive radio receivers, such as the ones of Funabashi, Mason, Peil, Lundquist et al, Ohsawa et al, and Denenberg receive AM and FM signals as alternatives and merely allow the user to select between the two signals. As such, two kinds of traditional receivers are required for demodulation and decoding of the two possible transmission types, which complicates the required hardware, entails extra cost, etc. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates the basic elements and processes of a mobile AMR system that may employ aspects of the invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a high level block diagram of elements of a dual-mode receiver in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram of a signal presented in a Cartesian coordinate system constructed by two basis functions φ 1 (t) and φ 2 (t).  
         [0009]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram of a signal presented in a Polar coordinate system constructed by two basis functions φ 1 (t) and φ 2 (t).  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of an example of steps involved in decoding an AM-FM AMR signal.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are two alternative embodiments to the receiver of  FIG. 2 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Various embodiments of the invention will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments.  
         [0013]     The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section. In the following description, several specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or in combination with or with other components, etc. In other instances, well-known implementations or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention. Even though different aspects of this invention are mostly presented in the context of utility data collection, they can be applied to any AM and FM receiving system, and the description of the invention is not intended to limit its applicability to any particular field of usage.  
         [0000]     Suitable System  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates the basic elements and processes of a mobile AMR system  100 . The mobile AMR system  100  consists of three basic components: an Encoder-Receiver-Transmitter (ERT)  106 , a Data Collection Unit (DCU)  110 , and AMR Software. The ERT  106  is a meter interface device attached to the meter, which either periodically transmits utility consumption data  108  (“bubble-up” ERTS), or receives a “wake up” polling signal or a request  104  for its meter information from a transceiver mounted in a passing vehicle  102  or carried by the meter reader. The ERT  106 , in response to a wake-up signal  104 , broadcasts the meter number, the meter reading, and other information to the DCU  110 , which is a mobile computer, for example, in the meter reading vehicle  102 . The DCU  110  collects the information from the ERTs  106  for subsequent uploading into the AMR Software system. The AMR Software interfaces with the main system  112  and updates the appropriate accounts of the billing system with the new meter readings.  
         [0000]     Dual AM-FM Decoding  
         [0015]     As described in detail below, the AMR system  100  provides for simultaneous demodulation and decoding of both amplitude-modulated (AM) and frequency-modulated (FM) signals by the Data Collection Unit (DCU)  110 . Demodulating and decoding both kinds of signals arise, for example, as a result of some endpoint Encoder-Receiver-Transmitters (ERTs) broadcasting utility data through AM signals, while newer ERT endpoints transmit meter readings via FM signals.  
         [0016]     The need for demodulation and decoding of both kinds of signals also arises as a result of simultaneous transmission of both signals by a hybrid system which is configured to broadcast both AM and FM signals. As long as both transmission methods coexist and are in use, the DCU  110  can easily, efficiently, interchangeably or simultaneously decode signal types. The prior art has addressed this problem by merely employing separate AM and FM receivers.  
         [0017]     The embodiments of this invention utilize the frequency spectrum of an arriving signal to identify its modulation type, to demodulate the data, and to direct the demodulated data to an appropriate path for decoding. For the purpose of demonstration, the examples presented in this application employ the output of an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) process as the basis for identifying, demodulating and decoding an arriving signal. While not requiring traditional dedicated narrow-band FM receiver to decode FM data, the embodiments of this invention utilize an FFT engine to decode FM data in a channelized radio.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a high level block diagram of elements of a dual-mode receiver for DCU  110  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a sampled and quantized RF (Radio Frequency) signal  210  passes through a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) engine  212  for deciphering its frequency spectrum  214 . The incoming signal is modulated on a particular carrier and includes a preamble followed by a data packet. Two different preambles may be used to distinguish between AM and FM signals, wherein a preamble is a data pattern, unique to each type of transmission, sent on the front of a data packet. For example an FM modulated data packet may have a unique and distinct preamble that is different from the preamble of an AM modulated data packet.  
         [0019]     The frequency spectrum  214  of the digitized RF signal  210 , at the output of the FFT engine  212 , is subsequently fed into both an AM demodulator  216  and an FM demodulator  218 . The demodulated information  220  from the AM demodulator  216  is bit-sliced and entered, bit-by-bit, into a correlator  222  that stores a copy of the preamble specific to the AM signal, while the demodulated information  224  from the FM demodulator  218  is bit-sliced and entered, bit-by-bit, into a correlator  226  that stores a copy of the preamble specific to the FM signal. The demodulated and bit-sliced information entering both correlators are compared with the stored preambles for a possible match. In other words, the AM and FM signals have differing preambles that permit their corresponding correlators to identify each other as a valid data signal.  
         [0020]     In one embodiment of the invention the preambles of the AM and the FM signals may be the same, for example, to merely identify information-bearing signals. Yet, in other embodiments the preambles of the AM and the FM signals may be designed to be different for various additional considerations. For example, in an embodiment the AM and the FM signals may be orthogonal for identifying the endpoints or merely be unique for classification of the packet type (e.g. coming from a repeater or an endpoint). The preambles may even be arbitrary, or Manchester encoded for synchronization purposes.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment the correlators may be arranged in series, illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment each of the AM demodulated signal  220  and the FM demodulated signal  224  passes through both correlators  222  and  226  for identification of a valid preamble. In an alternative embodiment there may be a single correlator  222 , illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment both the AM demodulated signal  220  and the FM demodulated signal  224  pass through correlator  222  for identification of a valid preamble. In yet another embodiment the passage of each demodulated signal  220  or  224  through a single correlator or two series correlators, for example, can be controlled by a control signal  227  in combination with two serial memory elements  221  and  223  and a multiplexer  225 , wherein the control signal  227  can be a clock signal.  
         [0022]     Once one of the correlators  222  or  226  recognizes an input preamble as valid (appropriate AM or FM preamble), which is an indication of the existence of useful information on that particular signal carrier (e.g. data packets), the correlator provides an appropriate signal, or otherwise communicates its discovery, to a selector module  228 . The selector module  228  then connects the output of the appropriate demodulator to a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) or other decoder  230  to decode the rest of the data bits of that particular information-bearing signal, until it exhausts the information bits within the data packet. The combination of the two AM and FM demodulators  216  and  218 , the two correlators  222  and  226 , and the selector module  228 , along with their associated data paths, form a receiver “channel”  232 .  
         [0023]     The FFT engine, the decoders, the correlators, the selector, and the DSP decoder can be all or individually implemented by one or more dedicated processors, computers, programmable gate arrays, etc., or monolithically integrated on an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). There are no limitations for the implementation methods and apparatus regarding the functions involved in this disclosure.  
         [0024]     In another embodiment of this invention a dual mode receiver has two or more of such channels, enabling the receiver to decode AM and FM signals simultaneously. This would be helpful in a system with different endpoints, some of which employ AM transmission while others employ FM. In this embodiment the selector module of one channel may pass the demodulated data bits of an AM signal to be decoded in the DSP decoder, while the selector module of another channel passes the demodulated data bits of an FM signal to the DSP decoder.  
         [0025]     In yet another embodiment of this invention an AM transmitting endpoint uses an ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation method or an OOK (On-Off Keying) form, and an FM transmitting endpoint uses an FSK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation method.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment of the present invention, transmitting endpoints use I-Q channels to broadcast both ASK and FSK modulated signals and the receiver&#39;s AM, FM, or AM and FM demodulators demodulate the complex output of the FFT engine; however, each channel operates in the same general manner as described before. Detailed description of the ASK and FSK modulations and I-Q channels of signal transmission abounds in the literature; nevertheless, some aspects of these methods will be briefly reviewed in the following paragraphs, as they relate to the embodiments disclosed in this application.  
         [0000]     Processing Improvement  
         [0027]     Modulation techniques vary a parameter of a sinusoid to represent desired information. A sinusoidal wave has three parameters that can be varied: amplitude, phase and frequency. In ASK, the amplitude of the signal is changed in response to the modulating information. Bit ‘ 1 ’ is transmitted by a signal of one particular amplitude and bit ‘ 0 ’ by a signal of different amplitude, while keeping the frequency constant. On-Off Keying (OOK) is a special form of ASK, where one of the two amplitudes is zero. In FSK, the frequency is changed in response to information, one particular frequency for a ‘ 1 ’ and another frequency for a ‘ 0 ’.  
         [0028]     The sinusoidal carrier signals of the foregoing modulations, like any other sinusoidal waveform, can be represented as a vector whose length is the amplitude of the sine wave and its phase angle is its phase difference with a reference vector. Moreover, any vector can be written as a linear combination of orthogonal functions, called basis functions. Ideally, a minimum number of basis functions, with the following attributes, is desired for constructing a vector and forming a coordinate system: 
        1. each basis function has unit energy, such as (1, 0) and (0, 1) vectors; and     2. each basis function is orthogonal to all the other basis functions, represented mathematically by:  
           ∫     -   ∞       +   ∞       ⁢         ϕ   i     ⁡     (   t   )       ⁢       ϕ   j     ⁡     (   t   )           =     {         1         i   =   j             0         i   ≠   j                 
       
 
         [0031]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic diagrams of a signal presented in a Cartesian and a polar coordinate system, respectively, constructed by two basis functions φ 1 (t) and φ 2 (t). One example of such set of basis functions for a sinusoidal wave is a pair of sine and cosine functions of unit amplitude. Such basis functions, which can be represented as (1, 0) and (0, 1) vectors, are used in all real and modern communication systems. The axis defined by (1, 0) vector represents the I-channel and the one defined by (0, 1) vector represents the Q-channel. In  FIG. 3A , s 1  is the I-channel projection and S 2  is the Q-channel projection of the carrier signal vector.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3B  shows the same signal in polar form, with its length equal to its amplitude and its angle ⊖ equal to its phase difference with respect to the (1, 0) reference signal vector. The coefficients s 1  represent the amplitude of the I-signal and s 2  the amplitude of the Q-signal. These amplitudes when plotted on the x- and y-axes, respectively, form the signal vector, where 
        Magnitude of the signal S=(s 1   2 +s 2   2 ) 1/2       Phase of the signal ⊖=tan −1 (s 2 /s 1 )          
         [0035]     For example, if the I-channel&#39;s basis function is cos(ωt) and the Q-channel&#39;s basis function is sin(ωt), at any time t an I-Q sample of the non-modulated channel signals yields s 1 cos(ωt) and s 2 sin(ωt), from the I- and Q-channel respectively, from which the equation of the actual carrier signal can be written as: 
 
carrier signal= s   1  cos(ω t )+ s   2  sin(ω t )  (1) 
 
 Equation 1 can also be written as 
 
carrier signal= S [( s   1   /S )cos(ω t )+( s   2   /S )sin(ω t )]  (2) 
 
 And if S is such that 
 
 S =( s   1   2   +s   2   2 ) 1/2   (3) 
 
 which results in 
 
( s   1   /S ) 2 +( s   2   /S ) 2 =1  (4) 
 
 then there will exist an angle ⊖ for which 
 
( s   1   /S )=cos(⊖)  (5) 
 
 and 
 
( s   2   /S )=sin(⊖)  (6) 
 
 Using Equations 5 and 6, the carrier signal equation can be rewritten as 
 
carrier signal= S [cos(⊖)cos(ω t )+sin(⊖)sin(ω t )]  (7) 
 
 and be simplified to 
 
carrier signal= S  cos(ω t −⊖)  (8) 
 
 where Equation 8 illustrates the fact that the resulting carrier signal has the same frequency as the basis functions along with a constant phase difference of ⊖. The FFT, data demodulation, data decoding, correlation, and data selection can all be performed in a field programmable gate array (FPGA) such as from Altera, Part No. EP1S20F484. 
 
         [0036]     It is important to note that in the polar coordinate system a non-modulated sinusoidal carrier signal is simply represented by a stationary vector. This is because its amplitude remains constant as a result of being non-modulated and its phase remains constant with respect to the basis functions as a result of being a combination of the basis functions and therefore having the same frequency as the basis functions. However, any other sinusoidal signal with a different frequency than that of the basis functions (or that of the carrier signal) will be represented by a rotating vector since its phase is constantly changing with respect to the basis functions. The rotation direction of such a vector depends on whether its frequency is higher or lower than the frequency of the basis functions.  
         [0037]     In yet another embodiment of the invention in which the transmitted signals are I-Q modulated, the proposed dual mode receiver identifies and demodulates an FM modulated signal by a mere cross-product operation which reduces the required time of the traditional demodulation by a factor of more than forty (40). As described above, the frequency deviation of an FM modulated signal from the carrier frequency manifests itself as a frequency of rotation around the origin of the polar plot, where a clockwise or a counter-clockwise rotation may be defined as a ‘ 0 ’ or a ‘ 1 ’. Therefore, data is decoded by calculating the frequency of the I-Q phasor rotation, which is the phase change divided by the elapsed time. The phase change itself is: 
 
tan −1 [(change in Q)/(change in I)]  (9) 
 
         [0038]     Since new I and Q values are obtained at each sampling instance and the time between the samples are known, the phase change and the deviation frequency can be calculated to determine whether the received data presents a logic ‘0’ or a logic ‘1’.  
         [0039]     Therefore, rate of rotation of the phasor will reflect a new input frequency and will produce a different angular change between incoming samples. By taking the difference between subsequent angle calculations, frequency changes can be detected, which provides a means for decoding the FM data. FM decoding has been done using an FFT by setting the deviation wide enough that as the carrier deviates it travels from one bin to the other. The decoder then decodes the data by monitoring the excursions in and out of the bin pairs. This requires either very narrow bins or wide deviation. Another method of FM decoding is to set the bin edge close to the carrier center frequency so that the amplitude in one bin changes as the carrier deviates in and out of the bin. By using I and Q vectors the deviation can be decoded when the carrier is anywhere within the bin. Bench testing has shown improvements in receiver sensitivity using FM modulation over AM.  
         [0040]     Traditionally a CORDIC (COrdinate Rotation Dlgital Computer) algorithm is employed for calculating trigonometric functions. A CORDIC algorithm is an iterative method that requires no multiplications and is particularly suited for hardware implementation. However, if merely the direction of the rotation of a signal vector is required to identify a frequency deviation and demodulate a signal, the CORDIC calculations, or for that matter any other calculation for obtaining deviation frequency, will be a waste of time and resources.  
         [0041]     After each sampling, in this embodiment of the invention, the cross-product of the sampled I-Q phasor and its preceding I-Q phasor is calculated. At each sampling, the generated I-Q phasor is of the form αi+βq, where i is a unit vector in the I-direction, q is a unit vector in the Q-direction, α is the I-channel sample value, β is the Q-channel sample value, and i×q=p, where p is a unit vector perpendicular to the I-Q plane and coming out of it toward the observer. Since the cross-product operation is not commutative, and A×B=−B×A, a change of direction in the deviation rotation of the I-Q phasor results in a change in the sign of the computed cross-product. For example, for a clockwise deviation rotation the value of the cross product of a sampled I-Q phasor with its preceding I-Q phasor sample will be a positive number: 
 
(sampled I-Q phasor)×(preceding I-Q phasor sample)&gt;0, 
 
         [0042]     while the cross-product for a counter-clockwise rotation yields a negative number. Thus, the received data can be demodulated by merely calculating the above mentioned cross-product and observing its sign.  
         [0043]     In addition to simplification of the computations, the cross-product of two consecutive I-Q samples provides both the FM demodulation and the digital slicing of the received data in one operation. Moreover, the cross-product proposed in this embodiment takes only three (3) machine cycles and directly provides a logic ‘1’ or a logic ‘0’, while the CORDIC method of calculating the deviation frequency takes approximately 140 machine cycles and requires further decision-making cycles to decipher the logic value of the received signal.  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram representing an example of steps involved in decoding an AM/FM AMR signal. At block  410 , an AM/FM signal is received by a receiver. At block  420 , the receiver samples and quantizes the signal. At block  430 , a frequency spectrum of the quantized signal is computed. At block  440 , separate AM and FM demodulators demodulate the received signal, using the computed frequency spectrum. At block  450 , the outputs of both the AM and the FM demodulators are checked for one of at least two valid preambles. At block  460 , a selector selects and routes, to a decoder, the output with a valid preamble. At block  470 , the decoder decodes the routed demodulated signal.  
         [0045]     Conclusion  
         [0046]     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.  
         [0047]     The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.  
         [0048]     The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the utility data collection system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.  
         [0049]     All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, as well as the International PCT Patent Application No. ______, entitled “Frequency Shift Compensation, Such As for Use in a Wireless Utility Meter Reading Environment,” filed Mar. 30, 2005, assigned to Itron, (Attorney Docket No. 10145-8013WO), are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.  
         [0050]     These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the invention, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the compensation system described above may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.  
         [0051]     While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the invention is recited as embodied in a computer-readable medium, other aspects may likewise be embodied in a computer-readable medium. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.