Patent ID: 7109882

Claim:
A system for collecting automatically information associated with the use or monitoring of a utility, such as a gas, electric or water utility, the system comprising: multiple endpoints each providing utility consumption data, wherein the multiple endpoints are grouped into one or more routes, and wherein each of the multiple endpoints includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data related to consumption of the utility; and a mobile data collection system configured to communicate with the multiple endpoints, wherein the mobile data collection system includes: an input collector configured to collect input data used in determining a next endpoint to be read for at least one of the one or more routes, wherein the input data includes one or more of real-time data, historical data, return signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, latitude/longitude data, sequence data for a particular route, data concerning the current location or velocity of the mobile data collection system, data relating to interfering RF emissions, temperature data, weather data, speed of the mobile data collection system as it moves through a route, data relating to terrain associated with the route, data relating to topology associated with the route, and street layout information; a sequencing component coupled to the input collector, wherein the sequencing component is configured to process the input data collected by the input collector to determine a next endpoint to read while performing reading of endpoints of the one or more routes, wherein the processed data includes three or more distinct types of data; and a receiver for communicating with the next endpoint to be read on the route and wirelessly receiving the data related to the consumption of the utility.