Patent ID: 7417557

Claim:
In an automatic meter reading (AMR) communications system having a plurality of endpoints adapted for two-way communications with collection transceivers, a plurality of collection transceivers each having a communications range that defines a principal coverage area and adapted to obtain information from endpoints located in the principal coverage area via at least the two-way communications for which the plurality of endpoints are adapted, a method of improving AMR system coverage comprising: providing an auxiliary transceiver in a fixed location, wherein the auxiliary transceiver has a communications range that defines an auxiliary coverage area; automatically operating the auxiliary transceiver in a low-power standby mode during a first time duration, and automatically operating the auxiliary transceiver in an active mode during a second time duration that is shorter than the first time duration, wherein operating the auxiliary transceiver during the second time duration includes: exiting the standby mode to enter an active operating mode; independently initiating a command directed to at least one endpoint in the auxiliary coverage area to obtain information from that at least one endpoint, wherein the command is substantially in a form of a command transmitted for reception by the plurality of endpoints according to the two-way communications for which the plurality of endpoints are adapted; receiving endpoint information transmitted from the at least one endpoint located in the auxiliary coverage area in response to the command; and transmitting at least a subset of the received endpoint information to at least one of the plurality of collection transceivers, wherein the transmitting is in response to a prompting signal from one of the plurality of collection transceivers directed to endpoints.