Patent ID: 6946972

Claim:
A method of wirelessly transmitting periodic readings of a remote utility meter to a host computer, comprising: (a) storing a plurality of meter reading values in a buffer; (b) processing said plurality of meter reading value in said buffer to determine the relative difference between a first meter reading value and a second meter reading value wherein said second meter reading value is the next sequentially stored meter reading value in said buffer relative to said first meter reading value; (c) determining whether said relative difference is less than a predetermined value; (d) determining the status of a compression flag, (e) if said relative difference is less than said predetermined value and said compression flag is not set, then setting said compression flag, transmitting a compression indication, and transmitting said relative difference; (f) if said relative difference is less than said predetermined value and said compression flag is set, then transmitting said relative difference; (g) if said relative difference is greater than said predetermined value, and said compression flag is not set, then transmitting said first meter reading value; and (h) if said relative difference is greater than said predetermined value, and said compression flag is set, then resetting said compression flag, transmitting a decompression indication and transmitting said first meter reading value.