Patent ID: 8660067

Claim:
Apparatus for communicating between a server of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system and a distribution automation (DA) device, the AMI system comprising a wireless network of metering devices that communicate in accordance with a first communications protocol, each metering device defining a node on the wireless network and each node having a unique identifier on the wireless network, the DA device being adapted to communicate in accordance with a second protocol that is different from the first protocol of the wireless network of metering devices, the apparatus comprising: a first communications interface that operates in accordance with the first communications protocol to communicate via said wireless network of the AMI system; a second communications interface adapted to enable the apparatus to be connected to a corresponding interface of the DA device; a memory containing one or more ANSI C12.19-compliant data tables; and a processor that operates to: communicate via the first communications interface and to establish the apparatus as a node of the wireless network; receive, via the first communications interface in accordance with the first communications protocol, information encapsulated in a data format of the first communications protocol, the encapsulated information comprising a message formatted in accordance with the second communications protocol and intended to be delivered to the DA device; extract the encapsulated message and write the message to a first one of the ANSI C12.19-compliant data tables in the memory of the apparatus; transmit the message to the DA device via the second communications interface in accordance with the second communications protocol; receive a response from the DA device via the second communications interface in accordance with the second communications protocol and write the response to a second one of the ANSI C12.19-compliant data tables in the memory; and upon request, read the response from the second one of the ANSI C12.19-complaint data tables and transmit the response to the server over the wireless network via the first communications interface and in accordance with the first communications protocol.