Patent ID: 7248181

Claim:
An automated meter reading (AMR) system, comprising: an interface module adapted to couple to a meter measuring a quantity of delivered product and providing a first signal indicative of the measured quantity, the module including a wireless transmitter modulating and transmitting the first signal as an RF signal at a transmission interval of less than about every 30 seconds, adapted to facilitate readings by a field operator walking or driving in close proximity to the system, at a power level no greater than 1 mW and at a frequency in an unlicensed frequency band, adapted to reduce interference in the unlicensed frequency band; and a profile module operatively coupled to the interface module and having a transceiver and a controller receiving the first signals, the profile module creating and storing usage profile data as a function of the measured quantity, wherein the usage profile data is generated at a profile data interval and is adapted to be obtained by a remote user via the transceiver.