Patent ID: 7453373

Claim:
An automated meter reading (AMR) system for wirelessly providing utility meter readings, the AMR system comprising: a utility pit system having a pit housing to be at least partially received within a pit, and a pit lid for at least partially covering the pit housing; a utility meter received within the pit housing; and at least one utility meter reading module for obtaining utility data from the utility meter, wirelessly or via a wired connection, and wirelessly transmitting the utility data via a low-power, shorter-range wireless communications protocol to an active pit translator module that amplifies the utility data signal, and transmits the amplified utility data signal via a longer-range wireless communications protocol, wherein the utility meter reading module is under, over, or an integral part of the pit lid, or is an integral part of the pit housing, or an antenna of the utility meter reading module is under, over, or an integral part of the pit lid, or a combination thereof, and wherein: the active pit translator module is configured to receive the utility data signal from the utility meter reading module, amplify the received signal to a power that is sufficient to reach a reader or high-power intermediate repeater and re-transmit the amplified utility data signal via a longer-range wireless communications protocol for reception by a reader or a high-power intermediate repeater; the active pit translator module is substantially close to, under, over, or an integral part of the pit lid or is an integral part of the pit housing; and an antenna of the active pit translator module is substantially close to, mounted over, an integral part of, or protruded through a hole in the pit lid or is an integral part of or protruded through a hole in the pit housing.