Patrick W Delaney

US Patent:

55415890, Jul 30, 1996

Filed:

Dec 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/356842

Inventors:

Patrick J. Delaney - Puyallup WA

International Classification:

G08B 2300

US Classification:

34087002

Abstract:

Each of a plurality of utility clients has a meter at the client location. A reader, such as an infrared emitter and optical photosensor arrangement, obtains consumption information from the meter and provides the information to a microprocessor. The microprocessor stores the information as data in memory. A server located remotely from the client locations sends polling messages to the client locations to obtain the consumption data. Messages are sent one at a time, with a period between messages to await a response. Messages from the server and to the client locations and from the client locations to the servers include error correction fields to enable the receiving location to check the message for errors. The server scans a range of radio frequencies to measure traffic and noise and uses information obtained to create a radio frequency hop map. This map is transmitted to client locations for use in future responses to polling messages.