Airborne data collection

{
  "publication_number": "US9915688B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Airborne data collection",
  "abstract": "A meter reading system for communicating with Automated Meter Reading meters. The system includes an airborne platform and a meter data collection system disposed on the airborne platform. The meter data collection system includes antennas, with each of the antennas pointing in a different direction, one from another, and each antenna generally pointing downward when the airborne platform is airborne. The antennas receive meter data from the meters. The meter data collection system also includes transceivers, one each of the transceivers associated with and in signal communication with one each of the antennas. The transceivers receive the meter data through the antennas. A first computer is in signal communication with the transceivers, and receives the meter data from the transceivers.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A meter reading system for communicating with automated meter reading meters, the system comprising: an airborne platform, a meter data collection system disposed on the airborne platform, the meter data collection system including, antennas, each of the antennas pointing in a different direction, one from another, each antenna generally pointing downward when the airborne platform is airborne, the antennas for receiving meter data from the meters, wherein the antennas further comprise: a first antenna facing forward at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward, a second antenna facing rear at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward, a third antenna facing right at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward, a fourth antenna facing left at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward, and a fifth antenna facing substantially vertically downward, transceivers, each of the transceivers associated with and in signal communication with an individual and unique one of the antennas, the transceivers for receiving the meter data through the antennas, and a first computer in signal communication with the transceivers, the first computer for receiving the meter data from the transceivers.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the first computer for generating a wake-up command and sending the wake-up command through the transceivers and the antennas to the meters.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter data includes at least one of a meter reading, a meter identification, a meter type, a date stamp, a time stamp, a date when last read, a time when last read, handshake protocols, and a status indication.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a memory for storing meter location data and meter identification data for a set of meters to be read, and a processor for matching received meter data with the stored meter location data and the stored meter identification data, and for tracking which of the set of meters have been read by the system and which of the meters have not been read by the system.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a status display for presenting a visual display of a terrain above which the airborne platform is traveling, with indications on the display of a set of meters to be read, where the indications for those meters that have been read are presented with a first formatting and the indications for those meters that have not been read are presented with a second formatting that is different from the first formatting.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the airborne platform comprises one of an airplane, glider, projectile, helicopter, drone, balloon, dirigible, and satellite."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This applications claims rights and priority on prior U.S. provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 61/913,685 filed Dec. 9, 2013 and 61/925,137 filed Jan. 8, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. This invention relates to the field of reading utility meters. More particularly, this invention relates to reading utility meters from an airborne platform.\n\nUtility meters are typically read by crews of meters readers who each have a route that they are responsible for. The meter reader walks up to each individual meter, identifies the meter on a list of meters, visually reads the dials on the meter, enters the value into a meter log, and then proceeds to the next meter on the route. At the end of the day, the collected data is transcribed into a database. This same routine must be performed for each meter in service by the utility company on a regular basis, when service is started or stopped, or when utility theft or leakage is suspected.\n\nObviously, this system of reading meters is both labor and time intensive, and therefore costly. Because of the effort and time required, many meters do not get read as frequently as would be desired by the utility company. In such cases, the usage is sometimes estimated, and imprecise charges are billed out to the utility customers.\n\nAdding to the workload, government regulations are requiring increasing accountability for the distribution of certain metered commodities, such as water and natural gas, to minimize the loss of these commodities, such as by leakage.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01R 21/00",
    "G01D 4/006",
    "G01R 22/063",
    "H04W 4/005",
    "H04W 4/70",
    "Y02B 90/20",
    "Y02B 90/243",
    "Y02B 90/246",
    "Y04S 20/30",
    "Y04S 20/325",
    "Y04S 20/42"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H04W 84/18",
    "G01R 21/00",
    "G01D 4/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "DATAFLYTE Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Martin L. Bauer",
    "Daniel L. Nower",
    "John M. Dischner",
    "Daniel J. Morse",
    "Matthew S Williamson",
    "W Scott McDonald"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-12-09",
  "publication_date": "2018-03-13",
  "grant_date": "2018-03-13",
  "priority_date": "2013-12-09",
  "application_number": "US-201414564534-A",
  "family_id": "53272553",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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}