MANAGING SERIAL NUMBERING OF ENCODER-RECEIVER-TRANSMITTER DEVICES IN AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEMS

摘要

A solution for providing various types of encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT ) devices for use in corresponding types of automatic meter reading (AMR) systems that receive standard consumption messages (SCMs) from ERT devices. According to one aspect, the solution includes maintaining a set of records that associate ea ch issued serial number with a corresponding configured ERT type. A new first ERT device of a first type is configured with a serial number in accordance with the set of records. Th e first ERT device may have a common serial number with another ERT device of a differen t type; but the first ERT device may not have a common serial number with any other ERT device of the first type.