METER READER AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

摘要

A control circuit (12) uses a PLC circuit (13) to obtain, from a PLC management device (20A) or at least one other meter reader in a PLC network (100A), information regarding the amount of unused capacity in said PLC network (100A). The control circuit (12) uses a wireless communication circuit (14) to obtain, from a wireless management device (20B) or at least one other meter reader in a wireless network (100B), information regarding the amount of unused capacity in said wireless network (100B). The control circuit (12) compares the amount of unused capacity in the PLC network (100A) with the amount of unused capacity in the wireless network (100B) and selects the network that has the larger amount of unused capacity. The control circuit (12) uses the power-line communication circuit or the wireless communication circuit to join the selected network.