| 摘要 |
A remote home monitoring system (100) for monitoring a utility meter (108) and a home device (118) located in a dwelling (102) and for communicating with a remotely located host computer (130) having programs (306-330) for performing a prescribed function related to a purpose served by the host computer. The system includes a home control unit (116) having a receiver (82) for receiving a sensor status signal from the home device, a transmitter (82) for transmitting information to the home device, and a control module (83). A utility meter reading unit (120) is attached to a standard consumption meter (e.g. electric meter) and includes a sensing system (218) for reading consumption data from the utility meter; an interface module (302) for transmitting the consumption data; and a control module (304) for storing the consumption data from the utility meter and for controlling the transmission of the consumption data by the interface module. The utility meter reading unit is in communication with a concentrator (122) that includes a transmitter (650, 502) for transmitting a concentrator polling request signal to the interface module of the utility meter reading unit, a receiver (650, 504) for receiving the consumption data from the interface module of the utility meter reading unit in response to the concentrator polling request signal, a concentrator interface module (654) for packaging the consumption data into an automatic meter reading (AMR) packet having a destination host address, and a transceiver (658) for transmitting the AMR packet to the host computer. The system provides a home (including apartments etc.) to fully integrate and control utility meters and any number of home devices within the home that can be monitored by remotely located computers. |
