摘要 |
A metering system (10) provides a measuring level (12) with multiple meters (20a-20k) and a collection level (14) with multiple collectors (22a-22c). Each meter (fig. 2) periodically measures a parameter, such as electricity consumption, and stores measurement information. Each meter (fig. 2) periodically transmits its stored measurement information to a collector (fig. 8) by a wireless signal (24). When a collector (22a-22c) receives a transmission (24), it determines which meter (20a-20k) sent the transmission (24), and then extracts unprocessed measurement information. The collector (fig. 8) then processes the measurement information to generate a metered function, such as a load profile (fig. 13), a time-of-use profile (figs. 14A & 14B), or a demand profile (figs. 15A& 15B). The collector (fig. 8) can compensate for missed transmissions (24) and power failures. The metered functions for each meter (20a-20k) are transmitted from the collectors (22a-22c) to a monitoring station (26).
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