INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NEW ZEALAND
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Patent 582996
Patent 582996
Disclosed is a method for communication between an advanced metering infrastructure
(AMI) system and a distribution automation (DA) device (406). The method allows the AMI
system, which communicates in accordance with a first communication protocol, to
communicate with the DA device, which communicates in accordance with a second
protocol, different to the first. The AMI system comprises of a server (204) which
communicates with a wireless network (120) of metering devices (114) using the first
protocol, each metering device defining a node on the network having a unique identifier.
The method comprises the steps of: connecting a communications interface of the DA
device to a corresponding communications interface on one of the nodes; receiving at the
server a message addressed to the DA device, the message being formatted in accordance
with the second protocol; and determining the unique identifier of the node to which the DA
device is connected. The method further comprises: using the determined unique identifier,
transmitting a command to the node via the network in accordance with the first protocol.
The command requests that the node write the message to a first ANSI C12.19-compliant
table in a memory of the node. The node then retrieves the message from the table and
transmits it to the DA device via the node’s communications interface in accordance with the
second protocol. The node stores a response from the DA to the message in a second ASI
C12.19-compliant table in the memory. The method finally comprises: transmitting a second
command to the node via the network in accordance with the first protocol, requesting the
response be read from the second table and be transmitted to the server via the network in
accordance with the first protocol, where the response is received.