Communication between a terminal, such as a consumption meter, installed at a fixed location and a mobile data collector, by way of Wireless M-Bus, via a short-range radio receiver. Data from the terminal is forwarded to the data collector via a bidirectional WPAN interface. The terminal sends a message periodically and unprompted for the communication set-up and subsequently opens a reception window after a period of time. In response, a command or a command sequence is conveyed from the mobile data collector to the receiver and to the terminal in one or more reception windows. The receiver determines the reception time at which the message arrives at the receiver, and the receiver stipulates the time at which the command or command sequence is transmitted onward to the terminal, so that the command or command sequence is received by the terminal within one reception window or multiple reception windows.

A radio communication device comprising a radio frequency circuit and a microcontroller arranged to control the radio frequency circuit. The radio communication device further comprises: a radio frequency reference connected to the radio frequency circuit and arranged to be the frequency reference of at least the symbol frequency; a MCU and a time frequency reference connected to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is arranged to determine a frequency error of the time frequency reference relative to the radio frequency reference by performing the steps of: transmitting a radio signal, and signal a timing signal on a control interface, comprising information on start of transmission and end of transmission of the radio signal; receive the timing signal from the radio frequency circuit and measure a transmission duration of the radio signal with reference to the MCU frequency reference and calculate a frequency error of the MCU frequency reference relative to the radio frequency reference based on the measured transmission duration of the radio signal and the number of symbols and the symbol frequency. Further, the microcontroller measures a time period of the time frequency reference with reference to the MCU frequency reference; and calculate the frequency error of the time frequency reference relative to the radio frequency reference.

Parties having different responsibilities and interests at a monitored location can be given a partial view of the totality of the sensor channels of data generated by the various sensors installed at the monitored location. The partial views deliver customized sets of data streams to customers. The selective distribution of sensor information accommodates the divergent interests and needs of parties responsible for tracking the various characteristics of a monitored location.

An automatic meter reading (AMR) system includes a plurality of metering endpoints, each endpoint being configured to wirelessly transmit meter data in compliance with a data transmission schedule. A handheld unit, transported by a vehicle in proximity to the endpoints, is adapted to receive the meter data. To reduce the risk of communication collision, each endpoint is configured with techniques for modifying its transmission schedule. As one technique, each endpoint transmits meter data at a fixed time interval between successive transmissions, each transmission being applied with a random time offset to yield a non-periodic transmission cycle. As another technique, each metering endpoint is configured to transmit meter data within a designated time slot within the fixed time interval. Further, each endpoint monitors the distribution of data within the various time slots and modifies the time slot to which it is assigned to optimally balance the distribution of meter data.

Parties having different responsibilities and interests at a monitored location can be given a partial view of the totality of the sensor channels of data generated by the various sensors installed at the monitored location. The partial views deliver customized sets of data streams to customers. The selective distribution of sensor information accommodates the divergent interests and needs of parties responsible for tracking the various characteristics of a monitored location.

The presentation of sensor network information can be provided to a user via a customized dashboard web interface. The dashboard web interface can be based on customized transformation and alert functions that can be applied to one or more sensor channels of data produced from sensors at a monitored location. The customized alerts can provide real-time monitoring of targeted conditions at the monitored location.

A method of capturing usage data of a usage area, which includes an automatic meter reading (AMR) device that broadcasts the usage data over a sequence of radio-frequency (RF) channels via a frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) signal. The method includes the steps of providing an RF receiver for the usage area, determining the sequence of RF channels, and receiving the usage data by tuning the RF receiver to an RF channel based on the sequence of RF channels. The sequence of RF channels includes an array of RF channels assigned to and ordered based on a channel position.

A method operates a mobile readout system having at least one stationary consumption meter and a mobile readout receiver for reading out the consumption meter as the readout receiver moves past the consumption meter. A two-way communication takes place between the consumption meter and the readout receiver by using the consumption meter to transmit status information stored in the consumption meter, using the readout receiver to receive the status information, using the readout receiver to request additional information from the consumption meter by using a request command, and transmitting encrypted additional information from the consumption meter to the readout receiver. A readout receiver having a receiver for acquiring data from a plurality of spatially distributed consumption meters by using radio transmission according to the method is also provided.

A communications device has a first communications port via which secure messages are received, and a second communications port via which non-secure messages are received. In response to detecting that a secure message has been received, the device determines whether the second communications port is in a state that enables non-secure messages to be received. If the second communications port is in the enabled state, the device autonomously disables the second communications port to preclude non-secure messages received at that port from being processed.

A method of locating a water resource includes taking a first electronic device within a predetermined radius of a water resource; and associating owner contact information and coordinate location data of the water resource to the water resource. An online database stores the coordinate location data of the water resource, the owner of the water resource, and the owner contact information received from the first electronic device. A second electronic device displays on an electronic map the coordinate location data of the water resource within an area of the electronic map. The user of the second electronic device is informed, after selection of the water resource, the name of the owner of the water resource, the owner contact information of the water resource, and the coordinate location data of the water resource.