A utility meter network wherein meters can transmit electrical and other readings to a collector by using other meters as repeaters

摘要

586190 Disclosed is a method of communication performed by at least one electricity meter (114). A message is received from a battery-powered meter (400) that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity, the message including an associated meter field containing a destination address. It is then determined whether the associated meter field contains the destination address of the at least one electricity meter (114), thereby establishing an association with the battery powered meter (400). In response to establishing the association, information about measured consumption of the other commodity is received from the associated battery-powered meter (400) and the information is stored. Information about consumption of electricity measured by the at least one electricity meter (114) and the information about consumption of the other commodity received from the associated battery-powered meter are both transmitted to a collector (116) via the wireless network. The information is then transmitted to a remotely located display associated with the at least one electricity meter (114).