From: Pros and Cons of Meter-Reading Automation
Glossary of Metering Automation Terms
Manual meter reading– when a person
writes down the numbers on a meter’s face that indicate water usage
AMR– automated meter reading, a mobile
system (hand-held or drive-by) that enables a reader near the meter to collect
its water-usage data without having to examine the meter directly
AMS– advanced metering system, an older
name for AMI
AMI– advanced metering infrastructure,
automatic meter integration, or automatic meter interface. By whatever name, AMI
is a two-way fixed-network system with a headpoint in the utility’s office and
endpoints on individual meters. AMI yields a huge volume of data, enabling
computer analysis to detect leaks, tampering, and theft; examine usage patterns;
and promote efficient water use.
Collection system– enables
communication between the headpoint and the endpoints. It typically involves
radio-frequency transmission, although some AMI installations use analog
telephone lines, cell phone technology, DSL (a telephone Direct Subscriber
Line), Ethernet, fiberoptic cable, a TC/PIP Internet backbone, wi-fi, or wi-max
(a more powerful version of wi-fi).
Collector– the device in a radio
frequency fixed network that transmits signals from endpoints to the headpoint
and vice versa
Data logging– compiling an hour-by-hour
record of water use
Endpoint– the device that transmits
water usage data from the MIU (meter interface unit) through a collection system
to a receiver at the headpoint, and receives instructions from the headpoint
Gateway– a receiver-transmitter that
communicates with multiple endpoints and with a collector in a radio frequency
mesh network
Headpoint– the device in the utility’s
office that signals the endpoints to transmit their water-usage data, and then
receives the data
Mesh network– an AMI system in
which each endpoint also may serve as a repeater, forwarding signals from other
endpoints to a gateway from which they can reach a collector
MIU– meter interface unit, which
captures and stores water-usage data over a period of time
Star network– an AMI system in which
each endpoint in a radio frequency network communicates directly with its
collector
Water use profiling– analysis of the
data gathered by data
logging
Elements 2010
From: Pros and Cons of Meter-Reading Automation
Glossary of Metering Automation Terms
Manual meter reading– when a person
writes down the numbers on a meter’s face that indicate water usage
AMR– automated meter reading, a mobile
system (hand-held or drive-by) that enables a reader near the meter to collect
its water-usage data without having to examine the meter directly
AMS– advanced metering system, an older
name for AMI
AMI– advanced metering infrastructure,
automatic meter integration, or automatic meter interface. By whatever name, AMI
is a two-way fixed-network system with a headpoint in the utility’s office and
endpoints on individual meters. AMI yields a huge volume of data, enabling
computer analysis to detect leaks, tampering, and theft; examine usage patterns;
and promote efficient water use.
Collection system– enables
communication between the headpoint and the endpoints. It typically involves
radio-frequency transmission, although some AMI installations use analog
telephone lines, cell phone technology, DSL (a telephone Direct Subscriber
Line), Ethernet, fiberoptic cable, a TC/PIP Internet backbone, wi-fi, or wi-max
(a more powerful version of wi-fi).
Collector– the device in a radio
frequency fixed network that transmits signals from endpoints to the headpoint
and vice versa
Data logging– compiling an hour-by-hour
record of water use
Endpoint– the device that transmits
water usage data from the MIU (meter interface unit) through a collection system
to a receiver at the headpoint, and receives instructions from the headpoint
Gateway– a receiver-transmitter that
communicates with multiple endpoints and with a collector in a radio frequency
mesh network
Headpoint– the device in the utility’s
office that signals the endpoints to transmit their water-usage data, and then
receives the data
Mesh network– an AMI system in
which each endpoint also may serve as a repeater, forwarding signals from other
endpoints to a gateway from which they can reach a collector
MIU– meter interface unit, which
captures and stores water-usage data over a period of time
Star network– an AMI system in which
each endpoint in a radio frequency network communicates directly with its
collector
Water use profiling– analysis of the
data gathered by data
logging