Communication Scheduler

R900^® cellular endpoints are delivered with a predefined reading communication schedule set up at the factory. Each reading is scheduled to occur within a one-hour time period. The Communication Scheduler helps utilities review schedule status for supported R900 Cellular Endpoints and manage schedule changes when those endpoints are eligible.

This feature allows you to:

• Review the current call-in schedule assigned to an endpoint.
• Confirm whether the endpoint is successfully using the selected schedule.
• Create, update, and reassign custom schedules when the endpoint is eligible.
• Understand why an endpoint is temporarily unavailable for schedule changes.
• Use page-level statuses and tooltips to decide whether to wait, retry, update firmware, or contact support.

Communication Scheduler is available only for supported R900 Cellular Endpoints. Utility Administrators can edit schedules; all other roles have view-only access.

Communication Scheduler is available to R900 Cellular Endpoints with IDs in the following ranges:

• 220000000 to 229999999.
• 310000000 to 319999999.
• 320000000 to 349999999.
• 500050000 to 599999999.

 

 

Example Schedules

The default communications settings include three daily transmissions, every 8 hours, in the 24-hour period beginning at midnight.

This default schedule gives users a baseline schedule to review before deciding whether a different transmission timing is needed. Some billing or operational scenarios may require a custom transmission schedule instead of the factory one. If a custom schedule is needed, Neptune 360 allows the change only when the selected endpoint is currently eligible for scheduling.

With the correct permissions, you can override the predefined schedule to accommodate your specific utility's needs and billing schedule and create a custom schedule.

The default schedule includes all R900 cellular devices that the utility purchased / claimed. This feature is not available to any other type of endpoint (R450™, CMIU, R900^®, LoRaWAN^®).

The following guidelines apply to any communication schedule changes:

• On the Summary page, the endpoint must be in Ready Status.

• You cannot increase or decrease the number of readings in any given 24-hour period, you can only change the timing of the readings.
• You must allot at least one hour between readings.
• If you reschedule a reading and then delete the rescheduled reading, the endpoint resumes the default schedule and shows the reason the endpoint is unavailable to reschedule.
• On a custom schedule page, the endpoint must be in a schedulable status, such as Received.

 

 

 

 

What You Can See and Do in This Window

Click a link to display the related information or step-by-step procedure.

Action Options

Filter the Communication Schedule Grid	–
Create a New Schedule	Assign Endpoints to a Schedule
–	Retry All Errors
–	Re-Assign Endpoints to a Schedule
Display an Endpoint on the Customer Inquiry Page	–
Edit a Schedule (Administrator permission only)	–
Delete a Schedule (Administrator permission only)	–

 

 

Filter the Communication Schedule Grid

You can filter the communication schedule grid to display data for:

• All Endpoints – endpoints claimed and associated with the current schedule that is selected.
• Ready – endpoint received, acknowledged, and applied to the new communication schedule.
• Firmware Required – endpoint requires a firmware update before the Configurable Reporting Windows feature becomes available. Contact Neptune customer support for assistance.
• Pending – the system is processing the new communication schedule.
• Failures – endpoint failed to apply the new communication schedule. Possible causes include server communication errors, incorrect endpoint firmware, loss of RF (radio frequency) infrastructure, low battery, or an object blocks the meter box.

The following table defines the data in the schedule grid.

Schedule Grid Data

Column	Description
Account Number	Account number for the endpoint.
Account Address	Physical address fore the account.
Endpoint ID	ID for the endpoint listed in the grid. This ID is a link that displays the endpoint on the Customer Inquiry page.
Last Transmission	Date and time the endpoint last sent a reading to the system, in YYYY-MM-DD (T) HH:MM:SS format (in the time format set for the utility-hour time).
Modified By	Email address of the person who updated or created the schedule.
Status	Endpoint status (Received, Pending, Errors).

 

 

Create a New Schedule

If you have the proper permission, you can create a new custom communication schedule for the endpoints in your network.

1. On the Neptune 360 navigation panel, select Comms Scheduler under Endpoint Management.
2. Click Create New Schedule.

The Configurable Communication Timing Windows is displayed.

3. In the Enter Communication Window Name field, type the new schedule name.
4. Move the sliders to set up to four new reading times.
5. Click Save Changes.
6. Verify the new schedule and click Confirm Changes or click Confirm and Add Endpoints if you want to assign endpoints to the schedule.

 

 

Assign Endpoints to a Schedule

When you opt to add endpoints to a new schedule you create, you assign endpoints to the new schedule. You can assign all currently unassigned endpoints, or assign individual endpoints. In the Assign Endpoints grid, you can search endpoints by endpoint ID, account number, or meter size.

1. On the Neptune 360 navigation panel, select Comms Scheduler under Endpoint Management.
2. Do one of the following. If you want to:
3. Assign endpoints at the time you create a new schedule, create the new schedule, and then click Confirm and Add Endpoints when you confirm the schedule addition.
4. Assign endpoints to an existing schedule, select the schedule and then click Add Endpoints.

3. Select the checkbox for each endpoint you want to add to the schedule, or select the checkbox for all endpoints.

When users choose the select all checkboxes in the column titles header on the grid, Neptune 360 selects only the endpoints that are eligible to assign to a schedule. As a result, users may see rows in the grid that remain unselected This is expected when those rows are blocked by status or readiness conditions. If applicable clicking the tooltip shows the conditions why the endpoint may not be ready to assign to a schedule.

4. Click Assign.
5. Click Yes to confirm you want to assign the endpoints.

 

 

Retry All Errors

Endpoints may fail to apply a communication schedule for various reasons. You can retry all errors to allow the schedule to be applied. You may be able to correct any obvious reasons for the failures before reapplying the schedule.

1. On the Neptune 360 navigation panel, select Comms Scheduler under Endpoint Management.
2. On the Summary panel, click the schedule you want to display.
3. In the Endpoints in Schedule panel, click Errors to display the grid of the endpoints that failed to apply the schedule.
4. Click Retry All Errors.
5. Review the Failures grid to determine if any endpoint failures now have the schedule applied.

 

 

Re-Assign Endpoints to a Schedule

With the proper permission, you can re-assign one or more endpoints to a different schedule, or back to the default schedule.

1. On the Neptune 360 navigation panel, select Comms Scheduler under Endpoint Management.
2. On the Summary panel, click the schedule for which you want to re-assign endpoints.
3. Click Re-Assign Endpoints.
4. Select the Endpoints you want to re-assign.
5. Click Re-Assign.
6. Select the schedule to which you want to re-assign the endpoints.
7. Click Confirm Changes to complete the reassignment.

 

 

Display an Endpoint on the Customer Inquiry Page

The schedule grid includes a column for Endpoint ID. This ID is a link you can click to display the endpoint and reading information on the Customer Inquiry page. If you or another user made any schedule changes to the specific endpoint, the changes display in the Comments section on the Customer Inquiry page.

 

 

Edit a Schedule (Administrator Only)

With the proper permission, you can edit the name of a communication schedule or edit the schedule itself.

1. On the Neptune 360 navigation panel, select Comms Scheduler under Endpoint Management.
2. On the Summary panel, click the schedule you want to edit.
3. In the schedule pane, select the schedule you want to edit.
4. Under the Communication Schedule heading, click Edit.
5. Move the sliders to change one or more reading times.
6. Click Schedule Update.
7. Verify the new schedule and click Confirm Changes.

 

 

 

 

Delete a Schedule (Administrator Only)

With the proper permission, you can delete a communication schedule. When you delete a schedule, the endpoints revert to the default schedule.

1. On the Neptune 360 navigation panel, select Comms Scheduler under Endpoint Management.
2. On the Summary panel, click the schedule you want to delete.
3. In the Communication Schedule heading, click Delete.
4. Verify the schedule is the one you want to delete and click Confirm Changes to delete the schedule.