Energy management and building automation system
First Claim
1. A utility meter interface apparatus connected between a utility company and a utility user'"'"'s structure, said utility meter interface comprising:
- a utility meter for measuring utility usage, said utility meter having a housing; and
a computer located in said housing and coupled to said utility meter, said computer providing an interface between a communication network and a device located internal to said utility user'"'"'s structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy management and building automation system including a local area network or home automation data bus such as the CEBus. Each load to be controlled is connected to the bus via a control module. A control module may contain a relay or switch (hereafter referred to as a “breaker” or “circuit breaker”) to disconnect the load from the mains upon command or upon occurrence of a power outage, or in either case. Current monitoring control modules determine whether connected loads are drawing current and power monitor modules monitor the power consumed by selected loads (from which energy consumption may be calculated). Both types of monitors may place on the bus messages to indicate load status or changes in load status. A first microcomputer preferably is placed externally to the customer premises, adjacent (or even within the housing of) the electric utility power meter. A second microcomputer preferably is placed inside the customer premises. The two microcomputers communicate with each other and with the various load control modules via the network/data bus. The first microcomputer communicates with the utility company via any appropriate communications link (such as a power line carrier system, radio, telephone, optical fiber or by use of a cable television network). Preferably the electric utility meter also is of a type which can be remotely read via the network/bus. The second microcomputer inside the premises serves, in part, as an input/output terminal for the system, allowing the customer to set parameters and query the system as to power usage information. It displays reports requested by the customer and also displays messages transmitted by the utility company and by either microcomputer. The first microcomputer acts as a master controller and/or network server, communicating with the world outside the premises and being the primary data collector and operator of load control modules, with the second microcomputer providing certain backup functions. By monitoring power consumption of not only the premises as a whole, but also of individual loads, the customer can be and is provided a great deal of information which allows the customer to make decisions about load utilization. Some of these decisions may be conditioned on the rate(s) charged by the electric utility, which may be broadcast by the utility to the customer from time to time. The utility company can also access selected utilization data and can also control at least some of the customer'"'"'s loads via messages to the first microcomputer.
394 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A utility meter interface apparatus connected between a utility company and a utility user'"'"'s structure, said utility meter interface comprising:
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a utility meter for measuring utility usage, said utility meter having a housing; and
a computer located in said housing and coupled to said utility meter, said computer providing an interface between a communication network and a device located internal to said utility user'"'"'s structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A utility meter interface apparatus comprising:
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an electric power meter;
a meter enclosure containing said electric power meter; and
a computer located within said meter enclosure and coupled to said electric meter, said computer comprising;
a first interface for communicating with a communication network; and
a second interface for communicating with a device located within a respective utility user'"'"'s structure, said second interface being coupled to said first interface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A utility meter interface apparatus comprising:
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an electric power meter; and
a computer coupled to said electric meter, said computer comprising;
a network interface for communicating with a communication network;
a structure interface for communicating with a device located within a respective utility user'"'"'s structure, said structure interface being coupled to said network interface;
a video processor coupled between said network interface and said structure interface;
a descrambler coupled between said video processor and said structure interface;
a modem processor coupled between said network interface and said structure interface;
a voice processor coupled between said network interface and said structure interface;
a meter interface coupled between said network interface and said structure interface, said meter interface also being coupled to said electric power meter; and
a personal computer interface coupled between said network interface and said structure interface, said personal computer interface also being coupled between each of said video processor, said modem processor, said voice processor, said meter interface and said structure interface.
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18. A method of providing an interface between a communication network and a device located within a utility user'"'"'s structure, comprising the steps of:
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providing a utility meter for measuring utility usage, said utility meter having a housing;
adapting said utility meter with a computer coupled to said utility meter, said computer being located in said housing; and
configuring said computer to provide said interface between said communication network and said device located within said utility user'"'"'s structure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of providing an interface between a communication network and a device located within a utility user'"'"'s structure, comprising the steps of:
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providing a utility meter for measuring utility usage;
adapting said utility meter with a compute r coupled to said utility meter;
configuring said computer to provide said interface between said communication network and said device located within said utility user'"'"'s structure; and
configuring said computer to descramble a video signal, said video signal being received over said communication network.
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32. A utility meter interface apparatus comprising:
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a utility meter; and
a computer coupled to said utility meter, wherein said computer is configured to provide an interface between a communication network and a device located within a utility user'"'"'s structure, and wherein said computer is configured to descramble a video signal, said video signal being received over said communication network.
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Specification