Utility power meter, metering system and method

• US 20040059585A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry M. Mccoy, Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.), Kyle Ray Brown, Life Insurance Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: Poweronedata Corporation
• Inventors: Worth, Stephen, Kholay, Satish C., Villicana, Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

An electrical utility meter system measures residential energy consumption and automatically communicates this information to a host computer via the Internet. The host computer can then be accessed by the end utility customer or other authorized entities. This Internet or web based system offers two-way communication capability to support meter reconfiguration. This system is comprised of two major elements, a hardware unit and database software. The hardware unit includes a printed circuit card that is retrofitted into a form 2S single-phase residential meters. The unit measures residential energy consumption in predefined intervals, stores the measurements, and communicates at predefined times to a host database server. The unit can accommodate various wired or wireless communication technologies through a simple communications port.

Claims

1. A method of remotely configuring a utility meter, comprising the steps of:

providing said meter with a unique physical meter number;

providing said meter a unique electronic serial number;

providing a communication link between said meter and a database, said database being physically remote from said utility meter;

storing in said database said unique physical number and said unique electronic serial number;

storing in said database information relative to the account to which said meter is assigned;

storing in said database rate schedule information for said account; and

downloading said rate schedule information from said database to said meter.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the step of:

providing memory in said meter for storing said rate schedule information.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, comprising the step of:

providing memory in said meter for storing consumption information based upon said rate schedule information.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, comprising the step of:

providing a processor in said meter for utilizing said rate schedule information to determine said consumption information.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising the step of providing memory in said meter for storing consumption information based upon said rate schedule information.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, comprising the step of providing a processor for determining said consumption information.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing a public network for said communications link.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said public network comprises a worldwide network of computers.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said public network comprises the Internet.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said communications link comprises a telephone link.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said communications link comprises one or more of a wired telephone line, a wireless telephone line, a radio frequency communications link, and an optical link.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing a time of use plan for said rate schedule information.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing a flat rate plan for said rate schedule information.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing a server to provide communication between said database and said meter.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

downloading from said database to said meter configuration information for use by a processor to calculate usage within predetermined time intervals.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

utilizing a handheld unit in proximity to said meter and in communication therewith to cause said meter to initiate communications with said database.

17. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter, comprising:

providing a first communication link over a public network between said utility meter and a server;

downloading meter configuration information from said server via said first communication link;

storing said configuration information in said utility meter; and

utilizing said configuration information in said utility meter to control at least power usage information obtained by said meter for uploading over said first communication link to said server.

18. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 17, comprising:

providing a second communication link between said utility meter and a handheld device.

19. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

utilizing an optical link for said second communication link.

20. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

receiving premise identification information over said second communication link from said hand-held device.

21. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

uploading said premise identification information from said meter to said server via said first communication link.

22. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

said uploading premise identification occurs prior to said downloading configuration information

23. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 20, comprising:

scanning said premise identification information into said handheld device.

24. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

said configuration information comprises rate based information.

25. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

said configuration information comprises information determinative of metering increments.

26. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

utilizing said handheld device to cause said meter to establish said first communication link.

27. A method for programming a programmable electric utility meter, comprising:

providing an optical communications link at said electric utility meter,

utilizing a handheld device to download configuration information to said electric utility meter via said optical link.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27, comprising:

selecting said handheld device from one of a personal digital assistant or a computer.

29. A method in accordance with claim 27, comprising:

downloading a premises identification code from said handheld device to said electric utility meter via said optical link.

30. A method in accordance with claim 27, comprising:

downloading Internet service provider information from said handheld device to said electric utility meter via said optical link.

31. A method in accordance with claim 30, wherein:

said Internet server provider information comprises at least one telephone number.

32. A method in accordance with claim 31, comprising:

utilizing said at least one telephone number to access a server via a communications link.

33. A method in accordance with claim 30, comprising:

downloading a username and password to said meter from said handheld device.

34. A method in accordance with claim 27, comprising:

utilizing said handheld device to control said meter such that said electric utility meter initiates a connection via a public network communications link to a server.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34, comprising:

utilizing said handheld device to cause said electric utility meter to upload stored data to said server.

36. A method in accordance with claim 27, comprising:

utilizing said handheld device to perform field diagnostic functions with said electric utility meter via said optical link.

37. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein said automatic communication step comprises:

said electric utility meter responding to said handheld device to establish a TCP/IP connection to a server via a communications link over a public network.

38. A method in accordance with claim 37, comprising:

sending a message from said electric utility meter to said server indicating that it has powered up.