Water metering system

• US 20040117223A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wellspring Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wellspring Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Wade W.
• Application Number:
  US10/319,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117223A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• 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

A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid in a unit of a multi-tenant building occupied by a tenant or other consuming entity from the building management entity or owner, the use of the resource being monitored with monitoring technology having a substantial cost and installed by a resource servicing company. An agreement is established between the tenant or other consuming entity and the building management entity or owner including billing terms for the monitored resource(s). An agreement is established between the building management entity or owner and the resource servicing company whereby the resource servicing company will install, operate and service the monitoring technology in the unit, compute and deliver periodic bills to the tenant or other entity for the use of the monitored resources and collect the bills and share the proceeds with the building management entity or owner. And an agreement is established between the resource servicing company and a financing entity whereby the monitoring technology is sold from the resource services company to the financing entity and rented back from the financing entity.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid in a unit of a multi-tenant building leased by a tenant from the building management entity or owner, the use of the resource being monitored with monitoring technology having a substantial cost and installed by a resource servicing company, comprising establishing a legal agreement between the tenant and the building management entity or owner including billing terms for the monitored resource(s),

establishing an agreement between the building management entity or owner and the resource servicing company whereby the resource servicing company will install, operate and maintain the monitoring technology in the unit, compute and deliver periodic bills to the tenant for the use of the monitored resources and collect the bills and share the proceeds with the building management entity or owner,

establishing an agreement between the resource servicing company and a financing entity whereby the monitoring technology is sold from the resource servicing company to the financing entity and rented back from the financing entity.

2. A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid according to claim 1, wherein the resource servicing company enters into an agreement with a plumbing company to install, operate and maintain the monitoring technology in the unit.

3. A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid according to claim 1, wherein the resource servicing company enters into an agreement with a billing services company to compute the bill for the tenant for the used resource(s).

4. A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid according to claim 1, wherein the monitored and billed resource is water discharged by the tenant.

5. A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid according to claim 1, wherein the monitored and billed resource is heat/cooling energy used by the tenant to heat/cool occupied space.

6. A method of monitoring the use of a resource such as water, gas, electricity or energy embedded in a fluid according to claim 1, wherein the resource servicing company enters into an agreement with a meter reading company to compute the bill for the tenant for the used resource(s).