Method and apparatus for collecting and displaying consumption data from a meter reading system

• US 20050190074A1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cumeralto, Scott, DeVries, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,317,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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 and an apparatus for collecting and displaying real-time utility consumption data and an estimate of utility costs from various utility metering modules upon request by the consumer within the comfort of their own home or business. According to one aspect of the invention, a utility display module is in communication with a utility end point device that monitors and displays consumption of a utility (water, gas, and/or electricity). The source of the data received by the module may be generated by utility meter transmitters that are attached to the various utility delivery end points or meters. In a related embodiment, a repeater may be used with a battery powered energy display module to make the module transportable.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting and displaying consumption data for use by a user of a utility service, the apparatus being configured to communicate with at least one utility metering device or appliance adapted to transmit utility consumption data, the apparatus comprising:

communication circuitry configured to receive the transmitted utility consumption data;

a display adapted to display the utility consumption data to the user;

control circuitry operably coupled to the communication circuitry and display to control the receipt and display of the utility consumption data to a user;

power circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry to regulate a flow of power thereto; and

a housing to house the control circuitry, communication circuitry, power circuitry and display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuating member disposed on the housing and operably coupled to the control circuitry to facilitate operating the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the actuator includes a plurality of buttons.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a microprocessor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a FPLG.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a PLC.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry comprises a radio module adapted to at least receive the transmitted utility consumption data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the radio module includes a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising storage operably coupled to the control circuitry to facilitate the storage of the received utility consumption data.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a real-time clock operably coupled to the control circuitry to facilitate accurate display of utility consumption data.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is adapted to interface with a computing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the computing device is selected from group consisting essentially of a handheld computing device, a residential energy management system, a mobile data collection system, and a fixed network.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a repeater adapted to propagate the transmitted utility consumption data from the monitoring device to the communication circuitry.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the repeater comprises a generally portable wall repeater removably couplable to a wall outlet, wherein the wall repeater includes repeater circuitry configured to receive, amplify and transmit the utility consumption data from the monitoring device to the communication circuitry of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wall repeater additionally includes a housing having:

a circuitry housing portion to removably house the repeater circuitry; and

a outlet cover portion that is removably couplable to the wall outlet.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the housing includes an antenna housing portion to house an antenna of the repeater circuitry.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a RS232 operably coupled to the control circuitry to facilitate communication between the apparatus and a remote computing device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a backup power source operably coupled to the control circuitry.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a plasma display.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

22. A method for collecting and displaying utility consumption data for use by a user of a utility service, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the utility consumption data by communication circuitry;

processing the utility consumption data by control circuitry operably coupled to the communication circuitry; and

displaying the utility consumption data to a user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein displaying the utility consumption data to a user includes displaying the utility consumption data to a consumer utilizing the utility.

24. The method of claim 22, further including the step receiving utility consumption data from a plurality of utility monitoring devices adapted to monitor and transmit utility consumption data.

25. The method of claim 22, further including the step of displaying utility consumption data selected from the group consisting essentially of cost of utility, billing information, current date and time, setting current date and time, setting a start date of monitoring, selecting an ERT, and selecting an appliance to monitor.

26. The method of claim 22, further including the step of notifying a user of an event selected from the group consisting essentially of a predetermined amount of utility consumed, an amount of excess utility consumed, a date, a time, and ordering of utility.

27. The method of claim 22, further including the step of programming the control circuitry by navigating displayable menu options and sub-menu options.

28. A system for collecting and displaying consumption data for use by a user of at least one utility, the system comprising:

means of metering a utility being operably coupled to a utility meter and adapted to transmit utility consumption data; and

means of displaying utility consumption data to a user being adapted to receive the utility consumption data from the means of metering a utility.

29. A system for collecting and displaying utility consumption data for use by a user of at least one utility, the system comprising:

a plurality of utility metering devices, each of the utility metering devices being operably coupled to a respective utility meter and adapted to transmit utility consumption data; and

at least one utility display module configured to receive and display the utility consumption data from the plurality of utility metering devices.

30. The system of claim 29, further including at least one utility metering device adapted to transmit utility consumption data being operably coupled to an appliance consuming a utility.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the utility display module comprises:

communication circuitry configured to receive the transmitted utility consumption data;

a display adapted to display the utility consumption data to the user;

control circuitry operably coupled to the communication circuitry and display to control the receipt and display of the utility consumption data to a user;

power circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry to regulate a flow of power thereto; and

a housing to house the control circuitry, communication circuitry, power circuitry and display.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the utility metering device includes a Bluetooth connectivity device.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the utility metering device includes wireless fidelity devices.

34. The system of claim 31, further including circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry and adapted to measure at least one environmental parameter, wherein the control circuit compares the utility consumption data and the at least one environmental parameter.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the circuitry is adapted to measure at least one measurable environmental parameter selected from the group consisting essentially of indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, indoor humidity, outdoor humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and barometric pressure.

36. An apparatus for collecting and displaying monitored status data for use by a user of a device, the apparatus being configured to communicate with at least one component of a device adapted to transmit monitored status data, the apparatus comprising:

communication circuitry configured to receive the transmitted monitored status data;

a display adapted to display the transmitted monitored status data to the user;

control circuitry operably coupled to the communication circuitry and display to control the receipt and display of the transmitted monitored status data to a user;

power circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry to regulate a flow of power thereto; and

a housing to house the control circuitry, communication circuitry, power circuitry and display.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the communication circuitry receives monitored status data from a vehicle adapted to monitor electrical and mechanical operations of the vehicle.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the monitored electrical and mechanical operations comprise at least one selected from the group consisting essentially of a fluid levels, maintenance related functions, electrical and mechanical sensors, warranty recalls and general health of the vehicle.