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Remote meter reading using transmitted visual graphics.

  • US 20060036967A1
  • Filed: 04/21/2005
  • Published: 02/16/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. ] What is claimed is a computer implemented method and system for improved reading of remote meters or gages that have visible faces or dials, with digital or analog output, including the following elements of the invention, image collector device, image transmitter device, communications network, utility meter or gage, host computer system, communication apparatus, internet and WWW, algorithmic pattern recognition processor, pattern recognition algorithms, database of image information, communication network and comprising the steps of:

  • installing the image collector device at the meter or gage or in the meter, making a visual graphic of the meter face, including the unique meter ID on the visual graphic, storing this graphic in the image collector, preprocessing the image graphic at the image collector, transmitting the visual graphic to an intermediate device before transmitting to host computer, transmitting the visual graphic to the host computer directly, post processing the visual graphic before analysis, analyzing the visual graphic using selected computer image analysis algorithms, using a segmented system for processing the graphic image, extracting from the graphic the scalars or values of the metered parameter, providing the extracted data to an end user, storing the visual graphic for further analysis in a database. making the database available online on a global network, updating the database with the current visual graphic.

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