Meter having a communication interface for receiving and interfacing with a communication device

• US 20060071813A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EI Electronics LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electro Industries/Gaugetech
• Inventors: Kagan, Erran
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• 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 meter is provided having a communication interface for receiving and interfacing with a communication device for transmitting measurement and other data to a central computer station via the communication device. The meter includes a measurement module for obtaining measurement data and a processor having a memory for storing application software for communicating the measurement and other data to the communication interface. The data are then provided to the communication device via the communication interface. The communication device is preferably a plug-and-play PCMCIA-type card or other type of memory card having a processor and a connection port for connecting to a port adaptor of the communication interface for receiving the data via the connection port-port adaptor connection. The communication device further includes communication circuitry for communicating the received data to the central computer station via one or more communications networks according to a communications protocol pre-programmed within the processor.

Claims

1. A meter comprising:

a measurement module for obtaining measurement data; and

a communication interface configured for receiving the measurement data and for operatively communicating the measurement data to a communication device in proximity to the meter.

2. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a port adaptor for connecting to a corresponding port adaptor of the communication device for interfacing said communication interface with said communication device.

3. The meter according to claim 2, wherein the port adaptor of the communication interface is one of a serial port adaptor and a parallel port adaptor.

4. The meter according to claim 1, further comprising a processor and application software capable of being executed by said processor for at least communicating the measurement data to said communication interface.

5. A meter kit comprising:

a meter comprising;

a measurement module for obtaining measurement data; and

a communication interface configured for receiving the measurement data; and

a communication device configured for operatively communicating with said communication interface for receiving the measurement data, said communication device comprising means for transmitting the measurement data to a remote station according to at least one communications protocol.

6. The meter kit according to claim 5, wherein the communication interface comprises a port adaptor for connecting to a corresponding port adaptor of the communication device for interfacing said communication interface with said communication device.

7. The meter kit according to claim 6, wherein the port adaptor of the communication interface is one of a serial port adaptor and a parallel port adaptor.

8. The meter kit according to claim 5, wherein the meter further comprises a processor and application software capable of being executed by said processor for at least communicating the measurement data to said communication interface.

9. The meter kit according to claim 5, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a processor and application software capable of being executed by said processor for at least transmitting the measurement data to said remote station.

10. The meter kit according to claim 9, wherein the processor is programmed with said at least one communications protocol.

11. The meter kit according to claim 5, wherein the communication device further comprises a decoder for decoding a security key received via the communication interface from said meter.

12. The meter kit according to claim 5, wherein the communication device is a PCMCIA-type card.

13. The meter kit according to claim 5, wherein the communication device is a cellular telephone.

14. The meter kit according to claim 5, wherein the communication device is a PDA.

15. A method for switching from a first communications infrastructure to a second communications infrastructure for receiving measurement data at a remote station from a plurality of meters each comprising a measurement module for obtaining measurement data;

and a communication interface configured for receiving the measurement data, said method comprising the steps of;

interfacing each of the plurality of meters with a first communication device via the communication interface, said first communication device adapted to communicate with said remote station via said first communications infrastructure;

removing the first communication device from each of the plurality of meters; and

interfacing each of the plurality of meters with a second communication device via the communication interface, said second communication device adapted to communicate with said remote station via said second communications infrastructure.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the communication interface of each of the plurality of meters comprises a port adaptor for connecting to a corresponding port adaptor of the first and second communication devices for interfacing said communication interface with said first and second communication devices.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the port adaptor of the communication interface of each of the plurality of meters is one of a serial port adaptor and a parallel port adaptor.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of meters further comprises a processor and application software capable of being executed by said processor for at least communicating the measurement data to said communication interface.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the processor is programmed with said at least one communications protocol.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second communication devices further comprise a decoder for decoding a security key received via the communication interface.