Methods, apparatus, media, and signals for monitoring utility usage

• US 20060129498A1
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smart Disaster Response Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Smart Disaster Response Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Baraty, Mohammad Reza
• Application Number:
  US11/348,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129498A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/24 Identification of individual loads, e.g. by analysing current/voltage waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, computer readable media, and signals for managing utility usage are disclosed. Generally, each involves receiving a representation of a utility service usage at a load, receiving and storing a usage range representation, and producing a control signal for use by a utility service interrupter, when the usage is outside of the usage range representation. The control signal is operable to cause the utility service interrupter to interrupt a supply of the utility service to the load. Each also involves receiving a control signal indicating that a usage of the utility service at the load is outside of a usage range representation, and interrupting the supply of the utility service to the load in response to the control signal. Systems and methods for monitoring subscriber usage of a utility service and for billing a subscriber for utility service usage are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a usage by a consumer of a utility service, the method comprising:

producing in a control system at the consumer site a measurement of usage of the utility service at the consumer site; and

transmitting said measurement from the said control system to a remote location for monitoring the usage by the consumer of the said utility service.

2. A method for monitoring a usage by a consumer of a utility service, the method comprising:

receiving in a control system at the consumer site from a location over a communications system a usage range representation for a utility consuming device at the consumer site,

wherein the usage range representation comprises at least one target input value of the utility consuming device and at least one target output value of the utility-consuming device; and

comparing in the control system the usage range representation with a representation of a utility usage by the utility-consuming device,

wherein the representation of a utility usage comprises at least one detected input value of the utility-consuming device and at least one measured output value of the utility consuming device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising producing a control signal for use by a utility service controller when the at least one detected input value and/or the at least one measured output value of the utility-consuming device exceeds the at least one target input value and/or the at least one target output value, the control signal being operable to cause the utility-control device to interrupt or adjust the supply of the utility to the utility-consuming device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising producing a control signal for use by a utility service controller when the at least one detected input value and/or the at least one measured output value of the utility-consuming device falls bellow the at least one target input value and/or the at least one target output value, the control signal being operable to cause the utility-consuming device to interrupt or adjust the supply of the utility to the utility-consuming device.

5. A computer readable medium for providing instruction codes executable by a programmable device, for directing said programmable device to:

produce in said programmable device a measurement of usage of said utility service at a consumer location; and

transmit over a communication system from said programmable device said measurement from said consumer location to an entity for monitoring said consumer usage of said utility service.

6. A data signal embodied in a carrier wave, the signal comprising code segments for directing a programmable device to:

produce in said programmable device a measurement of usage of said utility service at a consumer location; and

transmit over a communication system from said programmable device said measurement from said consumer location to an entity for monitoring said consumer usage of said utility service.

7. An apparatus for monitoring usage of a utility service by a consumer, the apparatus comprising:

a utility service measurement device operable to produce a measurement of usage of said utility service at a consumer location, wherein the utility service measurement device operable to store a target value of usage of said utility service at a consumer location;

a communication device, in communication with said utility service measurement device, operable to transmit said measurement of usage of said utility and the target value of usage of said utility from said consumer location to an entity for monitoring said consumer usage of said utility service.

8. An apparatus for monitoring usage of a utility service by a consumer, the apparatus comprising:

a producing means for producing a measurement of usage of said utility service at a consumer location; and

a communication means for transmitting said measurement from said consumer location to an entity for monitoring said consumer usage of said utility service.