System and method for a networked utility meter

• US 20070222636A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Iwamura, Ryuichi
• Application Number:
  US11/373,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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 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

One embodiment can be characterized as a utility meter system comprising a utility meter connected to a local network through a local network communication interface, the utility meter enabled to monitor consumption of a utility received from a utility provider; and a second communication interface coupled to the utility meter through the local network, the second communication interface enabling data related to the consumption of the utility from the utility meter to be sent to the utility provider over a second communications network.

Claims

1. A utility meter system comprising:

a utility meter connected to a local network through a local network communication interface, the utility meter enabled to monitor consumption of a utility received from a utility provider; and

a second communication interface coupled to the utility meter through the local network, the second communication interface enabling data related to the consumption of the utility from the utility meter to be sent to the utility provider over a second communications network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the utility is selected from the group consisting of electricity, gas and water, and wherein the utility meter is selected from the group consisting of an electricity meter, a gas meter and a water meter.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the local network communication interface is a powerline communication (PLC) interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the local network is at least partially an internal power line network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication interface is selected from the group consisting of a cable modem and a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communications network is the Internet.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the utility meter comprises a sensor, and wherein the utility provider is an electric utility provider, the electric utility provider having a power grid, wherein the sensor is enabled to sense a characteristic of the power grid.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein data corresponding to the characteristic of the power grid sensed by the sensor is sent from the utility meter to the utility provider.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer connected to the local network and at least one appliance connected to the local network, wherein the at least one appliance, the computer, the utility meter and the second communication interface are enabled to have communications with each other via the local network.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the communications via the local network are encrypted.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer and the utility provider are enabled to have communication with each other over the second communications network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the communication between the computer and the utility provider over the second communications network comprises paying a utility bill.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one appliance has a PLC interface.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the utility provider is enabled to monitor and adjust a characteristic of the at least one appliance remotely over the second communications network and the local network.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the utility meter is enabled to monitor and adjust a characteristic of the at least one appliance.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the computer is enabled to monitor and adjust a characteristic of the at least one appliance.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the utility meter comprises a sensor, the sensor enabled to sense a leakage of the utility at the at least one appliance.

18. A method for monitoring consumption of a utility comprising:

monitoring consumption of a utility received from a utility provider at a utility meter, the utility meter having a local network communication interface for connection to a local network; and

sending data related to the consumption of the utility, utilizing the local network communication interface, through the local network, over a second communication interface and through a second communications network to the utility provider.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the utility is selected from the group consisting of electricity, gas and water, and wherein the utility meter is selected from the group consisting of an electricity meter, a gas meter and a water meter.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the second communication interface is selected from the group consisting of a cable modem and a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, and wherein the second communications network is the Internet.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising communicating with the utility meter via a computer connected to the local network.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

detecting a leakage of the utility; and

sending an alarm to at least one of a local computer or the utility provider.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

monitoring a device connected to the local network; and

controlling the device from at least one of a local computer, the utility provider and the utility meter.

24. The method of claim 18 further comprising operating a device on the network during off-peak consumption hours.

25. The method of claim 18 further comprising displaying data related to the consumption of the utility on a local computer.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising allowing a user to make a financial transaction related to the consumption of the utility on the local computer.

27. The method of claim 18 further sending communications from the utility provider to a local computer to communicate with a user.

28. The method of claim 18 further comprising sending data from the utility provider to perform at least one of utility meter reconfiguration, utility meter tamper detection and utility meter diagnostics.

29. A means for monitoring consumption of a utility comprising:

means for monitoring consumption of a utility received from a utility provider, the means for monitoring consumption of the utility having a local network communication interface for connection to a local network; and

means for sending data related to the consumption of the utility, utilizing the local network communication interface, over a local network and a second communications network to the utility provider.