INTEGRATED DATA COLLECTION, ANOMALY DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION, SUCH AS INTEGRATED MOBILE UTILITY METER READING, THEFT DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A mobile utility data collection apparatus for gathering data regarding consumption of a utility such as electricity, gas or water, wherein the apparatus is for use by an in-field utility data collection worker, the apparatus comprising:
- a wireless transceiver for wirelessly gathering consumption data from multiple utility meters during an in-field utility data collection route;
a memory for at least partially or temporarily storing the gathered consumption data, and for storing executable instructions;
at least one processor coupled among the wireless transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute at least some of the executable instructions in the memory, and wherein the processor is configured under the executable instructions to;
receive internal and external data, wherein the internal data is associated with data gathered by or generated from a utility company, and wherein the external data is associated with data external to the utility company and is associated with a third party data source;
execute rules based on at least two of the
1) external data,
2) internal data, and
3) gathered consumption data for at least one utility meter to determine whether a possible theft of the utility has occurred during the in-field utility data collection route; and
if the processor determines that a possible theft of the utility has occurred, then providing one or more instructions to the in-field data collection worker to investigate the at least one utility meter, during the in-field utility data collection route, to gather more information regarding the at least one utility meter or determine whether a theft has occurred.
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Abstract
An automated method and system for use during manual data collection, such as utility data collection, compares collected data with additional data to determine if the collected data deviates from an expected value, which may indicate a tamper, theft, leak, malfunction, etc. The method may provide one or more notifications or in-field investigation instructions in response thereto.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A mobile utility data collection apparatus for gathering data regarding consumption of a utility such as electricity, gas or water, wherein the apparatus is for use by an in-field utility data collection worker, the apparatus comprising:
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a wireless transceiver for wirelessly gathering consumption data from multiple utility meters during an in-field utility data collection route; a memory for at least partially or temporarily storing the gathered consumption data, and for storing executable instructions; at least one processor coupled among the wireless transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute at least some of the executable instructions in the memory, and wherein the processor is configured under the executable instructions to; receive internal and external data, wherein the internal data is associated with data gathered by or generated from a utility company, and wherein the external data is associated with data external to the utility company and is associated with a third party data source; execute rules based on at least two of the
1) external data,
2) internal data, and
3) gathered consumption data for at least one utility meter to determine whether a possible theft of the utility has occurred during the in-field utility data collection route; andif the processor determines that a possible theft of the utility has occurred, then providing one or more instructions to the in-field data collection worker to investigate the at least one utility meter, during the in-field utility data collection route, to gather more information regarding the at least one utility meter or determine whether a theft has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause at least one movable utility data collection device to perform a method for use during utility data collection, wherein the utility data collection is performed by a meter reading worker, the method comprising:
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receiving utility consumption data from multiple utility meters during utility data collection; during the utility data collection, comparing the received utility meter data from at least one utility meter to additional data to determine whether the received meter data is anomalous as compared with the additional data; and if the received meter data is potentially anomalous as compared with the additional data, providing one or more meter reading worker instructions, wherein the one or more instructions instruct the meter reading worker to investigate a location associated with the at least one utility meter to gather more information regarding the at least one utility meter while the meter reading worker is performing the utility data collection. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for use during utility data collection, wherein the utility data collection is performed by a meter reading worker, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving utility meter data from multiple utility meters during utility data collection; means for comparing the received utility meter data from at least one utility meter to additional data, during the utility data collection, to determine whether to provide additional instructions; means for providing one or more meter reading worker instructions if the received meter data indicates a potentially anomalous condition, wherein the one or more instructions instruct the meter reading worker to investigate the at least one utility meter to gather more information regarding the at least one utility meter while the meter reading worker is performing the utility data collection, wherein the means for means for providing is coupled among the means for comparing and the means for receiving. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An automated method for use during manual data collection, wherein the manual data collection is performed by a data collector at multiple, geographically dispersed points, the method comprising:
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receiving data associated with multiple data sources during the manual data collection among the multiple, geographically dispersed points; during the manual data collection, analyzing additional data with respect to the received data from at least one or more of the multiple, geographically dispersed points to determine whether the received data deviates from an expected value based on the additional data; if the received data is determined to deviate from the expected value, based at least in part on the additional data, providing one or more notifications to be implemented during the manual data collection among the multiple, geographically dispersed points, wherein the one or more notifications instruct the data collector to investigate the at least one or more multiple, geographically dispersed points. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A data signal readable by an in-field utility data collection system for use during utility data collection, wherein the utility data collection is performed by a meter reading worker, the signal comprising:
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providing internal and external data, wherein the internal data is associated with data gathered by or generated from a utility company, and wherein the external data is associated with data external to the utility company, wherein the internal or external data is compared by the in-field data collection system to utility consumption data from multiple utility meters during utility data collection to generate flags representing potential errors or losses with respect to utility data; and receiving, during or following the utility data collection by the meter reading worker, one or more automated work ticket indicators to investigate or repair at least one of the multiple utility meters. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification