ELECTRONIC ELECTRIC METER FOR NETWORKED METER READING

• US 20080024320A1
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ehrke, Lance, Nap, Kimbel, Dresselhuys, Donn
• Application Number:
  US11/867,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

An electronic electric meter for use in a networked automatic meter reading environment. The electric meter retrofits into existing meter sockets and is available for new meter installations for both single phase and three phase electric power connections. The electric meter utilizes a modular design which allows the interface modules to be changed depending upon the desired communication network interface. The meter measures electricity usage and monitors power quality parameters for transmission to the utility. The gateway node transmits this data to the utility over a commercially available fixed wide area network (WAN). The meter also provides direct communication to the utility over a commercially available network interface that plugs into the meter'"'"'s backplane or bus system bypassing the local area network communication link and gateway node.

Claims

1. A method of operating a portion of a commodity monitoring network for promoting communication between a commodity provider and a measuring device, the commodity provider operable to provide a commodity and the measuring device operable to measure a utilization characteristic of the commodity, the method comprising:

coupling the portion to a first network;

coupling the portion to a second network different from the first network;

receiving a first message from the first network, the first message having a format and first data originating from the commodity provider;

creating a second message including a format and second data, the second data including at least a portion of the first data, the portion of the first data including data intended for the measuring device; and

wirelessly transmitting the second message to the second network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the format of the first message is different from the format of the second message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the commodity provider is coupled to the first network and the measuring device is coupled to the second network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network includes a wide area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network includes a local area network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling the portion to the first network includes interconnecting the portion to the first network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling the portion to the second network includes interconnecting the portion to the second network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is disposed at a gateway node distinct from the commodity provider and the measuring device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating the second message includes relaying the portion of the first data intended for the measuring device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating the second message includes determining routing data for transmitting the second message towards the measuring device, and wherein the second data includes the routing data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data includes an address, and wherein the transmitting the second message includes transmitting the second message based on the address.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a scheduled request, and wherein the second message is in response to the scheduled request.

13. A method of operating a portion of a commodity monitoring network for promoting communication between a commodity providing and a measuring device, the commodity operable to provide a commodity and the measuring device operable to measure a utilization characteristic of the commodity, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving a first message having a first format and first data originating from the measuring device;

creating a second message including a second format and second data, the second format being different from the first format and the second data including at least a portion of the first data, the portion including data intended for the commodity provider; and

transmitting the second message.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising interconnecting the portion to a first network supporting the first format and coupling the portion to a second network supporting the second format, and wherein the wirelessly receiving a first message is from the first network and the transmitting the second message is to the second network.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling the portion to a first network supporting the first format and coupling the portion to a second network supporting the second format, and wherein the wirelessly receiving a first message is from the first network and the transmitting the second message is to the second network.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first message includes a device identification, and further comprising retrieving a provider identification based on the device identification, and wherein the second message includes the provider identification.