Meter Device

• US 20080042871A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freestyle Technology Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Freestyle Technology Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: McDonald, Ian Kenneth Francis, Beard, David Lewis, Donaghey, Andrew Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,726,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/092 Coding or decoding of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• 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

A utility meter device (1002) including a communications receiver (110) for receiving file fragments for the device, a processing means (150), eg microprocessor, microcontroller, and programmable non-volatile memory means (120), eg flash, EEPROM, for building and storing application and date riles from the fragments, and executing a meter application of the device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions in at least one of the fragments to provide data for reconfiguring a meter through a control interface (1016).

Claims

1. A meter device comprising:

a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for said device; and

a microcontroller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from said fragments, and executing a meter application of said device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of said fragments to provide data for reconfiguring a meter.

2. The meter device of claim 1, wherein the communications receiver uses a wireless communications protocol, such as POCSAG or GSM/SMS, to receive said file fragments.

3. The meter device of claim 1, wherein said device is remotely configured by a user accessing a server, such as a web server, and defining the application, configuration and/or data files to be sent to said device in said fragments.

4. The meter device of claim 1, wherein said files include metering rate data for said meter.

5. The meter device of claim 1, wherein said meter device communicates with another device, such as a thermostat, and adjusts a metering rate of said meter based on data obtained from said another device.

11. The meter device of claim 1, wherein said fragments are broadcast to a plurality of said meter device.

6. A meter device, comprising:

a wireless communications receiver for receiving files for said device; and

a microcontroller system for processing and storing said files, and performing a meter application defined by said files to configure a meter installed at a dwelling.

7. The meter device of claim 6, wherein said application is performed automatically by the device without any user intervention or interaction.

8. The meter device of claim 6, wherein said files include metering rate data for said meter.

9. The meter device of claim 7, wherein said meter continues metering whilst a metering rate is adjusted based on said rate data.

10. The meter device of claim 6, wherein said meter device communicates with another device, such as a thermostat, and adjusts a metering rate of said meter based on data obtained from said another device.

12. A meter device, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a programmable non-volatile memory system addressable by the microprocessor;

a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for said device; and

an operating system (OS) for controlling the device to identify fragments for said device, build files from said fragments, store said files in said memory system, and process the files as defining a meter application for providing meter data for a meter.

13. The meter device of claim 12, wherein the received fragments for the device include an initial file defining the remaining files as being of a type of application, configuration or data, and defining reading of the files.

14. The meter device of claim 13, wherein the operating system includes a number of tasks to control basic processes performed by the microprocessor and the tasks include at least one of:

(i) a clock task for implementing a real time clock and calendar;

(ii) a virtual machine task for initiating a virtual machine, and causing reading of said initial file; and

executing of a file;

(iii) a command task for establishing device commands for production testing and initial configuration;

(iv) a file system task for processing said fragments and said files and removing unwanted and redundant files;

(v) a communications interface task for controlling said receiver and processing data received by the receiver;

(vi) an I/O task for processing of input and output signals for I/O peripherals, such as input buttons or display elements of said device;

(vii) a GPS receiver task to control a GPS receiver of said device to generate location data;

(viii) a voice task to control a voice processor of said device to generate audio announcements; and

(ix) an I/O task for processing signals from other devices, such as a thermostat or dishwasher.

15. The meter device of claim 14, wherein the operating system includes a scheduler to allocate each task to be processed by the microprocessor, and allocates semaphores to resources of said device to allow the microprocessor to identify resources allocated to a running task.

16. The meter device of claim 12, wherein said fragments are broadcast to a plurality of said meter device.

17. A server transmission system for generating and transmitting file fragments for a device comprising:

a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for said device;

a microcontroller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from said fragments, and executing a meter application of said device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of said fragments to provide data for reconfiguring a meter.

18. The server transmission system of claim 17, further comprising a server for providing a user interface allowing a user to submit instructions used to determine the application, configuration, and data files, to be sent to said device in said fragments.

19. The server transmission system of claim 17, further comprising a server for providing a user interface allowing a user to submit a meter identifier, said system selecting said meter device on the basis of said meter identifier.

20. A handheld communications device for transmitting file fragments to a meter device comprising:

a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for said device;

a microcontroller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from said fragments, and executing a meter application of said device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of said fragments to provide data for reconfiguring a meter.

21. The handheld communications device of claim 20, wherein said fragments are received by said handheld device from a server transmission system prior to transmission to said meter device.

22. The handheld communications device of claim 20, wherein the server transmission system comprises a server for providing a user interface allowing a user to submit instructions used to determine the application, configuration, and data files, to be sent to said device in said fragments.

23. The handheld communications device of claim 20, wherein the server transmission system comprises a server for providing a user interface allowing a user to submit a meter identifier, said system selecting said meter device on the basis of said meter identifier.