Utility Meter With Virtual Shut-Off Function

• US 20080204272A1
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Networked Solutions, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nap, Kimbel A., Ehrke, Lance A., Dresselhuys, Donn R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,537,028 B2
• 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 meter includes a meter microcontroller, a measurement microcontroller, a communication microcontroller and spread spectrum processor, and a plurality of other communication interface modules for communicating commodity utilization and power quality data to a utility. The meter measures electricity usage and monitors power quality parameters for transmission to the utility over a spread spectrum local area network (LAN) to a remotely located gateway node. 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 for detecting unauthorized consumption of a metered commodity, comprising the following steps:

measuring the consumption of a commodity by means of a meter;

sending a command to the meter via a network; and

in response to receipt of said command, setting a threshold value in the meter that indicates unauthorized consumption of the commodity.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

detecting, in the meter, whether the consumption of the commodity exceeds said threshold value, and

in response to said detection, sending a message from the meter, via said network, that the threshold value has been exceeded.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of sending a message comprises periodically sending the message via said network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said message is sent to a predetermined node on the network, and further including the step of sending a command from said node to the meter, via the network, to cancel sending of the message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said meter terminates operation upon sending said message, and resumes operation in response to receiving said command to cancel sending of the message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending a command comprises:

obtaining, at a node on the network, a current value for consumption of the commodity from the meter,

adding an offset value to the current value at said node, to produce the threshold value; and

transmitting the threshold value from said node to the meter as a component of the command.

7. A method for indicating unauthorized consumption of a metered commodity, comprising the following steps:

measuring the consumption of a commodity by means of a meter;

setting a threshold value in the meter that indicates unauthorized consumption of the commodity;

detecting, in the meter, whether the consumption of the commodity exceeds said threshold value, and

in response to said detection, sending a message from the meter that the threshold value has been exceeded.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of sending a message comprises periodically sending the message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said message is sent to a predetermined node on a network, and further including the step of sending a command from said node to the meter, via the network, to cancel sending of the message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said meter terminates operation upon sending said message, and resumes operation in response to receiving said command to cancel sending of the message.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of setting a threshold value comprises:

obtaining, at a node on a network, a current value for consumption of the commodity from the meter,

adding an offset value to the current value at said node, to produce the threshold value; and

transmitting the threshold value from said node to the meter via said network.

12. A method for controlling a meter that measures consumption of a commodity, comprising the following steps:

detecting, in the meter, the occurrence of a predetermined condition;

in response to said detection, terminating operation of said meter;

sending a command to said meter via a network; and

in response to receipt of said command at the meter, resuming the operation of said meter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, upon detecting the occurrence of said predetermined condition, the meter enters an alarm state, and wherein said command causes the meter to clear said alarm state.

14. A meter that measures the consumption of a commodity and that comprises:

an interface for communicating via a network; and

a controller that, in response to receipt of a command via said interface, sets a threshold value that indicates unauthorized consumption of the commodity and that, in response to detection that consumption of the commodity exceeds said threshold value, sends a message via said interface that the threshold value has been exceeded.

15. The meter of claim 14, wherein said controller periodically sends the message via said interface.

16. The meter of claim 15, wherein said controller is responsive to a further command received via said interface to cancel sending of the message.

17. The meter of claim 16, wherein said meter terminates operation upon sending said message, and resumes operation in response to receiving said further command.

18. A commodity-measuring network, comprising:

a meter associated with a node on said network, said meter operating to measure consumption of a commodity; and

at least one other node that is capable of communicating with the meter via said network, said node being operative to send a command to the meter via said network that causes the meter to set a threshold value that indicates unauthorized consumption of the commodity.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein said meter further operates to detect whether the consumption of the commodity exceeds said threshold value, and in response to said detection, sends a message via said network that the threshold value has been exceeded.

20. The network of claim 19, wherein said meter periodically sends the message via said network.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein said other node sends a command to the meter, via the network, to cancel sending of the message.

22. The network of claim 21, wherein said meter terminates operation upon sending said message, and resumes operation in response to receiving said command to cancel sending of the message.

23. The network of claim 18, wherein said other node obtains a current value for consumption of the commodity from the meter, adds an offset value to the current value to produce the threshold value, and transmits the threshold value to the meter as a component of the command.