SMALL IN-HOME UTILITY SERVICES DISPLAY DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display device useful in displaying information transmitted by a utility to its customer locations via a utility communication network, the display device comprising:
- (a) a body having a width, a length and a depth, the width and length defining a face area less than about 25 square inches, and the depth being less than about 1 inch;
(b) a circuit board disposed within the body;
(c) an unlicensed band radio frequency communication receiver disposed within the body;
(d) a power source;
(e) display means disposed on the exterior of the body; and
(f) means affixed to the body for attaching the display device to an appliance or wall.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display device useful in displaying information transmitted by a utility to its customer location via a utility communication network has a generally planar body defining a face area less than about 25 square inches, a circuit board, an unlicensed band radio frequency communications receiver, a power source (such as a battery), a display screen and an attachment component (such as a magnet).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A display device useful in displaying information transmitted by a utility to its customer locations via a utility communication network, the display device comprising:
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(a) a body having a width, a length and a depth, the width and length defining a face area less than about 25 square inches, and the depth being less than about 1 inch; (b) a circuit board disposed within the body; (c) an unlicensed band radio frequency communication receiver disposed within the body; (d) a power source; (e) display means disposed on the exterior of the body; and (f) means affixed to the body for attaching the display device to an appliance or wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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15. A method for communicating between a utility and one of the utility'"'"'s customer locations using a utility communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the customer location with a display device comprising; (i) a body having a width, a length and a depth, the width and length defining a face area less than about 25 square inches, and the depth being less than about 1 inch; (ii) a circuit board disposed within the body; (iii) an unlicensed band radio frequency communication receiver disposed within the body; (iv) a power source; (v) display means disposed on the exterior of the body; and (vi) means affixed to the body for attaching the display device to an appliance or wall; (b) transmitting information from the utility to a customer location via the utility communication network to a first site at the customer location; (c) re-transmitting the information from the first site to the display device disposed at a second site at the customer location using an unlicensed band radio frequency communications transmitter disposed at the first site; and (d) displaying the information on the display means of the display device.
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Specification