TRANSMITTING UTILITY USAGE DATA VIA A NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for transmitting data about utility usage, the system comprising:
- a power line;
a utility meter in communication with the power line and configured to provide utility usage data;
a network interface device in communication with the utility meter, the network interface device comprising;
a digital subscriber line (“
DSL”
) modem in communication with a local loop of a public switched telephone network; and
an isolation device for providing an interface between the power line and the DSL modem; and
a DSL distribution point in communication with the local loop;
wherein the network interface device is configured to;
receive, at the isolation device, the utility usage data from the utility meter; and
transmit the utility usage data to the DSL distribution point via the local loop, such the utility usage data can be transmitted from the DSL distribution point to a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor and bill utility usage based on the utility usage data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tools and techniques for transmitting utility usage data. In some cases, the tools receive utility usage data provided by a utility meter and transmit that data for reception by a utility provider. In particular cases, the utility usage data may be received at a network interface device. The network interface device might, in some instances, include a broadband modem, such as a digital subscriber line modem, which can be used to transmit the utility usage data to the utility provider.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting data about utility usage, the system comprising:
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a power line; a utility meter in communication with the power line and configured to provide utility usage data; a network interface device in communication with the utility meter, the network interface device comprising; a digital subscriber line (“
DSL”
) modem in communication with a local loop of a public switched telephone network; andan isolation device for providing an interface between the power line and the DSL modem; and a DSL distribution point in communication with the local loop; wherein the network interface device is configured to; receive, at the isolation device, the utility usage data from the utility meter; and transmit the utility usage data to the DSL distribution point via the local loop, such the utility usage data can be transmitted from the DSL distribution point to a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor and bill utility usage based on the utility usage data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for transmitting data about utility usage, the system comprising:
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a first transport medium a utility meter configured to provide utility usage data and in communication with the first transport medium; a network interface device in communication with the first transport medium and a second transport medium, the network interface device configured to; receive the utility usage data via the first transport medium; and transmit the utility usage data via the second transport medium for reception by a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor utility usage.
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11. A network interface device in communication with one or more first transport media and a second transport medium, the network interface device being configured to:
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receive utility usage data from one or more utility meters via the one or more first transport media; and transmit the utility usage data via the second transport medium for reception by a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor utility usage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of transmitting utility usage data, the method comprising:
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providing communication between a network interface device and one or more first transport media; providing communication between the network interface device and a second transport medium; receiving, at the network interface device, utility usage data from one or more utility meters via the one or more first transport media; and transmitting the utility usage data from the network interface device, via the second transport medium and for reception by a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor utility usage.
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Specification