REMOTE SYSTEM UPGRADES IN SPECIFIC REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTS
First Claim
1. Methodology for providing remote system upgrades to electricity meters in regulated residential single phase environments, for making in-service modifications to such meters while maintaining the integrity of billing data stored therein, comprising:
- providing a plurality of electricity meters, each having automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality and each directly or indirectly associated with a communications link for respectively forwarding billing data to a billing center for processing of such billing data;
providing each of the electricity meters with respective metrology sections and separate register sections, each such metrology section having primary billing data memory configured to serve as the primary storage location for billing data determined by the associated electricity meter, each such register section having transferred billing data memory configured to receive billing data transferred thereto from its respectively associated metrology section memory, and each such electricity meter being configured for remote upgrade of automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality thereof while maintaining the integrity of stored billing data therein, despite any failed upgrade attempt;
conducting an in-service modification to one or more targeted meters of such plurality of electricity meters; and
subsequent to an upgrade or an attempted upgrade of such targeted meters, respectively forwarding billing data from the metrology sections of such targeted meters to the respective register sections thereof, for reporting to the billing center without loss of billing data integrity during any in-service modifications or attempted modifications to such targeted meters.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing remote system upgrades to utility meters in certain regulatory environments. A utility meter having a metrology section and a registry portion is provided with additional memory in the metrology section, and configured as the primary storage location for billing information. The metrology section is configured for remote upgrade of firmware associated with automatic meter reading (AMR) functions in a manner that maintains the integrity of stored billing material despite any failed upgrade of the associated AMR device or functionality
39 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Methodology for providing remote system upgrades to electricity meters in regulated residential single phase environments, for making in-service modifications to such meters while maintaining the integrity of billing data stored therein, comprising:
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providing a plurality of electricity meters, each having automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality and each directly or indirectly associated with a communications link for respectively forwarding billing data to a billing center for processing of such billing data; providing each of the electricity meters with respective metrology sections and separate register sections, each such metrology section having primary billing data memory configured to serve as the primary storage location for billing data determined by the associated electricity meter, each such register section having transferred billing data memory configured to receive billing data transferred thereto from its respectively associated metrology section memory, and each such electricity meter being configured for remote upgrade of automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality thereof while maintaining the integrity of stored billing data therein, despite any failed upgrade attempt; conducting an in-service modification to one or more targeted meters of such plurality of electricity meters; and subsequent to an upgrade or an attempted upgrade of such targeted meters, respectively forwarding billing data from the metrology sections of such targeted meters to the respective register sections thereof, for reporting to the billing center without loss of billing data integrity during any in-service modifications or attempted modifications to such targeted meters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Methodology for providing remote system upgrades to utility meters in regulated residential environments, for making in-service modifications to such meters while maintaining the integrity of billing data stored therein, comprising:
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providing a plurality of utility meters, each having automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality for respectively forwarding billing data to a billing center; and providing each of the utility meters with respective metrology sections and separate register sections, each such metrology section having additional memory configured to serve as the primary storage location for billing data determined by the associated utility meter; wherein each such meter is configured for remote upgrade of automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality thereof while maintaining the integrity of stored billing data in the metrology section additional memory thereof, despite any failed upgrade attempt. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electricity meter adapted for use in regulated residential single phase environments, for enabling in-service modifications to such meter while maintaining the integrity of billing data stored therein, comprising:
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an electricity meter having automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality, and configured for one of direct or indirect association with a communications link for respectively forwarding billing data from such meter to a billing center for processing of such billing data; and a respective metrology section and separate register section in said electricity meter, said metrology section having primary billing data memory configured to serve as the primary storage location for billing data determined by said electricity meter, and said register section having transferred billing data memory configured to receive billing data transferred thereto from said meter metrology section memory; wherein said electricity meter is further configured for remote upgrade of automatic meter reading (AMR) functionality thereof while maintaining the integrity of stored billing data therein, despite any failed upgrade attempt. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification