SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR REDUCING NETWORK CONGESTION IN A SMART UTILITY METER SYSTEM

• US 20120229296A1
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ree, Bradley Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• 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

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for reducing network congestion in a smart utility meter system are provided. The systems, methods, and apparatuses may include providing, for a utility meter, a first communications interface for communicating with a first network; providing, for the utility meter, a second communications interface for communicating with a second network different from the first network; receiving or generating, by the utility meter, information having a destination; selecting either the first communications interface or the second communications interface; and delivering the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.

Claims

1. A utility meter, comprising:

a first communications interface for communicating with a first network;

a second communications interface for communicating with a second network different from the first network; and

at least one processor in communication with the first and second communications interfaces, the at least one processor configured to;

receive or generate information having a destination;

select either the first communications interface or the second communications interface; and

deliver the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.

2. The utility meter of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor for measuring commodity consumption, wherein the delivered information is associated with the measured commodity consumption.

3. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the destination is a computer associated with a wide area network (WAN), wherein the first network is a neighborhood area network (NAN) in communication with the WAN, and the second network is a home area network (HAN) or local area network (LAN) having a routing device in communication with the WAN.

4. The utility meter of claim 3, wherein the routing device is a router or gateway that provides Internet access.

5. The utility meter of claim 3, wherein the second communications interface is selected, and wherein the information is delivered to the routing device in the HAN or LAN for subsequent delivery to the destination via the WAN.

6. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the information is received via the first communications interface, wherein the second communications interface is selected based upon an optimal route to the destination being available via the second communications interface.

7. The utility meter of claim 6, wherein the second communications interface is determined to have the optimal route to the destination based upon the first communications interface being associated with congestion or network unavailability.

8. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the first communications interface is a first neighborhood area network, and the second communications interface is a second neighborhood area network, wherein the information is received from the first communications interface and has a destination of either a second utility meter or a home network device associated with the second utility meter, wherein the second communications interface is selected for delivery of the information to the second utility meter.

9. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the destination is a server computer associated with a utility company.

10. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the destination of the information is a device in a home area network (HAN) or local area network (LAN) associated with a second utility meter, wherein the information is delivered, via the first communications interface or the second communications interface, to the second utility meter for subsequent delivery to the device in the HAN or LAN.

11. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the first network is different from the second network, wherein the first network and the second are a network are different ones of (i) a wired network, or (ii) a wireless network.

12. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the first and second communications interfaces are different ones of:

(i) a Home Area Network (HAN) interface, (ii) a ZigBee interface, (iii) a radio frequency (RF) network interface, (iv) a serial communication link interface, or (v) a local area network (LAN) interface.

13. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the destination is accessible, either directly or indirectly, via the first network and the second network.

14. A method for a utility meter, the method comprising:

providing, for a utility meter, a first communications interface for communicating with a first network;

providing, for the utility meter, a second communications interface for communicating with a second network different from the first network;

receiving or generating, by the utility meter, information having a destination;

selecting either the first communications interface or the second communications interface; and

delivering the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

measuring commodity consumption by a sensor of the utility meter, wherein the delivered information is associated with the measured commodity consumption.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the destination is a computer associated with a wide area network (WAN), wherein the first network is a neighborhood area network (NAN) in communication with the WAN, and the second network is a home area network (HAN) or local area network (LAN) having a routing device in communication with the WAN, wherein the routing device is a router or gateway that provides Internet access.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second communications interface is selected, and wherein the information is delivered to the routing device in the HAN or LAN for subsequent delivery to the destination via the WAN.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the information is received via the first communications interface, wherein the second communications interface is selected based upon an optimal route to the destination being available via the second communications interface.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first communications interface is a first neighborhood area network, and the second communications interface is a second neighborhood area network, wherein the information is received from the first communications interface and has a destination of either a second utility meter or a home network device associated with the second utility meter, wherein the second communications interface is selected for delivery of the information to the second utility meter.

20. A system, comprising:

a server computer;

a plurality of utility meters in communication with the server computer, wherein each utility meter includes;

a first communications interface for communicating with a first network;

a second communications interface for communicating with a second network different from the first network;

at least one processor in communication with the first and second communications interfaces, the at least one processor configured to;

receive or generate information having a destination;

select either the first communications interface or the second communications interface; and

deliver the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.