NETWORK INTERFACE CONTROLLER FOR A UTILITY METER

• US 20120242499A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ree, Bradley Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/053,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242499A1
• 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 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• 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 and devices are disclosed for enabling communication by and between meters and networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a network interface controller configured to be directly coupled to a meter socket and provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including: a computing device; and at least one communications interface coupled to the computing device, the at least one communications interface configured to be physically located within a meter socket housing.

Claims

1. A network interface controller configured to directly couple to a meter socket and provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including:

a computing device; and

at least one communications interface coupled to the computing device, the at least one communications interface configured to be physically located within a meter socket housing.

2. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one network includes at least one of:

a utility network, a Home Area Network (HAN), a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN), an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), a cellular network, an Ethernet network, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, and a backhaul network.

3. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface is further configured to provide a communication path between a Home Area Network (HAN) and a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN).

4. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface includes:

a first radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the utility meter, the first radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the utility meter; and

a second radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the at least one network, the second radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the at least one network.

5. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface includes:

a first power line communication interface communicatively connected to the utility meter and the computing device, the first power line communication interface configured to provide a communication path between the utility meter and the computing device; and

a second power line communication interface communicatively connected to the at least one network and the computing device, the second power line communication interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the at least one network.

6. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one communications interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a mesh network radio interface, a radio interface, a short-range radio interface, a cellular interface, a 900 MHz interface, an optical interface, a point to point interface, a power line communication interface, and a radiofrequency communications link.

7. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device and the at least one communications interface are housed within the meter socket.

8. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device and the at least one communications interface are configured to be interposed between the meter socket and the utility meter.

9. The network interface controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device and the at least one communications interface are configured to be disposed around a meter blade of the utility meter.

10. A meter socket housing comprising:

a meter socket; and

a network interface controller directly physically connected to the meter socket, the network interface controller configured to provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including;

a computing device; and

at least one communications interface coupled to the computing device.

11. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is further configured to provide a communication path between a Home Area Network (HAN) and a Neighborhood Area Network (NAN).

12. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the at least one communications interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a mesh network radio interface, a radio interface, a short-range radio interface, a cellular interface, a 900 MHz interface, an optical interface, a point to point interface, a power line communication interface, and a radiofrequency communications link.

13. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is housed within the meter socket.

14. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is configured to be interposed between the utility meter and the meter socket.

15. The meter socket housing of claim 10, wherein the network interface controller is configured to be disposed around a meter blade of the utility meter.

16. An integrated meter socket system comprising:

a meter socket; and

a network interface controller physically integrated with the meter socket, the network interface controller configured to provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including;

a computing device;

a first communications interface communicatively connected to the computing device, the first communications interface configured to transmit communications between the computing device and the utility meter; and

a second communications interface communicatively connected to the computing device, the second communications interface configured to transmit communications between the computing device and the at least one network.

17. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the network interface controller is further configured to provide a communication path between a Home Area Network and a Neighborhood Area Network.

18. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the network interface controller is configured to be interposed between the utility meter and the meter socket.

19. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the at least one communications interface is selected from a group consisting of:

a mesh network radio interface, a radio interface, a short-range radio interface, a cellular interface, a 900 MHz interface, an optical interface, a point to point interface, a power line communication interface, and a radiofrequency communications link.

20. The integrated meter socket system of claim 16, wherein the at least one communications interface includes:

a first radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the utility meter, the first radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the utility meter; and

a second radio interface communicatively connected to the computing device and the at least one network, the second radio interface configured to provide a communication path between the computing device and the at least one network.