USER CONFIGURABLE UNIVERSAL INTERFACE FOR MANAGING UTILITY SERVICES

• US 20120260194A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher Thomas Westhoff, Kennedy, James Lehr
• Original Assignee: Christopher Thomas Westhoff, Kennedy, James Lehr
• Inventors: Kennedy, James Lehr, Westhoff, Christopher Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/301,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/08 Payment architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/10 with alarm or warning devices, e.g. indicating the interrupting of the supply

Abstract

Managing utility services comprises a user interface that is linked to user configurable utility accounts, said interface further comprising a linking application for entering utility account information for linked utility accounts; account management features accessible from the user interface further comprising a bill payment utility, an account information system, a utility directory database, a service control system, and an informational system; an interface screen providing a link for displaying account information, menu options for configuring utility usage, a settings menu for configuring the interface of the system, and a messaging system providing messages associated with utility services; and a module for managing emergency notifications and consumer messages that provides for reporting of utility interruption, dangers situations, and informational content for managing the effects of utility interruption.

Claims

1. A system for managing utility services comprising

a. A user interface that is linked to user configurable utility accounts, said interface further comprising a linking application for entering utility account information for linked utility accounts;

b. account management features accessible from the user interface further comprising a bill payment utility, an account information system, a utility directory database, a service control system, and an informational system;

c. an interface screen providing a link for displaying account information, menu options for configuring utility usage, a settings menu for configuring the interface of the system, and a messaging system providing messages associated with utility services; and

d. a module for managing emergency notifications and consumer messages that provides for reporting of utility interruption, dangerous situations, and informational content for managing the effects of utility interruption.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an outage reporting system a problem reporting system, or an outbound notification system.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a scheduling system, said scheduling system allowing the system user to schedule a meter reading, report meter readings initiate utility service, or terminate utility service from any linked utility account

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the outage reporting system is configured to use user entered data global positioning system data, or customer account data to provide the geographic location of a utility service outage.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the utility service outage is one or more of a street light outage, an electric power outage, a utility fire, a downed wire, a downed electric wire, a dangerous situation, a gas leak, or a water line break.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the user is prompted to provide a photograph of the problem through a telecommunications interface.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an account access function, a bill payment function, an account balance function, a payment reminder function, a payment due function, an alert function, or a push alert function.

8. A system for use with a mobile computing device comprising an online database directory of utilities, a module for storing contact information for a users utility after accessing the database directory, a module for identifying a utility based on geographic location or by entry into an assignment process, an authenticating system for enabling transactions and for linking utility accounts to the system, wherein the system provides for a user to mom or the user'"'"'s utility account, receive messages delivered from the utility in the manner of usage conservation alerts, quality alerts and energy usage, conduct transactions with the linked utility and schedule appointments.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the appointment is one or more of a new install, service termination meter servicing and pilot relighting.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein smart electric grid capabilities are provided for regulating electricity consumption.