HEAD-END SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK
First Claim
1. A head-end system for use with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network that includes a plurality of AMI meters at a plurality of customer locations, the head-end system comprising a processor configured for:
- receiving, at the head-end system, at least one event signal from each of the AMI meters, wherein the at least one event signal is indicative of at least one event occurring at a corresponding customer location;
determining, at the head-end system, whether to transmit at least one command signal to a corresponding AMI meter in response to receiving the at least one event signal from the corresponding AMI meter, wherein the at least one command signal is configured to instruct the corresponding AMI meter to perform at least one task in response to the at least one event; and
transmitting, at the head-end system, the at least one command signal to the corresponding AMI meter in response to determining to transmit the at least one command signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A head-end system for an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network includes a processor. The processor is configured for receiving event signals from AMI meters. The event signals are indicative of events occurring at customer locations. The processor determines whether to transmit a command signal to a corresponding AMI meter in response to receiving an event signal from the corresponding AMI meter. The command signal is configured to instruct the corresponding AMI meter to perform at least one task in response to the at least one event. The processor transmits the command signal to the corresponding AMI meter in response to determining to transmit the command signal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A head-end system for use with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network that includes a plurality of AMI meters at a plurality of customer locations, the head-end system comprising a processor configured for:
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receiving, at the head-end system, at least one event signal from each of the AMI meters, wherein the at least one event signal is indicative of at least one event occurring at a corresponding customer location; determining, at the head-end system, whether to transmit at least one command signal to a corresponding AMI meter in response to receiving the at least one event signal from the corresponding AMI meter, wherein the at least one command signal is configured to instruct the corresponding AMI meter to perform at least one task in response to the at least one event; and transmitting, at the head-end system, the at least one command signal to the corresponding AMI meter in response to determining to transmit the at least one command signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of responding to an event occurring at a customer location using a processor of a head-end system of an advanced metering infrastructure, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one event signal from a AMI meter, wherein the at least one event signal is indicative of at least one event occurring at the customer location; determining whether to transmit at least one command signal to the AMI meter in response to receiving the at least one event signal from the AMI meter, wherein the at least one command signal is configured to instruct the AMI meter to perform at least one task in response to the at least one event; and transmitting the at least one command signal to the AMI meter in response to determining to transmit the at least one command signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An event communication and response system comprising:
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a plurality of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters; a head-end system communicatively coupled to the plurality of AMI meters, the head-end system comprising a processor; and a plurality of management systems for managing data from the AMI meters, the plurality of management systems being communicatively coupled to the head-end system, wherein the processor of the head-end system is configured for; receiving at least one event signal from each of the AMI meters, wherein the at least one event signal is indicative of at least one event occurring at the corresponding AMI meter; determining whether to transmit at least one command signal to a corresponding AMI meter in response to receiving the at least one event signal from the corresponding AMI meter, wherein the at least one command signal is configured to instruct the corresponding AMI meter to perform at least one task in response to the at least one event; and transmitting the at least one command signal to the corresponding AMI meter in response to determining to transmit the at least one command signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification