Interface for Clustered Utility Nodes

• US 20140047372A1
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Gnezdov, Sergei Aleksandrovich, Smith, Anthony Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,632,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Techniques for navigating a user interface and for selecting a utility node from within a cluster of utility nodes are described herein. The user interface may display an icon representing the cluster of utility nodes. A selection (e.g., made by a user) of the icon may be received and a list of the utility nodes that are represented by the icon may be displayed. Selection of a particular utility node from the list may be received, and an action may be performed on the selected utility node. The action may include displaying utility information associated with the utility node, zooming in on the utility node, and/or receiving information from an individual with which to configure the utility node.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with specific executable instructions,

displaying, on a map, an icon representing a plurality of utility nodes, each of the plurality of utility nodes comprising an endpoint configured to obtain a utility reading, a data collector configured to collect data, and/or a repeater configured to relay data;

receiving a selection of the icon from an individual;

at least partly in response to receiving the selection of the icon, displaying a list including the plurality of utility nodes;

receiving, from the individual, a selection of a particular utility node from the list including the plurality of utility nodes; and

at least partly in response to receiving the selection of the particular utility node, displaying utility information associated with the particular utility node.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of utility nodes are located at a same location for a current zoom level on the map.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the list including the plurality of utility nodes is displayed by overlaying the list on the map.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the selection of the particular utility node is received at a location on the map where the particular utility node is located; and

the list including the plurality of utility nodes is displayed substantially at the location on the map where the particular utility node is located.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the utility information associated with the particular utility node includes:

operational information indicating how the particular utility node is operating,

resource consumption information related to consumption of water, gas, or electricity,

billing information related to fees for consuming water, gas, or electricity,

identification information indicating an identity, type, or version of the particular utility node, and/or

location information indicating a location of the particular utility node.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the icon indicates whether or not a utility node of the plurality of utility nodes needs attention due to an occurrence of an error.

7. One or more devices comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, storing one or more modules executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

displaying a visual representation associated with a plurality of utility nodes;

receiving selection of the visual representation;

upon receipt of the selection of the visual representation, displaying a list including the plurality of utility nodes;

receiving selection of a particular utility node from the list including the plurality of utility nodes; and

upon receipt of the selection of the particular utility node, performing an action related to the particular utility node.

8. The one or more devices of claim 7, wherein each of the utility nodes of the plurality of utility nodes corresponds to a node in an advanced metering infrastructure configured to receive and/or send resource consumption information.

9. The one or more devices of claim 7, wherein the visual representation is displayed on a map including roads and/or utility lines.

10. The one or more devices of claim 9, wherein the plurality of utility nodes are located at a same location for a current zoom level on the map.

11. The one or more devices of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise:

upon displaying the list including the plurality of utility nodes, receiving search input from an individual;

searching utility nodes of the plurality of utility nodes of the list based at least in part on the search input; and

displaying a list including a sub-set of the plurality of utility nodes based at least in part on the searching,

wherein the particular utility node that is selected comprises a utility node of the list that includes the sub-set of the plurality of utility nodes.

12. The one or more devices of claim 7, wherein the action includes:

displaying utility information associated with the particular utility node,

zooming in on the particular utility node, and/or

receiving information from an individual to configure the particular utility node.

13. The one or more devices of claim 7, wherein:

the visual representation is displayed on a map; and

the action includes zooming in on the particular utility node and positioning the particular utility node substantially in a center of the map.

14. The one or more devices of claim 7, wherein the visual representation is displayed with information indicating that more than one utility node is associated with the visual representation.

15. The one or more devices of claim 7, wherein the visual representation indicates whether or not a utility node of the plurality of utility nodes needs attention due to an occurrence of an error.

16. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, instruct one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

providing a user interface including a map and a visual representation located on the map, the visual representation being associated with a plurality of utility nodes;

receiving selection of the visual representation;

upon receipt of the selection of the visual representation, updating the user interface to include a list of the plurality of utility nodes;

receiving selection of a particular utility node from the list of the plurality of utility nodes; and

upon receipt of the selection of the particular utility node, performing an action related to the particular utility node.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the visual representation is displayed with information indicating that more than one utility node is associated with the visual representation.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the map includes utility lines for distributing gas, water, and/or electricity.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein each of the utility nodes of the plurality of utility nodes corresponds to a node in an advanced metering infrastructure configured to receive and/or send resource consumption information.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the action includes:

displaying utility information associated with the particular utility node on the interface,

zooming in on the particular utility node, and/or

receiving information to configure the particular utility node.