REVERSE RATING AND APPLICATIONS TO OVERAGE BILLING
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of consumption readings associated with a second time from a plurality of meters tracking consumption by a consumer;
determining a consumption rate for each of the plurality of meters based on the received plurality of consumption readings and a plurality of initial consumption values associated with a first time prior to the second time to generate a plurality of consumption rates;
determining a monetary liability function for the consumer based on the plurality of consumption rates and a plurality of rating functions associated with the plurality of meters; and
calculating a third time at which a monetary target is reached by the plurality of meters based on the monetary liability function.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for using reverse rating to determine the monetary value of consumption of services measured by one or more meters. A plurality of consumption readings associated with a second time may be received from a set of meters tracking consumption by a consumer. Consumption rates may be determined for the meters based on the received consumption readings and on initial consumption values from a first time prior to the second time. A monetary liability function may be determined for the consumer based on the consumption rates and a plurality of rating functions associated with the meters. A third time may be calculated based on the monetary liability function at which a monetary target is reached by the meters. The monetary target may be a monetary cap on consumption by the meters, or a monetary commitment value.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of consumption readings associated with a second time from a plurality of meters tracking consumption by a consumer; determining a consumption rate for each of the plurality of meters based on the received plurality of consumption readings and a plurality of initial consumption values associated with a first time prior to the second time to generate a plurality of consumption rates; determining a monetary liability function for the consumer based on the plurality of consumption rates and a plurality of rating functions associated with the plurality of meters; and calculating a third time at which a monetary target is reached by the plurality of meters based on the monetary liability function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a consumption rate determiner configured to determine a linear consumption rate for each of a plurality of meters tracking consumption by a consumer to generate a plurality of linear consumption rates; a monetary liability function determiner configured to determine a monetary liability function for the consumer based on the plurality of linear consumption rates and a plurality of rating functions associated with the plurality of meters; a monetary target time calculator configured to calculate an estimated time at which a monetary cap is reached by the plurality of meters based on the monetary liability function; and a consumption quota calculator configured to calculate a consumption quota for each of the plurality of meters at the estimated time based on a corresponding linear consumption rate to determine a plurality of consumption quotas for the plurality of meters. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a consumption rate determiner configured to receive a plurality of consumption readings associated with an end time of a billing cycle from a plurality of meters tracking consumption, and to determine a consumption rate for each of the plurality of meters based on the received plurality of consumption readings and a plurality of initial consumption values associated with a begin time of the billing cycle to generate a plurality of consumption rates; a monetary liability function determiner configured to determine a discounted monetary liability function for the consumer based on the plurality of consumption rates and a plurality of discounted rating functions associated with the plurality of meters; and a monetary target time calculator configured to calculate an intermediate time between the begin time and the end time at which a monetary commitment value of the consumer is reached by the plurality of meters based on the discounted monetary liability function. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification