Electronic electricity meter
First Claim
1. A method of programming an electricity meter comprising a microcomputer and a modem, said method comprising the steps of:
- programming the meter;
determining whether the meter programming is completed; and
if the meter programming is completed, then providing a programmed signal from the microcomputer to the modem.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic electricity meter which, in one embodiment, includes a modem board, or unit, coupled to the meter microcomputer and exchanges information between the meter and a central computer is described. Using signals supplied by the meter microcomputer and the central computer, the modem unit microcomputer can determine whether to exchange information between the meter and the central computer and the proper time at which the information should be exchanged. In an exemplary embodiment, the modem unit detects various conditions within the meter and responds by exchanging information with the central computer at a proper, or pre-defined, time. The modem unit has two different basic modes, or states, of operation. These states of operation are sometimes referred to as the call originate mode and the call answer mode. Call originate refers to the mode of the unit when a condition occurs in meter 10 and information is being transmitted to the central computer from the modem unit utilizing a telephone line. The call is originated upon occurrence, for example of a power outage to the meter. In the call answer mode, the central computer originates a call to the meter. The central computer can then transfer information to the meter, for example a new program can be stored in the modem unit memory.
55 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of programming an electricity meter comprising a microcomputer and a modem, said method comprising the steps of:
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programming the meter;
determining whether the meter programming is completed; and
if the meter programming is completed, then providing a programmed signal from the microcomputer to the modem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
determining whether the segment signal is in a first state; and
if the segment signal is in the first state, then executing a program stored in the memory first segment.
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8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step
if the segment signal is in the second state, then executing a program stored in the memory second segment.
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9. A programmable electronic electricity meter comprising a microcomputer and a modem coupled to a central computer, said meter configured to:
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receive programming data from the central computer utilizing said modem to program the meter;
determine whether said meter programming is completed; and
if the meter programming is completed, then provide a programmed signal from said microcomputer to said modem. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
determine whether said segment signal is in said first state; and
if the segment signal is in said first state, then execute a program stored in said memory first segment.
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16. A meter in accordance with claim 15 further configured to execute a program stored in said memory if said segment signal is in said second state.
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17. A method of programming an electricity meter comprising a non-volatile memory having two segments, said method comprising the steps of:
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programming the electricity meter to perform electricity metering functions; and
determining whether programming data was last stored in the first segment or the second segment of the memory. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
determining whether the segment signal is in the first state; and
if the segment signal is in the first state, then executing a program stored in the memory first segment.
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21. A method in accordance with claim 19 further comprising the steps of:
if the segment signal is in the second state, then executing a program stored in the memory second segment.
Specification