Meter monitoring and tamper protection system and method
First Claim
1. A commodity meter management system, comprising:
- a commodity meter operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from the commodity meter;
a communication medium coupled to the commodity meter and to the server;
a transmitter coupled to the commodity meter to transmit the actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to the server via the communication medium;
a receiver coupled to the server to receive the actual configuration parameter from the commodity meter via the communication medium;
a database coupled to the server, the database storing a default configuration parameter for the commodity meter; and
an application adapted to compare the default configuration parameter with the actual configuration parameter;
the application being further adapted to reset the actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to the default parameter of the commodity meter;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A commodity-meter management system including commodity meters (e.g., electrical energy meters, gas meters, and/or water meters), one or more servers, and a communications application to communicate between the meters and the servers. The meters are connected to the servers via communication mediums. The communications application can communicate bi-directionally in real-time between the meters and the servers via the communication mediums. The communications application can determine the actual configuration parameters according to which the meter is operating at any given time. In order to detect theft of a commodity, the communications application can compare the actual configuration parameters to default configuration parameters. If the actual and default configuration parameters are not equal, substantially equal, or within a predetermined threshold, the communications application indicates that a tamper event has occurred.
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Citations
90 Claims
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1. A commodity meter management system, comprising:
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a commodity meter operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from the commodity meter;
a communication medium coupled to the commodity meter and to the server;
a transmitter coupled to the commodity meter to transmit the actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to the server via the communication medium;
a receiver coupled to the server to receive the actual configuration parameter from the commodity meter via the communication medium;
a database coupled to the server, the database storing a default configuration parameter for the commodity meter; and
an application adapted to compare the default configuration parameter with the actual configuration parameter;
the application being further adapted to reset the actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to the default parameter of the commodity meter;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
a transmitter coupled to the server to transmit a new configuration parameter to the commodity meter via the communication medium; and
a receiver coupled to the commodity meter to receive the new configuration parameter from the server via the communication medium.
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3. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a communications application enabling bi-directional real-time communication between the commodity meter and the server.
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4. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmitter coupled to the commodity meter and the receiver coupled to the commodity meter comprise a transceiver device.
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5. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmitter coupled to the server and the receiver coupled to the server comprise a transceiver device.
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6. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
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at least one additional commodity meter coupled to the server via a second communication medium, each additional commodity meter operating according to a respective actual configuration parameter; and
a transmitter coupled to each of the at least one additional commodity meters to transmit the respective actual configuration parameters to the server via the second communication medium.
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7. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
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at least one additional commodity meter coupled to the server via a second communication medium, each additional commodity meter operating according to a respective actual configuration parameter; and
a receiver coupled to each of the at least one additional commodity meters to receive new configuration parameters from the server via the second communication medium.
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8. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application is capable of real-time comparison of the default configuration to the actual configuration parameter.
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9. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one of a date and commodity meter identification information.
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10. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application is further adapted to generate at least one message responsive to detection of a default configuration parameter that is different than an actual configuration parameter.
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11. A commodity meter management system, comprising:
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a commodity meter operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from the commodity meter;
a communication medium coupled to the commodity meter and to the server;
a transmitter coupled to the commodity meter to transmit the actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to the server via the communication medium;
a receiver coupled to the server to receive the actual configuration parameter from the commodity meter via the communication medium;
a database coupled to the server, the database storing a new configuration parameter for the commodity meter; and
an application adapted to reset the actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to the new configuration parameter;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the new configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A commodity meter management system comprising:
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a commodity meter operating according to at least one actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from the commodity meter;
a communication medium coupled to the commodity meter and to the server;
a transmitter coupled to the server to transmit at least one new configuration parameter to the meter via the communication medium;
a receiver coupled to the meter to receive the at least one new configuration parameter from the server via the communication medium;
a database coupled to the server, the database storing a default configuration parameter for the commodity meter; and
an application adapted to reset the actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to the default parameter of the commodity meter;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
a transmitter coupled to the commodity meter to transmit an actual configuration parameter to the server via the communication medium; and
a receiver coupled to the server to receive the actual configuration parameter from the meter via the communication medium.
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17. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a communications application enabling bi-directional real-time communication between the commodity meter and the server.
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18. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the transmitter coupled to the commodity meter and the receiver coupled to the commodity meter comprise a transceiver device.
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19. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the transmitter coupled to the server and the receiver coupled to the server comprise a transceiver device.
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20. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:
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at least one additional commodity meter coupled to the server via a second communication medium, each additional commodity meter operating according to a respective actual configuration parameter; and
a receiver coupled to each of the at least one additional commodity meters to receive at least one new configuration parameter from the server via the second communication medium.
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21. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:
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at least one additional commodity meter coupled to the server via a second communication medium, each additional commodity meter operating according to a respective actual configuration parameter; and
a transmitter coupled to each of the at least one additional commodity meters to transmit a respective actual configuration parameter to the server via the second communication medium.
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22. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the information includes at least one of a date and commodity meter identification information.
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23. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the database stores the at least one new configuration parameter.
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24. The commodity meter management system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the application is adapted to reset at least one actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to at least one new configuration parameter.
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25. A commodity meter management system comprising:
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a commodity meter operating according to at least one actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from the commodity meter;
a communication medium coupled to the commodity meter and to the server;
a transmitter coupled to the server to transmit at least one new configuration parameter to the meter via the communication medium;
a receiver coupled to the meter to receive the at least one new configuration parameter from the server via the communication medium;
a database coupled to the server, the database storing the at least one new configuration parameter; and
an application adapted to reset at least one actual configuration parameter of the commodity meter to at least one new configuration parameter;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the at least one actual configuration parameter to the at least one new configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A commodity meter management system, comprising:
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a plurality of commodity meters, each commodity meter operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from each of the plurality of commodity meters; and
at least one communication medium coupled to each of the plurality of commodity meters and to the server;
the server and the plurality of commodity meters configured and arranged to transmit the actual configuration parameters from the plurality of commodity meters to the server;
a database coupled to the server, the database storing a default configuration parameter for at least one of the commodity meters; and
an application adapted to compare the default configuration parameter with the actual configuration parameter;
the application being further adapted to reset the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter of at least one of the commodity meters;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A commodity meter management system, comprising:
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a plurality of commodity meters, each commodity meter operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from each of the plurality of commodity meters;
at least one communication medium coupled to each of the plurality of commodity meters and to the server;
the server and the plurality of commodity meters configured and arranged to transmit the actual configuration parameters from the plurality of commodity meters to the server; and
an application adapted to reset the actual configuration parameter of at least one of the commodity meters to a new configuration parameter;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the new configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A commodity meter management system, comprising:
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a plurality of commodity meters, each commodity meter operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
a server located remotely from each of the plurality of commodity meters;
at least one communication medium coupled to each of the plurality of commodity meters and to the server;
the server and the plurality of commodity meters configured and arranged to transmit the actual configuration parameters from the plurality of commodity meters to the server;
a database coupled to the server, the database storing a default configuration parameter for at least one of the commodity meters; and
an application adapted to compare the default configuration parameter with the actual configuration parameter;
the application being further adapted to reset the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter of at least one of the commodity meters;
the application being further adapted to record information regarding resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of managing a plurality of commodity meters, the method comprising:
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connecting the plurality of commodity meters to at least one server via at least one communication medium, each one of the plurality of commodity meters operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
retrieving a default configuration parameter for each of the plurality of commodity meters from a database;
communicating between the at least one server and each of the plurality of commodity meters in order to determine the actual configuration parameter;
comparing the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter;
indicating a tamper event if the actual configuration parameter is not substantially equal to the default configuration parameter;
resetting the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter if a tamper event is indicated; and
recording the resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of managing a plurality of commodity meters, the method comprising:
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connecting the plurality of commodity meters to at least one server via at least one communication medium, each one of the plurality of commodity meters operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
retrieving a default configuration parameter for each of the plurality of commodity meters from a database;
communicating between the at least one server and each of the plurality of commodity meters in order to determine the actual configuration parameter;
comparing the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter;
indicating a tamper event if the actual configuration parameter is not substantially equal to the default configuration parameter; and
recording at least one of a date and commodity meter information for the indicated tamper event. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method of managing a plurality of commodity meters, the method comprising:
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connecting each one of the plurality of commodity meters to a server via one of a plurality of communication networks, the server located remotely from each one of the plurality of commodity meters;
communicating bi-directionally between the server and each one of the plurality of commodity meters via the plurality of communication networks;
each one of the plurality of commodity meters operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
communicating between the at least one server and each one of the plurality of commodity meters in order to determine the actual configuration parameter;
connecting a database to the at least one server;
storing a default configuration parameter for each one of the plurality of commodity meters in the database;
comparing the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter;
indicating a tamper event if the actual configuration parameter is not substantially equal to the default configuration parameter;
resetting the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter if a tamper event is indicated; and
recording the resetting of the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69)
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70. A method of managing a plurality of commodity meters, the method comprising:
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connecting each one of the plurality of commodity meters to a server via one of a plurality of communication networks, the server located remotely from each one of the plurality of commodity meters;
communicating bi-directionally between the server and each one of the plurality of commodity meters via the plurality of communication networks;
each one of the plurality of commodity meters operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
communicating between the at least one server and each one of the plurality of commodity meters in order to determine the actual configuration parameter;
connecting a database to the at least one server;
storing a default configuration parameter for each one of the plurality of commodity meters in the database;
comparing the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter; and
indicating a tamper event if the actual configuration parameter is not substantially equal to the default configuration parameter;
recording at least one of a date and commodity meter identification information for the indicated tamper event. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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74. A method of managing a plurality of commodity meters, the method comprising:
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connecting each one of the plurality of commodity meters to a server via one of a plurality of communication networks, the server located remotely from each one of the plurality of commodity meters;
communcating bi-directionally between the server and each one of the plurality of commodity meters via the plurality of communication networks;
each one of the plurality of commodity meters operating according to an actual configuration parameter;
communicating between the at least one server and each one of the plurality of commodity meters in order to determine the actual configuration parameter;
changing the actual configuration parameter to a new configuration parameter; and
recording the changing of the actual configuration parameter to the new configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A method of managing a plurality of commodity meters, the method comprising:
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connecting the plurality of commodity meters to at least one server via at least one communication medium, each one of the plurality of commodity meters configured to operate according to a default configuration parameter, the at least one server located remotely from each one of the plurality of commodity meters;
communicating between the at least one server and each one of the plurality of commodity meters;
connecting a database to the at least one server;
storing the default configuration parameter for each one of the plurality of commodity meters in the database;
changing the default configuration parameter to a new configuration parameter; and
recording the changing of the actual configuration parameter to the new configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82)
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83. A method of managing a plurality of commodity meters, the method comprising:
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receiving an actual configuration parameter for each one of the plurality of commodity meters;
retrieving a default configuration parameter for each one of the plurality of commodity meters;
comparing the actual configuration parameter to the default configuration parameter to determine if the actual configuration parameter is substantially equal to the default configuration parameter; and
transmitting the default configuration parameter to each one of the plurality of commodity meters if the actual configuration parameter is not substantially equal to the default configuration parameter. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification