Utility power meter database

• US 6,819,098 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PowerOneData, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Worth, Stephen, Kholay, Satish C., Villicana, Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuneo, Kamand
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy
• Application Number:
  US10/262,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 324/158.1, 324/765, 324/754, 324/142, 324/141, 324/127, 713/300, 700/286, 700/296, 700/277, 700/278, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/825.06, 340/870.11, 340/825.62, 345/965, 345/970, 702/62
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A utility meter database comprises account identification information to identify a user account, a utility meter serial number for a utility meter for the user account, and utility meter configuration information for downloading to said utility meter. The database further includes account consumption information obtained from said utility meter.

Claims

1. A utility meter database comprising:

memory storing account data for a plurality of accounts each of said account data comprising;

account identification information to identify one account of said plurality of accounts;

a utility meter serial number for a utility meter corresponding to said one account; and

utility meter configuration information for downloading to said utility meter.

2. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each of said account data comprises account consumption information obtained from a corresponding said utility meter.

3. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said configuration information comprises rate schedule information for said one account.

4. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said rate schedule information comprises flat rate information for at least one of said accounts.

5. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said account consumption information is related to said rate schedule information.

6. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said rate schedule information for at least selected ones of said accounts comprises time of use information.

7. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said account data comprises information identifying a predetermined communications link to a coresponding said utility meter.

8. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said communications link identifying information identifies public communications network based information.

9. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said communications link identifying information is a telephone number for a corresponding one said utility meter.

10. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said configuration information comprises consumption measurement interval information.

11. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said configuration information comprises calendar information.

12. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said configuration information comprises daily schedule information.

13. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said configuration information comprises seasonal information.

14. A utility meter in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said configuration information comprises information determinative of metering increments.

15. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said account data comprises usage information obtained from said utility meter.

16. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said configuration information comprises rate schedule information.

17. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said rate schedule information comprises flat rate information.

18. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said account consumption information is related to said rate schedule information.

19. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said rate schedule information comprises time of use information.

20. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said account data comprises information identifying a communications link to said utility meter.

21. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 20, wherein:

said communications link identifying information is public communications network based information.

22. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

said communications link identifying information is a telephone number for said utility meter.

23. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said configuration information comprises consumption measurement interval information.

24. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said configuration information comprises calendar information.

25. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said configuration information comprises daily schedule information.

26. A utility meter database in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said configuration information comprises seasonal information.

27. A utility meter in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said configuration information comprises information determinative of metering increments.