Method and apparatus for reading a meter and providing customer service via the internet

• US 6,900,738 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Crichlow
• Original Assignee: Henry Crichlow
• Inventors: Crichlow, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/884,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 702/57, 705/400, 705/412
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• 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 method and system for monitoring usage of a utility at a remote location by a central station and incorporates a real time method for optimizing energy costs operationally by combining optimization algorithms and real time pricing data to lower costs to the energy user. The system includes a meter reading module for determining an amount of usage at the remote location and generating a data signal indicative of the determined amount of usage and a personal computer (PC) located at the remote location and connected to the meter reading module. The PC is connectable to the internet for receiving and storing the data signal from the meter reading module for transmission to a processor located at the central location via the internet. The meter reading module is connected to one of an electrical, gas or water meter. The processor determines an amount of usage of the utility based upon the data signal. The meter reading module is connected to the PC via one of a hardwired connection, X-10 technology or sent over existing telephone lines. The processor is able to generate a bill based upon a determined amount of usage and transmit the bill to the PC in the form of one of an e-mail message, Internet browser or other Internet related technologies. Payment of the bill by the PC at the remote location is performed automatically over the Internet via online banking protocols or other internet related payment technologies.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring usage of a utility at a location remote from a utility company supplying the utility, said system comprising:

a) a meter reading module connected to an existing utility meter for determining an amount of usage at the remote location and generating a data signal indicative of the determined amount of usage;

b) an existing resident PC located at the remote location connected through a port in said PC to said meter reading module for recieving and storing usage information; and

c) said PC having a resident program for automatically initiating and performing data transfer via an established internet connection of said PC to a server of the utility, said program working in the backround and unnoticed by a computer user of said PC during a login session to transmit stored usage information to said server of said utility.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of meter reading modules, each of said plurality of meter reading modules reading a respective meter for determining utility usage within a respective residence at the remote location.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 having means for said server to use off the net technology to send a signal to modem of said PC when said PC is turned o but is not connected to the Internet to initiate a connection of said PC to the Internet by dialing an internet service provider to obtain transfer of usage data from said PC to said server.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said meter reading module is connected to said PC via one of a hardwired connection, X-10 technology or sent over existing telephone lines at a frequency that does not interfere with other regular telephone communications.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said hardwired connection is formed by existing electric wiring at the remote location.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said X10 technology is wireless.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said meter reading module is connected to one of an electrical, gas or water meter.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, further comprising an encoder device connected between said meter reading module and said gas meter.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, further comprising an encoder device connected between said meter reading module and said water meter.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central location includes a processor for analyzing the data signal, generating a bill based upon a determined amount of usage and transmitting the bill to said PC in the form of one of an e-mail message, Internet browser or other Internet related technologies.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein payment of the bill received from the processor is payable from said PC at the remote location.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein payment of the bill by said PC at the remote location is performed automatically over the Internet via online banking protocols or other internet related payment technologies.

13. A method of monitoring usage of a utility at a location remote from a utility company supplying the utility, said method comprising the steps of:

a) connecting a meter reading module to an existing utility meter;

b) connecting the meter reading module to a port of a resident personal computer located at the remote location;

c) reading the meter by the meter reading module;

d) determining an amount of usage at the remote location;

e) generating a data signal indicative of the determined usage by the meter reading module;

f) transferring the data signal to said personal computer;

g) said personal computer storing usage information;

h) said personal computer using a resident program for automatically initiating and performing data transfer via an established internet connection of said personal computer to a server of said utility, said program working in the background and unnoticed by a user of said personal computer during a login session to transmit stored usage information to said server of said utility.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said personal computer stores the data signal from said meter reading module within a buffer therein prior to transmission to the central location for transmission.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of connecting the meter reading module connects a plurality of meter reading modules to a respective on of a plurality of meters for determining utility usage within a respective residence at the remote location, using a single personal computer for monitoring usage of multiple usage sites.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 in which said server uses off the net technology to send a signal to a modem of said PC when said PC is turned on but is not connected to the Internet to initiate a connection of said PC to the Internet by dialing an internet service provider to obtain transfer of usage from said PC to said server.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of connecting the meter reading module connects the meter reading module one of an electrical, gas or water meter.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of connecting an encoder device between the meter reading module and meter.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of connecting the meter reading module to said personal computer is performed via one of a hardwired connection, X-10 technology or sent over existing telephone lines at a frequency that does not interfere with other regular telephone communications.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the hardwired connection is formed by existing electric wiring at the remote location.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said X10 technology is wireless.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of generating a bill at the central location based upon a determined amount of usage.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting the bill to said personal computer in the form of one of an e-mail message, Internet browser or other Internet related technologies.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of paying the generated bill received from the central location from said personal computer at the remote location.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said step of paying the bill is performed automatically over the Internet via online banking protocols or other internet related payment technologies.