Systems, methods, and apparatuses for detecting residential electricity theft in firmware
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting electricity theft in an electricity meter, comprising:
- after an occurrence of a first power outage, determining if the meter detects received energy;
after the occurrence of a subsequent second power outage, determining if the meter detects delivered energy; and
if received energy is detected after the first power outage and if delivered energy is detected after the second power outage, then generating an indication of electricity theft.
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for electricity meters to detect electricity theft. An indication of electricity theft may be generated if after an occurrence of a first power outage, the meter detects received energy and if after the occurrence of a subsequent power outage, the meter detects delivered energy. The utility company may then be alerted to the indication of the electricity theft.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting electricity theft in an electricity meter, comprising:
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after an occurrence of a first power outage, determining if the meter detects received energy; after the occurrence of a subsequent second power outage, determining if the meter detects delivered energy; and if received energy is detected after the first power outage and if delivered energy is detected after the second power outage, then generating an indication of electricity theft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electricity meter apparatus configured to be coupled to a socket, comprising:
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one or more sensors for detecting received energy and delivered energy; means for detecting power outages; means for determining if the meter detects received energy after the occurrence of a first power outage; means for determining if the meter detects delivered energy after the occurrence of a subsequent second power outage; and means for generating an indication of electricity theft if the meter detects received energy after the occurrence of the first power outage and detects delivered energy after the occurrence of the subsequent second power outage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electricity distribution system, comprising:
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a plurality of customer lines for receiving electricity from a utility company; at least one electricity meter coupled to each customer line, wherein each electricity meter comprises; a processor for executing instructions; one or more sensors in communication with the processor for detecting received energy and delivered energy; means for detecting power outages; a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises executable instructions for; after an occurrence of a first power outage, determining if the electricity meter detects received energy; after the occurrence of a subsequent second power outage, determining if the electricity meter detects delivered energy; and means for generating an indication of electricity theft if the meter detects received energy after the occurrence of the first power outage and detects delivered energy after the occurrence of the subsequent second power outage; and a communications system that establishes communication between the electricity meter and the utility company. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification