System and method for creating multiple operating territories within a meter reading system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for creating a plurality of operating territories within a meter reading system, each operating territory having an assigned set of time of use programs, the method comprising:
- providing to a configuration database an identification of the plurality of operating territories and, for each operating territory, a listing of the set of time of use programs assigned to the operating territory;
receiving a command to assign a collector at a remote location to a first operating territory;
responsive to the command, querying the configuration database to identify the set of time of use programs assigned to the first operating territory; and
configuring the collector at the remote location with the set of time of use programs assigned to the first operating territory.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention enables multiple operating territories to be defined, named, and managed within a meter reading system. Each operating territory may correspond to a geographic sub-section of the meter reading system that is regulated by a particular regulatory agency. Each operating territory may be assigned a set of time of use (TOU) schedules required by its corresponding regulatory agency. The set of TOU schedules assigned to each operating territory may be stored in a database.
385 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for creating a plurality of operating territories within a meter reading system, each operating territory having an assigned set of time of use programs, the method comprising:
-
providing to a configuration database an identification of the plurality of operating territories and, for each operating territory, a listing of the set of time of use programs assigned to the operating territory; receiving a command to assign a collector at a remote location to a first operating territory; responsive to the command, querying the configuration database to identify the set of time of use programs assigned to the first operating territory; and configuring the collector at the remote location with the set of time of use programs assigned to the first operating territory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method for approving a registered meter for assignment to a selected time of use program, the method comprising:
-
identifying an operating territory within which the meter operates; retrieving a set of time of use programs assigned to the operating territory; determining whether the selected time of use program is a member of the set of time of use programs assigned to the operating territory; if so, then; assigning the meter to the selected time of use program; and configuring the meter with an index of the selected time of use program; and if not, then refusing to assign the meter to the selected time of use program. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for attempting to register a meter with a previously assigned time of use program to a collector comprising:
-
identifying the previously assigned time of use program; determining whether the previously assigned time of use program is a member of a set of at least one time of use program stored at the collector; if so, then; registering the meter with the collector; and configuring the meter with an index of the previously assigned time of use program; and if not then refusing to register the meter with the collector. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A meter reading system comprising:
-
a collector that receives meter data from at least one meter; a server that is operative to receive a command to assign the collector to an operating territory within the meter reading system, and, responsive to the command, provide instructions to configure the collector with a set of time of use programs assigned to the operating territory, and wherein the server is further operative to determine whether a selected time of use program to which to assign a registered meter is a member of the set of time of use programs assigned to the operating territory. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification