Method and apparatus for collecting and displaying consumption data from a meter reading system
First Claim
1. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a plurality of endpoint devices interfaced with utility metering devices, wherein the endpoint devices each generate and wirelessly transmit utility consumption-related data to a corresponding at least one reading device to be ultimately provided to a host processor operated by a utility service, the AMR system further including an apparatus for collecting and displaying consumption data for use by a user associated with a customer of the utility service, the apparatus comprising:
- communication circuitry configured to receive at least a portion of the utility consumption-related data that is wirelessly transmitted by the plurality of endpoint devices for reception by the corresponding at least one reading device;
a display adapted to display, to the user information based on at least a portion of the utility consumption-related data that is received by the communication circuitry;
control circuitry operably coupled to the communication circuitry and to the display, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the receipt and display of the utility consumption-related data to the user such that only the utility consumption-related data generated by endpoint devices corresponding to the customer of the utility service is displayed;
power circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry to regulate a flow of power thereto; and
a housing adapted to house the control circuitry, communication circuitry, power circuitry and display.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for collecting and displaying real-time utility consumption data and an estimate of utility costs from various utility metering modules upon request by the consumer within the comfort of their own home or business. According to one aspect of the invention, a utility display module is in communication with a utility end point device that monitors and displays consumption of a utility (water, gas, and/or electricity). The source of the data received by the module may be generated by utility meter transmitters that are attached to the various utility delivery end points or meters. In a related embodiment, a repeater may be used with a battery powered energy display module to make the module transportable.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a plurality of endpoint devices interfaced with utility metering devices, wherein the endpoint devices each generate and wirelessly transmit utility consumption-related data to a corresponding at least one reading device to be ultimately provided to a host processor operated by a utility service, the AMR system further including an apparatus for collecting and displaying consumption data for use by a user associated with a customer of the utility service, the apparatus comprising:
-
communication circuitry configured to receive at least a portion of the utility consumption-related data that is wirelessly transmitted by the plurality of endpoint devices for reception by the corresponding at least one reading device; a display adapted to display, to the user information based on at least a portion of the utility consumption-related data that is received by the communication circuitry; control circuitry operably coupled to the communication circuitry and to the display, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the receipt and display of the utility consumption-related data to the user such that only the utility consumption-related data generated by endpoint devices corresponding to the customer of the utility service is displayed; power circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry to regulate a flow of power thereto; and a housing adapted to house the control circuitry, communication circuitry, power circuitry and display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 36)
-
-
15. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a plurality of endpoint devices interfaced with utility metering devices, wherein the endpoint devices each generate and wirelessly transmit utility consumption-related data to at least one reading device to be ultimately provided to a host processor, method for automatically collecting and displaying utility-service information based on the utility consumption-related data to a user associated with a customer of a utility service monitored by a set of at least one endpoint device associated with the customer, the method comprising:
-
wirelessly transmitting, by a first endpoint device of the set of at least one endpoint device, a first transmission of utility consumption-related data for reception by at least one of the at least one reading device; receiving the first transmission by a remote display device that is situated remotely from the first endpoint device; processing, by the remote display device, the first transmission to produce the utility service information; and displaying to the user, by the remote display device, only the utility-service information that is based on the utility consumption-related data generated by the set of at least one endpoint device associated with the customer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A system for displaying consumption data for use by a user associated with a customer of at least one utility, the system comprising:
-
means for metering a utility, said means being operably coupled to a utility meter that is based in a premises of said customer and including means for transmitting utility consumption data to an automatic meter reading system reader; and means for receiving said utility consumption data transmitted by said means for metering said utility and for displaying, to said user, only utility consumption-related information unique to said customer based on said utility consumption data, said means for receiving said utility consumption data being-based in said premises.
-
-
22. A system for displaying utility consumption-based data for use by a user associated with a customer of at least one utility, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of utility metering devices, each of the utility metering devices being operably coupled to a respective at least one utility meter and adapted to transmit utility consumption data for reception by an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that forwards the utility consumption data to a central station; and at least one utility display module, the utility display module configured to receive the transmitted utility consumption data, to display only utility consumption-based data that is unique to the customer of the at least one utility, and to wirelessly transmit the consumption data to the AMR system. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a plurality of endpoint devices interfaced with utility metering devices and at least one reading device that reads consumption-related data from endpoint devices, the AMR system comprising:
an apparatus that is based in a premises associated with a customer of a utility service, wherein the apparatus obtains and displays utility consumption-related data for viewing by a user associated with the customer, the apparatus being configured to;
obtain consumption-related data from a wireless transmission by a corresponding at least one endpoint device that is transmitted for reception by the at least one reading device;
limit display of the consumption-related data to data that is relevant to only the customer; and
engage in communications with at least one of the at least one reading device.- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
37. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
-
a first utility meter endpoint device associated with a first customer who is responsible for billings to a utility service provider, wherein the first utility meter endpoint device wirelessly transmits utility consumption-related information in a first transmission; a reading device that receives the first transmission and communicates the utility consumption-related information to a central station associated with the utility service provider; and a customer informing apparatus associated with the first customer and situated remotely from the first utility meter endpoint, wherein the customer informing apparatus displays only customer-informing information tat is relevant to the first customer, and wherein the customer-informing information is based at least in part on the utility consumption-based information from the first transmission. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
-
-
40. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system serving a utility service provider, a method for informing a customer of the utility service provider regarding utility usage relevant to the customer, the method comprising:
-
deploying a remote display apparatus to be maintained under at least partial control by the customer; transmitting, by a utility meter endpoint device associated with the customer, a first wireless transmission to the utility service provider via the AMR system, wherein the first wireless transmission includes utility consumption-related information specific to the customer; receiving, by the remote display apparatus, the first wireless transmission; and displaying, by the remote display apparatus, utility usage-related information unique to the customer. - View Dependent Claims (41)
-
Specification