Power line communication system with automated meter reading
First Claim
1. A method of communicating utility usage data, comprising:
- transmitting real-time utility usage data from a plurality of utility meters;
receiving the real-time utility usage data from each of the plurality of utility meters via a communication path that includes a medium voltage power line;
storing the real-time utility usage data in a memory;
storing address information of the plurality of utility meters in memory;
receiving requests from a plurality of utility users for real-time utility usage information and wherein the requests traverse a communication path that includes the Internet;
processing the utility usage data of the utility users to provide the real-time utility usage information for each utility user; and
transmitting the real-time utility usage information to the utility users over a communication path that includes the Internet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of communicating utility usage data is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting real-time utility usage data from a plurality of utility meters, receiving the real-time utility usage data from the plurality of utility meters, storing the real-time utility usage data in a memory, storing address information of the plurality of utility meters in memory, receiving requests from a plurality of utility users for real-time utility usage information and wherein the requests traverse a communication path that includes the Internet, processing the utility usage data of the utility users to provide the real-time utility usage information for each utility user, and transmitting the real-time utility usage information to the utility users over a communication path that includes the Internet.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of communicating utility usage data, comprising:
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transmitting real-time utility usage data from a plurality of utility meters; receiving the real-time utility usage data from each of the plurality of utility meters via a communication path that includes a medium voltage power line; storing the real-time utility usage data in a memory; storing address information of the plurality of utility meters in memory; receiving requests from a plurality of utility users for real-time utility usage information and wherein the requests traverse a communication path that includes the Internet; processing the utility usage data of the utility users to provide the real-time utility usage information for each utility user; and transmitting the real-time utility usage information to the utility users over a communication path that includes the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of communicating utility usage data;
- comprising;
receiving real-time utility usage data from each of a plurality of utility meters via a communication path that includes a medium voltage power line; storing the utility usage data in a memory; receiving a request from a requester for utility usage information of a utility user, wherein the request traverses a communication path that includes the Internet; processing the utility usage data of the utility user to provide the utility usage information; and transmitting the utility usage information to the requester over a communication path that includes the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- comprising;
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27. A communication system for communicating utility usage data provided by a plurality of utility meters, comprising:
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a plurality of medium voltage communication nodes communicatively coupled to one or more medium voltage (MV) power lines, wherein each medium voltage communication node is communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of utility meters; and a computer system communicatively coupled to the plurality of MV communication nodes via a communication path that includes a MV power line and wherein said computer system includes a memory; wherein said computer system is configured to; receive real-time utility usage data from the plurality of utility meters via at least one of the MV communication nodes; store received real-time utility usage data in the memory; receive a request from a utility user for real-time utility usage information of the user, wherein the request traverses a communication path that includes the Internet; and in response to the request, transmit the real-time utility usage information to the user over a communication path that includes the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification