Network-enabled, extensible metering system

• US 7,505,453 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ardalan, Sasan, Carpenter, Richard Christopher, Scoggins, Sean Michael, Kelley, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Brian D
• Application Number:
  US11/432,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.52, 370/352, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 709/203
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2213/10 using simultaneously two or more different transmission means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

To allow meter data users to have access to needed information and at the same time address the rapidly shifting requirements of the deregulated marketplace, a new business model employs a common metering device that measures raw data and a system composed of independent services or applications that collect and process raw metered data and then make that data available to interested parties. This new model removes the dependence upon an automatic meter reading (AMR) system provider, as the sole provider, by creating a system to enable a competitive environment where services (applications, information, networking, etc.) rather than systems are selected and paid for on a leased or pay-per-use basis.

Claims

1. A networked-based, extensible metering system, comprising:

(a) a TCP/IP network;

(b) a directory service coupled to the TCP/IP network;

(c) a plurality of network-enabled meters coupled to the TCP/IP network, different ones of the network-enabled meters having different communications interface protocols by which they communicate over the TCP/IP network, each of the network-enabled meters uploading its location and its respective communications interface protocol to the directory service; and

(d) one or more network servers that execute a plurality of different applications, each application processing data collected from one or more of the network-enabled meters to provide a respective metering service, the applications communicating with the network-enabled meters using their respective communications protocols obtained from the directory service,

wherein the one or more network servers permit different meter data users to purchase or lease different combinations of the metering services provided by the applications executing thereon.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each network-enabled meter includes a network communication device.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the TCP/IP network comprises the Internet.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the TCP/IP network comprises an intranet.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the TCP/IP network comprises a wide area network.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said applications are upgradeable on the network.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein other applications are downloaded to one or more of the network-enabled meters and are activated on each meter on a real-time basis.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein multiple meter data users can purchase or lease the same or different metering services for the same meter.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the meter consists of a reduced set of internal hardware and firmware required for traditional metering devices.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising network-enabling adaptors that allow legacy metering devices to interface with the TCP/IP network and to communicate with the one or more network servers.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising communications adaptors to allow protocol-dependent communication between users and applications and the network-enabled meters.