Server and method for processing meter data into a common format

• US 7,741,976 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunt Energy IQ LP
• Original Assignee: Hunt Power LP (Hunt Family)
• Inventors: Nguyen, John D., Gomez, Carol, Crider, Gary C., Khek, Kantol, Hake, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US11/305,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 34087002-87003, 702/61, 702/62, 705/412, 370/401
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method for processing meter data into a common format includes receiving, in a first transmission, meter data using a satellite communications network in a common protocol, the meter data representing information read at time intervals from associated utility meters in at least two data formats, each data format associated with a type of utility meter. The meter data in the plurality of formats is processed into a common data format. The meter data is stored in the common format as interval data for transmission to a customer.

Claims

1. A method for processing meter data into a common format, comprising:

receiving, in a first transmission, meter data using a satellite communications network in a common protocol, the meter data representing information read at time intervals from associated utility meters in at least two data formats, each data format associated with a type of utility meter;

processing the meter data in the plurality of formats into a common data format; and

storing the meter data in the common format as interval data for transmission to a customer;

comparing a first time interval of the received data to a second time interval of previously stored data from a particular meter;

if at least a portion of the first time interval and the second time interval overlap, determining an overlap of data;

discarding a selected portion of the received data or the stored data to remove the overlap;

if the first time interval is not contiguous with the second time interval, determining a gap is in the data;

initiating a request for data from the meter to fill the gap in the data; and

if the data to fill the gap is not received, transmitting the data with the gap to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, in a second transmission over the satellite communications network, data in accordance with a request for data from the meter to fill a gap in the data; and

placing the data received from the request into the gap.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether eligible data is available to transmit to the customer, the eligible data comprises data without a processing condition;

transmitting the eligible data to the customer if the eligible data is available; and

formatting the eligible data in accordance with a customer preference.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting the interval data into a header table, the header table storing the interval data for transmission to the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting the meter data from a satellite communications device in accordance with a customer request; and

receiving the meter data in accordance with the customer request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a request for the meter data from a satellite communications device; and

receiving the meter data in accordance with the initiated request.

7. A server for processing meter data into a common format, comprising:

an application operable to receive, in a first transmission, meter data using a satellite communications network in a common protocol, the meter data representing information read at time intervals from associated utility meters in at least two data formats, each data format associated with a type of utility meter;

a process manager coupled to the application and operable to process the meter data in the plurality of formats into a common data format; and

a database coupled to the process manager and operable to store the meter data in the common format as interval data for transmission to a customer, wherein the application is further operable to;

compare a first time interval of the received data to a second time interval of previously stored data from a particular meter;

if at least a portion of the first time interval and the second time interval overlap, determine an overlap of data;

discard a selected portion of the received data or the stored data to remove the overlap;

if the first time interval is not contiguous with the second time interval, determine a gap is in the data;

initiate a request for data from the meter to fill the gap in the data; and

if the data to fill the gap is not received, transmit the data with the gap to the customer.

8. The server of claim 7, the application operable to:

receive, in a second transmission over the satellite communications network, data in accordance with a request for data from the meter to fill a gap in the data; and

place the data received from the request into the gap.

9. The server of claim 7, the process manager operable to:

determine whether eligible data is available to transmit to the customer, the eligible data comprises data without a processing condition;

transmit the eligible data to the customer if the eligible data is available; and

format the eligible data in accordance with a customer preference.

10. The server of claim 7, the process manager operable to insert the interval data into a header table, the header table storing the interval data for transmission to the customer.

11. The server of claim 7, the application operable to:

request the meter data from a satellite communications device in accordance with a customer request; and

receive the meter data in accordance with the customer request.

12. The server of claim 7, the application operable to:

initiate a request for the meter data from a satellite communications device; and

receive the meter data in accordance with the initiated request.

13. A method for processing meter data into a common format, comprising:

receiving, in a first transmission, meter data using a satellite communications network in a common protocol, the meter data representing information read at time intervals from associated utility meters in at least two data formats, each data format associated with a type of utility meter;

comparing a first time interval of the received data to a second time interval of previously stored data from a particular meter;

if at least a portion of the first time interval and the second time interval overlap, determining an overlap of data;

discarding a selected portion of the received data or the stored data to remove the overlap;

if the first time interval is not contiguous with the second time interval, determining a gap is in the data;

initiating a request for the data from the meter to fill the gap in the data;

if the data to fill the gap is available, receiving, in a second transmission over the satellite communications network, data in accordance with a request for data from the meter to fill the gap in the data;

placing the data received from the request into the gap;

processing the meter data in the plurality of formats into a common data format;

storing the meter data in the common format as interval data for transmission to a customer;

inserting the interval data into a header table, the header table storing the interval data for transmission to the customer;

determining whether eligible data is available to transmit to the customer, the eligible data comprises data without a processing condition;

transmitting the eligible data to the customer if the eligible data is available;

formatting the eligible data in accordance with a customer preference; and

if the data to fill the gap is not received, transmitting the data with the gap to the customer.