Automated utility data services system and method

• US 7,769,149 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Communications Services LLC (Widewall Investments SL)
• Original Assignee: Current Communications Services LLC (Widewall Investments SL)
• Inventors: Berkman, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Zoobi, Maria
• Application Number:
  US11/327,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/870.02, 370/217, 702 61- 62, 380/234, 379/93
• US Class Current: 379/93.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

An automated utility data service system for communicating over a telecommunication medium that also communicates user data is provided. One embodiment includes a first transceiver coupled to a telecommunication medium and configured to receive user data in a customer premises via the telecommunication medium, and a modem communicatively coupled to a sensor configured to provide utility data. The first said first modem is communicatively coupled to the telecommunication medium, directly or indirectly to transmit the utility data over the telecommunication medium. The telecommunication medium may be a cable television coaxial cable, a fiber optic broadband internet cable, or a digital subscriber line twisted pair.

Claims

1. An automated utility data service system, comprising:

a first device having a first device modem, said first device modem directly coupled to a telecommunication medium and directly connected to a consumer device;

wherein said first device is configured to receive user data in a customer premises via the telecommunication medium from an external network and to provide the user data in demodulated form to the consumer device;

wherein said first device is configured to facilitate communication of user data between the consumer device and the telecommunication medium;

a second device having a first modem communicatively coupled to a sensor device configured to provide utility data;

a third device comprising a second modem and a third modem;

wherein said second modem of said third device is configured to communicate with said first modem of said second device to receive utility data therefrom; and

wherein said third modem is configured to receive the utility data from said second modem and to transmit the utility data over the telecommunication medium to a remote computer system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second modem is configured to communicate with the first modem via a communication medium comprising, at least in part, a wireless link.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second modem is configured to communicate with the first modem via a communication medium comprising, at least in part, a power line conductor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises power usage data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user data comprises digital television data.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the user data comprises broadband Internet data.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first device modem comprises a cable modem.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the first device modem comprises a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises gas usage data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises water usage data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the user data comprises digital television data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user data comprises voice over internet protocol (VoIP) data.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device modem comprises a cable modem.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device modem comprises a DSL modem.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device modem comprises a fiber optic transceiver.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a router in communication with said first device modem.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor device is mounted on a utility pole.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said utility data includes data for determining the power factor of a power line.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises data indicative of a street light failure.

20. A method of using a telecommunication medium coupled to a customer premises to communicate utility data, comprising:

at a first device located within the customer premises;

receiving modulated first user data via the telecommunication medium;

demodulating the modulated first user data;

providing the first user data in demodulated form to a consumer device to which the first device is directly connected;

receiving second user data from the consumer device in demodulated form;

modulating the second user data; and

transmitting the modulated second user data over the telecommunication medium;

at a second device;

receiving utility data from a sensor device;

storing the utility data in memory;

receiving a command;

processing the command; and

transmitting the utility data to a third device;

receiving the utility data at the third device; and

with the third device, transmitting the received utility data over the telecommunication medium to a remote computer system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said command includes a request for utility data and said transmitting the utility data is performed in response to the request.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said first user data is received via a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) compatible protocol.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein said transmitting the utility data to the third device comprises wirelessly transmitting the utility data.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein said transmitting the utility data to the third device comprises transmitting the utility data over a power line.

23. A method of using a telecommunication medium coupled to a customer premises to communicate utility data, comprising:

receiving, at a first device located within the customer premises, modulated first user data via the telecommunication medium;

demodulating the modulated first user data;

providing the demodulated first user data to a consumer device to which the first device is directly connected;

receiving second user data from the consumer device in demodulated form;

modulating the second user data;

transmitting, from the first device, the modulated second user data over the telecommunication medium;

receiving utility data from a utility meter with a second device;

transmitting the utility data to a third device;

receiving the utility data at the third device; and

with the third device, transmitting the received utility data over the telecommunication medium to a remote computer system.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving a request for utility data via the telecommunication medium; and

wherein said transmitting utility data is in response to receiving said request.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first user data comprises digital television data.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the first user data comprises voice over internet protocol (VoIP) data.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the first device includes a cable modem.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the first device includes a DSL modem.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the first device includes a fiber optic transceiver.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting the utility data to the third device comprises wirelessly transmitting the utility data.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting the utility data to the third device comprises transmitting the utility data over a power line.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein said transmitting the second user data and said transmitting utility data are performed via time division multiplexing.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the first user data, the second user data, and the utility data are each included in one or more addressed Internet Protocol data packets.