Method for deactivating a utility meter

• US 8,005,576 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SmartSynch Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp; Chad
• Application Number:
  US12/789,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291, 700/295, 700/296, 700/297, 700/298, 705/412, 307/36, 307/39, 307/140
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method to deactivate a utility meter. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes the step of reading a first status indicator associated with the utility meter in a memory of a utility meter management host processor, and the step of determining if the status of the utility meter is active. The method further includes the step of sending a first deactivation request message from the utility meter management host processor to an on-premise processor, and the step of deactivating the utility meter. The method further includes the step of sending a first acknowledgement deactivation message from the on-premise processor to the utility meter management host processor, and the step of recording, in the memory of the utility meter management host processor, a date and an activation status indicator associated with the utility meter.

Claims

1. A method to deactivate a utility meter, comprising:

reading a first status indicator associated with the utility meter in a memory of a utility meter management host processor;

determining the status of the utility meter is active;

sending a first deactivation request message from the utility meter management host processor to an on-premise processor using a distribution network indicating a request to deactivate the utility meter;

deactivating the utility meter so that no output is available from the utility meter;

sending a first acknowledgement deactivation message from the on-premise processor to the utility meter management host processor using the distribution network, the acknowledgment confirming that output is no longer available from the utility meter; and

recording in the memory of the utility meter management host processor a date and an activation status indicator associated with the utility meter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first deactivation request message comprises a time duration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a gas meter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a water meter.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a power meter.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a second deactivation request message from the on-premise processor to a second utility meter indicating a request to deactivate the second utility meter using the 802.11-based wireless protocol;

deactivating the second utility meter so that no output is available from the second utility meter; and

receiving a response at the on-premise processor from the second utility meter using the 802.1 IX-based wireless protocol indicating the second utility meter is deactivated.

7. A method to activate a power meter, comprising:

sending a first activation request message from a host processor to an on-premise processor, the first activation message indicating a request so as to activate a power meter;

activating the power meter to provide power available from an output of the power meter;

sending an acknowledgement activation response message from the on-premise processor to the power control host processor; and

recording an active status indication associated with the power meter in a memory of the host processor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the acknowledgment activation response message includes meter reading data.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the host processor further records the meter reading data.