System and method for monitoring, controlling, and displaying utility information

• US 8,103,563 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carina Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carina Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Neil, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US11/955,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 705/34, 705/30, 705/38
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/16 Displaying of utility pricing or cost
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1453 Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
• 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 system and method for monitoring, controlling, and displaying utility information is provided. A collar communicatively connected to the utility meter monitors power usage and provides usage data, power quality data, and other data to the utility and the customer. The system provides for pre-pay power, and the collar relay can automatically connect or disconnect power to a customer as required. The system provides intelligent remote control of utility meters via wireless or other communications means. A display unit communicatively coupled to the collar displays customer utility usage data. In one embodiment, the system allows reconnect after disconnect upon receiving a confirmation to restore power from a customer input device at the customer premises.

Claims

1. A system to control delivery of utility power associated with a utility meter comprising:

a control unit coupled to the utility meter to monitor energy delivered to a customer premises and to control said utility power to said customer premises;

logic configured to generate customer utility usage data corresponding to the energy delivered to the customer premises; and

a display unit communicatively coupled to the control unit to display the customer utility usage data, said display unit further including a customer input device to receive input from a customer at said customer premises;

said display unit configured for location limited to said customer premises;

said control unit further comprising;

a control processor, said control processor configured to receive meter readings from said utility meter relating to said energy delivered to said customer premises;

a relay controlled by said control processor, said relay to switch said utility power on or off to said customer premises; and

a network interface between said control processor and a control server, said control server to be operated by a supplier of said utility power;

wherein said control processor is configured to receive an energy consumption threshold level from said control server over said network interface, said energy consumption threshold level being based on customer prepayment or credit available in an account with said supplier of said utility power, said control processor is configured to compare said meter readings from said power meter with said energy consumption threshold and said control processor is configured to control said relay to turn off power to said customer premises based at least in part upon said meter readings reaching said energy consumption threshold;

wherein said control processor is configured to receive for restored account information from said control server using said network interface when said account is restored to a positive account balance, and said control processor is configured to display said restored account information using said display unit, said control processor is configured to subsequently receive a confirmation to restore power from said customer via said customer input device at said customer premises, and said control processor is configured to control said relay to restore power to said customer premises in response to receiving said confirmation to restore power.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises at least one of the following:

a video display, a digital display, text message display, an email display, or a web portal display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a communication device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the display unit is remote to the control unit and the communication device is configured to transmit the customer utility usage data to the display unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit resides in a collar unit,

said collar unit configured to mount between said meter and a meter base, said collar unit configured to electrically couple to said meter to said meter base, said collar unit configured to mount on said meter base and said collar unit configured to mount said meter on said collar unit;

said collar unit configured to receive utility power from a power provider through said meter base and to provide said power to said meter, said collar unit configured to receive measured power from said meter and to provide said measured power to a consumer through said meter base.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer input device is a switch.

7. A method for controlling delivery of utility power from a utility provider to a customer premises, comprising the steps of:

a control unit at said customer premises receiving at least one reading from a utility meter monitoring said delivery of utility power to said customer premises;

said control unit transmitting utility meter data indicative of the at least one reading to said utility provider;

determining an amount of available prepaid utility service remaining for said customer premises based upon the utility meter data transmitted; and

displaying data indicative of the amount of prepaid utility service remaining using a customer display unit configured for location limited to said customer premises;

said control unit receiving at said customer premises an energy consumption threshold level from said utility provider over a network, said energy consumption threshold level being based on customer prepayment or credit available in an account with said utility provider;

said control unit comparing said energy consumption readings from said power meter with said energy consumption threshold, and said control unit controlling said relay to turn off power to said customer premises based at least in part upon said at least one meter reading reaching said energy consumption threshold;

receiving restored account information from said utility provider over said network in response to said account being restored to a positive account balance;

said control unit displaying said restored account information using said customer display unit;

subsequently, said control unit receiving a confirmation to restore power from said customer display unit via a customer input device at said customer premises and located with said customer display unit;

said control unit controlling said relay to restore power to said customer premises in response to said receiving said confirmation to restore power.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control unit is in wireless communication with the customer display unit.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the control unit and the customer display unit communicate via a power line carrier.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the customer display unit displays a message in the form of at least one of the following:

a digital display, a video display, a text message, an e-mail, or a web portal.

11. A system to control delivery of utility power associated with a utility meter, comprising:

a control unit communicatively coupled to a utility meter to monitor a utility usage by a customer premises;

logic configured to determine whether the utility usage has exceeded a threshold; and

said control unit bi-directionally communicatively coupled to a billing server via a network, wherein the control unit is configured to transmit customer utility data to the billing server using said network;

said control unit comprising;

a control processor, said control processor configured to receive meter readings relating to energy delivered to said customer premises through said utility meter;

a display unit communicatively coupled to said control processor to display information relating to said delivery of utility power, said display unit comprising a customer input device to receive input from a customer at said customer premises;

said display unit configured for location limited to said customer premises;

a relay controllable by said control processor, said relay to switch said utility power on or off to said customer premises; and

a network interface to said network between said control processor and said billing server, said billing server to be operated by a supplier of said utility power;

wherein said control processor is configured to receive an energy consumption threshold level from said billing server over said network interface, said energy consumption threshold level being based on customer prepayment or credit available in an account with said supplier of said utility power, said control processor is configured to compare said meter readings from said power meter with said energy consumption threshold, and said control processor is configured to control said relay to turn off power to said customer premises based, at least in part, upon said meter readings reaching said energy consumption threshold;

wherein said control processor is configured to receive restored account information from said control server using said network interface when said account is restored to a positive account balance, and said control processor is configured to display said restored account information using said display unit, said control processor is configured to subsequently receive a confirmation to restore power from said customer via said customer input device at said customer premises, and said control processor is configured to control said relay to restore power to said customer premises in response to receiving said confirmation to restore power.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to display an impending power shut-off notification message at said customer premises a predetermined amount of time prior to exceeding the energy consumption threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the billing server is configured to request the customer utility data.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically transmit the customer utility data to the billing server.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit comprises logic configured to calculate a forward daily available power (FDAP).

16. The system of claim 15, further including a display of a notification of impending disconnection, wherein the relay is configured to automatically disconnect utility services upon receipt of customer response data indicative of receipt of said notification of impending disconnection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is configured to disconnect the utility services provided that the billing server sends a confirmation of service disconnect.