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

• US 8,407,115 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• 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:
  US13/357,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 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 a utility usage delivery of a utility usage associated with a utility meter comprising:

a control unit coupled to the utility meter to monitor a utility usage by customer premises and to control said utility usage by said customer premises;

logic configured to generate customer utility usage data corresponding to the utility meter; 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 utility usage delivered to said customer premises;

a controller controlled by said control processor, said controller to turn said utility usage 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 usage;

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

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 said utility usage from said customer via said customer input device at said customer premises, and said control processor is configured to control said controller to restore said utility usage to said customer premises in response to receiving said confirmation to restore said utility usage.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the utility usage is water usage.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the utility usage is gas usage.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the utility usage is electricity usage.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow the customer to prepay by check, cash, credit card, or automatic teller machine card.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control processor is configured to permit waiving said controlling of said controller to turn off utility usage based on a utility usage rule.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the utility usage rule permits waiving the controlling of said controller to turn off utility usage based on cold weather.

8. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the utility usage rule permits waiving the controlling of said controller to turn off utility usage based on the customer being on fixed income.

9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control processor is configured to deliver an audible alert relating to a pending disconnect using said display unit.

10. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the utility uses a variable tariff rate and the control processor is configured to display a current rate of the variable tariff rate on the display unit.

11. 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.

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

13. The system of claim 12, 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.

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

15. A system to control a utility product delivery of a utility product associated with a utility product meter comprising:

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

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

a display unit communicatively coupled to the control unit to display the customer utility product 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 utility product meter readings from said utility product meter relating to said utility product delivered to said customer premises;

a controller controlled by said control processor, said controller to turn said utility product delivery on or off to said customer premises; and

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

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

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 said utility product delivery from said customer via said customer input device at said customer premises, and said control processor is configured to control said controller to restore said utility product delivery to said customer premises in response to receiving said confirmation to restore said utility product delivery.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said utility product is water or gas or electricity.

17. A method for controlling a utility product delivery of a utility product from a utility product provider to customer premises, comprising steps:

a control unit comprising a control processor, said control unit at said customer premises receiving at least one utility product meter reading from a utility product meter monitoring said delivery of utility product to said customer premises;

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

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

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

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

said control unit comparing said at least one utility product meter reading from said utility product meter with said utility product consumption threshold level, and said control unit controlling a controller to turn off said utility product delivery to said customer premises based at least in part upon said at least one utility product meter reading reaching said utility product consumption threshold level;

receiving restored account information from said utility product 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 said utility product delivery 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 controller to restore said utility product delivery to said customer premises in response to said receiving said confirmation to restore said utility product delivery.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said utility product is water or gas or electricity.