Utility device management
First Claim
1. A utility apparatus, comprising:
- a processing apparatus that manages data processing tasks for the utility apparatus;
a communications apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the communications apparatus being configured to transmit and receive data over a network;
a metrology apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the metrology apparatus being configured to measure and provide meter data that includes at least a measure of utilized utility services;
a network apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the network apparatus being configured to coordinate communication between devices that belong to a home area network; and
a utility identification module interface coupled to the processing apparatus, the utility identification module having an interface that removably receives a utility identification module, wherein the utility identification module includes at least one processor and a data store that stores configuration data that configures the processing apparatus to communicate with the communications apparatus, the metrology apparatus, and the network apparatus.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing utility device operations. In one aspect, a utility apparatus includes a processing apparatus that manages data processing tasks for the utility apparatus. The utility apparatus also includes a communications apparatus, coupled to the processing apparatus, that is configured to transmit and receive data over a network. A metrology apparatus is coupled to the processing apparatus, the metrology apparatus being configured to measure and provide meter data that includes at least a measure of utilized utility services. A network apparatus is also coupled to the processing apparatus, the network apparatus being configured to coordinate communication between devices that belong to a home area network. A utility identification module interface is coupled to the processing apparatus, the utility identification module having an interface that removably receives a utility identification module.
166 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A utility apparatus, comprising:
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a processing apparatus that manages data processing tasks for the utility apparatus; a communications apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the communications apparatus being configured to transmit and receive data over a network; a metrology apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the metrology apparatus being configured to measure and provide meter data that includes at least a measure of utilized utility services; a network apparatus coupled to the processing apparatus, the network apparatus being configured to coordinate communication between devices that belong to a home area network; and a utility identification module interface coupled to the processing apparatus, the utility identification module having an interface that removably receives a utility identification module, wherein the utility identification module includes at least one processor and a data store that stores configuration data that configures the processing apparatus to communicate with the communications apparatus, the metrology apparatus, and the network apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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determining, by a utility processing apparatus of a utility apparatus, that the utility processing apparatus requires configuration data to interact with at least one of a metrology apparatus associated with the utility processing apparatus and a network apparatus that is associated with the utility processing apparatus; detecting, by the utility processing apparatus, a removable utility identification module that is in communication with the utility processing apparatus, the utility identification module storing configuration data required by the utility processing apparatus to interact with at least one of the metrology apparatus and the network apparatus; receiving, by the utility processing apparatus and from the utility identification module, the configuration data; and interacting, by the utility processing apparatus, with at least one of the metrology apparatus and the network apparatus using the configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system, comprising:
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a first end point in a utility network, the first end point having a utility identification module interface that removably receives a first utility identification module, wherein the first utility identification module stores data that is associated with a particular utility account, and wherein the first end point is configured to measure utility service utilization, associate the measure with data specified by the utility identification module that has been removably received by the first end point, and transmit the measures over a utility network; a second end point in the utility network, the second end point having a utility identification module interface that removably receives a second utility identification module, wherein the second utility identification module stores data that is associated with a same particular utility account as the first utility identification module, the second end point is located at a different geographic location from the first end point, the second end point being configured to measure utility service utilization, associate the measure with data specified by the second utility identification module, and transmit the measures over the utility network; a network management apparatus in communication with the first end point and the second end point, the network management apparatus being configured to receive the measures from the first end point and the second end point and associate the measures with the same particular utility account based on the measures being respectively associated with the data specified by the first utility identification module and the second utility identification module. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification