Methods and systems of simultaneously communicating utility data and voice data

• US 8,698,648 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Littrell, Nathan Bowman, Fujita, Lincoln Mamoru, Caird, Kenneth James
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): INGE, JOSEPH N
• Application Number:
  US12/351,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 709/219
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• 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 method for communicating utility data includes receiving a voice signal and a data signal via a utility network, combining the voice signal and the data signal to form a communication signal, and transmitting the communication signal to a plurality of utility asset controllers and handheld devices via the utility network.

Claims

1. A system for communicating utility data across a utility network, said system comprising:

a handheld device;

a utility asset controller; and

a data aggregator communicatively coupled to said handheld device and said utility asset controller via the utility network, said data aggregator configured to;

receive a voice signal from said handheld device and a data signal from said utility asset controller;

combine the voice signal and the data signal to form a utility communication signal;

encrypt the utility communication signal prior to transmitting the utility communication signal across the utility network; and

transmit the encrypted utility communication signal across the utility network for reception by at least one of said handheld device and said utility asset controller.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the voice signal is a digital voice signal, said handheld device is configured to convert an analog voice signal to the digital voice signal.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said data aggregator is configured to receive at least one of the voice signal and the data signal via a wireless link.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said data aggregator is configured to receive at least one of the voice signal and the data signal via a physical connection.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the voice signal and the data signal are encrypted, said data aggregator configured to decode the encrypted voice signal and the encrypted data signal.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data signal includes at least one of utility substation control data and utility metering data.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said data aggregator is configured to transmit the encrypted utility communication signal to the utility network via at least one of a wireless link and a physical connection.