High speed utility backhaul communication system

• US 8,847,783 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Husney, Jordan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, JEFFREY M
• Application Number:
  US12/869,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20120050064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 705/412
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality

Abstract

A local area utility network includes a utility, a low-speed backhaul between the utility and a utility provider, and a high-speed broadband network interface module in the utility coupling the utility directly to a broadband network. A plurality of utilities is coupled via a wireless mesh home area utility network. The low-bandwidth backhaul is operable to communicate at least one of billing, pricing, and load control events to a utility provider, and the high-speed broadband network connection to a home automation system.

Claims

1. A local area utility network, comprising:

a local network;

at least one utility meter connected to the local network;

a low-speed backhaul between the utility meter and a utility provider; and

at least one high-speed broadband network interface module providing control of at least one utility, coupled through the local network to a broadband network;

wherein the utility meter includes a gateway and a low-speed backhaul interface, wherein the gateway is connected between the local network and the low-speed backhaul interface, wherein the gateway transfers data from the low-speed backhaul interface through the local network to the at least one high-speed broadband network interface module, from the at least one high-speed broadband network interface module through the local network to the low-speed backhaul interface and from the utility meter through the local network to the broadband network.

2. The local area utility network of claim 1, wherein the high-speed broadband network interface module comprises at least one of an Ethernet network interface and a WiFi network interface.

3. The local area utility network of claim 1, wherein the utility comprises at least one of an air conditioner, a water heater, a ventilation system, a heat system, and lighting.

4. The local area utility network of claim 1, wherein the at least one-utility meter comprises at least one of a water meter, a gas meter, and an electric power meter.

5. The local area utility network of claim 1, wherein the low-speed backhaul is operable to communicate at least one of billing, pricing, and load control events.

6. The local area utility network of claim 1, wherein a plurality of utilities are coupled via a wireless mesh home area utility network.

7. The local area utility network of claim 1, wherein one or more of the utilities are coupled via high-speed broadband network connection to a home automation system.

16. The building utility of claim 1, wherein the high-speed broadband network interface module comprises at least one of an Ethernet network interface and a WiFi network interface.

17. The building utility of claim 1, wherein the utility comprises at least one of an air conditioner, a water heater, a ventilation system, a heat system, and lighting.

18. The building utility of claim 1, wherein the utility meter comprises at least one of a water meter, a gas meter, and an electric power meter.

19. The building utility of claim 1, wherein the utility is coupled to at least one other utility via a wireless mesh home area utility network.

20. The building utility of claim 1, wherein the utility is coupled via the high-speed broadband network connection to a home automation system.

8. A method of communicating in a local area utility network, comprising:

sending high bandwidth data via at least one high-speed broadband network interface module providing control of at least one utility, coupled through a local network to a broadband network;

sending low bandwidth data via a low-speed backhaul between at least one utility meter and a utility provider where in the low-speed backhaul is a low-speed communications channel between the utility provider and the meter, wherein the channel is not part of the broadband network.

9. The method of communicating in a local area utility network of claim 8, wherein the high-speed broadband network interface module comprises at least one of an Ethernet network interface and a WiFi network interface.

10. The method of communicating in a local area utility network of claim 8, wherein at least one utility connected to the local area utility network comprises at least one of an air conditioner, a water heater, a ventilation system, a heat system, and lighting.

11. The method of communicating in a local area utility network of claim 8, wherein the at least one utility meter comprises at least one of a water meter, a gas meter, and an electric power meter.

12. The method of communicating in a local area utility network of claim 8, wherein the low-speed backhaul is operable to communicate at least one of billing, pricing, and load control events.

13. The method of communicating in a local area utility network of claim 8, wherein a plurality of utilities are coupled via a wireless mesh home area utility network.

14. The method of communicating in a local area utility network of claim 8, wherein one or more of the utilities are coupled via high-speed broadband network connection to a home automation system.

15. A building utility, comprising:

a low-speed backhaul interface for transferring data between a utility meter and a utility provider on a low-speed communications channel connecting the utility meter to the utility provider;

at least one high-speed broadband network interface module providing control of a utility coupled through a local network to a broadband network; and

a gateway connected between the backhaul interface and the at least one high-speed broadband network interface module, wherein the gateway transfers data from the backhaul interface to the utility meter, from the utility meter through the low-speed backhaul interface to a utility provider and from the utility meter through the broadband network to the at least one high-speed broadband network interface module;

wherein the low-speed backhaul is a low-speed communications channel between the utility provider and the utility meter that is separate from the broadband network.

21. A utility meter, comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor determines utility usage;

a backhaul interface connected to the processor, wherein the backhaul interface, when connected over a backhaul to a utility provider, is operable to communicate at least one of billing, pricing, and load control events from a utility provider;

a mesh network interface connected to the processor, wherein the mesh network interface is operable to communicate with appliances within range of the utility meter;

at least one broadband network interface module providing control of the utility and connected to the processor, wherein the broadband network interface module is operable to communicate information from the processor to the utility provider across a broadband network; and

a gateway connected between the backhaul interface and the mesh network interface and between the mesh network interface and the broadband network interface module, wherein the gateway transfers data from the backhaul interface through the mesh network to the utilities, from the utilities through the mesh network and the low-speed backhaul interface to the utility provider and from the processor through the broadband network interface module and the broadband network to the utility provider.