Multiple and interchangeable meter reading probes
First Claim
1. An apparatus to monitor one or more utility meters comprising:
- a communication unit comprising a processor, a communication interface coupled to the processor, and a probe interface coupled to the processor; and
a meter monitoring probe comprising a first probe head and a second probe head, the first probe head coupled by a cable to a probe connector, and the second probe head coupled to the probe connector, wherein the probe connector is configured to mate with the probe interface;
wherein the first probe head is configured to detect a characteristic of a first utility meter that is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered, and send a first type of information, related to the characteristic of the first utility meter, to the processor through the probe interface;
the second probe head is configured to detect a characteristic of a second utility meter that is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered, and send a second type of information, related to the characteristic of the second utility meter and different from the first type of information, to the processor through the probe interface; and
the processor is configured to;
receive the first type of information from the first probe head through the probe interface;
receive the second type of information from the second probe head through the probe interface; and
send a first message related to the usage of the first utility, based on the first type of information, over the communication interface; and
send a second message related to the usage of the second utility, based on the second type of information, over the communication interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A characteristic of a first utility meter is detected with a first probe head, and a characteristic of a second utility meter is detected with a second probe head. The characteristic of the first utility meter is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered by the first utility meter, and the characteristic of the second utility meter is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered by the second utility meter. Information related to the characteristic of the first utility meter is communicated from the first probe head to a communication unit, and information related to the characteristic of the second utility meter is communicated from the second probe head to the communication unit. A message is also sent from the communication unit indicating the usage of the first utility or the usage of the second utility.
46 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus to monitor one or more utility meters comprising:
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a communication unit comprising a processor, a communication interface coupled to the processor, and a probe interface coupled to the processor; and a meter monitoring probe comprising a first probe head and a second probe head, the first probe head coupled by a cable to a probe connector, and the second probe head coupled to the probe connector, wherein the probe connector is configured to mate with the probe interface; wherein the first probe head is configured to detect a characteristic of a first utility meter that is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered, and send a first type of information, related to the characteristic of the first utility meter, to the processor through the probe interface; the second probe head is configured to detect a characteristic of a second utility meter that is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered, and send a second type of information, related to the characteristic of the second utility meter and different from the first type of information, to the processor through the probe interface; and the processor is configured to; receive the first type of information from the first probe head through the probe interface; receive the second type of information from the second probe head through the probe interface; and send a first message related to the usage of the first utility, based on the first type of information, over the communication interface; and send a second message related to the usage of the second utility, based on the second type of information, over the communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 31)
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20. A method to monitor utility meters comprising:
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detecting a characteristic of a first utility meter with a first probe head, wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered by the first utility meter; communicating first information related to the characteristic of the first utility meter from the first probe head, through a first cable coupled to a probe connector that is mated to a probe interface of a communication unit; detecting a characteristic of a second utility meter with a second probe head, wherein the characteristic of the second utility meter is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered by the second utility meter; communicating second information related to the characteristic of the second utility meter from the second probe head, through a second cable coupled to the probe connector that is mated to the probe interface of the communication unit; and sending a message from the communication unit indicating the usage of the first utility or the usage of the second utility; wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is different than the characteristic of the second utility meter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An article of manufacture comprising at least one non-transitory machine readable medium comprising one or more instructions, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to:
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receive first information related to a characteristic of a first utility meter from a first probe head through a first cable coupled to a probe connector at a probe interface of a communication unit, wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered by the first utility meter; receive second information related to a characteristic of a second utility meter from a second probe head through a second cable coupled to the probe connector at the probe interface of the communication unit, wherein the characteristic of the second utility meter is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered by the second utility meter; and send a message from the communication unit indicating the usage of the first utility or the usage of the second utility; wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is different than the characteristic of the second utility meter. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification