Data analysis system, such as a theft scenario analysis system for automated utility metering

• US 8,970,393 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Benson, Eric, Bernardi, Chris, Schleich, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US11/692,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20070247789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,896 Days
• Field of Search: 340/637, 34087002-87003, 324/110, 324/142
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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

Systems and methods for determining possible theft scenarios at utility meters are described. In some examples, the system receives information that indicates possible tampering of utility meter by a customer of a utility. In some examples, the system uses the information to determine a theft scenario. The system may then use the determined theft scenario as evidence against the customer.

Claims

1. A method of deducing a possible theft of a utility at a utility meter, the method comprising:

receiving at a data collection center via a fixed network a first set of data flags and a second set of data flags from the utility meter, wherein each data flag indicates a corresponding count of an abnormal operation of the utility meter;

filtering, at the data collection center remote from the utility meter, the second set of data flags to remove data flags that differ from corresponding data flags in the first set of data flags by a filter value;

comparing, at the data collection center, the filtered two or more data flags to predetermined patterns of data flags relating to possible theft scenarios at the utility meter; and

determining the possible theft of the utility at the utility meter based on the comparison conducted remotely from such utility meter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received data flags indicate a time of occurrence of the abnormal operation of the utility meter that caused the data flag, the comparison further comprising:

organizing the filtered data flags by time of occurrence of the abnormal operation of the utility meter; and

comparing the organized data flags to the predetermined patterns of data flags.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the received data flags indicate an order of occurrence of the abnormal operation of the utility meter that caused the data flag relative to the other received data flags, the comparison further comprising:

organizing the filtered data flags by order of occurrence of the abnormal operation of the utility meter; and

comparing the organized data flags to the predetermined patterns of data flags.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information related to previous use of the utility meter; and

determining the possible theft of the utility at the utility meter based on the received historical information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a possible theft of the utility at the utility meter based on the comparison comprises determining that the theft has already occurred.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a possible theft of the utility at the utility meter based on the comparison comprises determining that the comparison indicates a future theft of the utility.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the determined possible theft as evidence against a customer associated with the utility meter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein filtering the received data flags comprises:

removing data flags related to a loss of power at the utility meter due to a nontheft event at the utility meter;

removing data flags related to reprogramming the utility meter;

removing data flags related to errors in reading the utility meter;

or

removing data flags related to errors in multiple abnormal operation detections.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the filtered data flags comprise at least three data flags, wherein the at least three data flags include at least one data flag related to an inversion event at the utility meter, one data flag related to a removal event at the utility meter, and one data flag related to a power loss event at the utility meter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the filtered data flags comprise at least three data flags, wherein the at least three data flags include at least one data flag related to a reverse rotation event at the utility meter, one data flag related to a removal event at the utility meter, and one data flag related to a power loss event at the utility meter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the filtered data flags comprise at least three data flags, wherein the at least three data flags include at least one data flag related to an inversion event at the utility meter, one data flag related to a reverse rotation event at the utility meter, and one data flag related to a power loss event at the utility meter.

19. A method as in claim 1, further including presenting the results of the comparison to a resolution component associated with the utility as evidence of a possible theft of the utility by the customer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein presenting the predetermined pattern comprises creating a report to be used in a legal action against the customer.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein presenting the predetermined pattern comprises issuing an investigation ticket related to a future review of the utility meter.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving weather information related to weather at the location of the utility meter; and

presenting the weather information along with the predetermined pattern to the resolution component.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving location information related to characteristics of the location of the utility meter; and

presenting the location information along with the predetermined pattern to the resolution component.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving customer payment information related to previous payments by the customer to the utility; and

presenting the customer payment information along with the predetermined pattern to the resolution component.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving historical information related to historical use of the utility meter; and

presenting the historical information along with the predetermined pattern to the resolution component.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the tamper indicators from the utility meter are received without alerting the customer.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter value is 2^N, wherein N is an integer value greater than 2.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data flags is received before the second set of data flags.

12. A fixed network theft determination system capable of determining a theft scenario at one or more utility meters, comprising:

a data collection component within the fixed network, wherein the data collection component is to receive a first set of data flags and a second set of data flags via a fixed network, wherein each data flag indicates a corresponding count of an abnormal operation of the utility meter;

a data filtering component remote from the utility meter, wherein the data filtering component is to;

review the first set of data flags and the second set of data flags received by the data collection component,

remove the data flags in the second set of data flags that differ from the corresponding data flags in the first set of data flags by a filter value, and

identify data that indicates a possible irregularity in the operation of the utility meter; and

a scenario recognition component, wherein the scenario recognition component is to;

retrieve the identified data from the data filtering component,

compare the identified data to predetermined utility meter operation scenarios, and

determine remotely from the utility meter a theft scenario based on the comparison.

13. The fixed network theft determination system of claim 12, wherein the data that indicates a possible irregularity includes data related to an inversion event at the utility meter, a removal event at the utility meter, and a power loss event at the utility meter.

14. The fixed network theft determination system of claim 12, wherein the data that indicates a possible irregularity includes data related to a reverse rotation event at the utility meter, a removal event at the utility meter, and a power loss event at the utility meter.

15. The fixed network theft determination system of claim 12, wherein the data that indicates a possible irregularity includes data related to an inversion event at the utility meter, a reverse rotation event at the utility meter, and a power loss event at the utility meter.

16. The fixed network theft determination system of claim 12, further comprising:

a context information component, wherein the context information component provides information related to previous use of the utility meter to the scenario recognition component and the scenario recognition component determines the theft scenario based at least in part on the provided use information.

17. The fixed network theft determination system of claim 12, wherein the data collection component receives data related to operation of the utility meter from a data collection unit associated with the utility meter.

18. The fixed network theft determination system of claim 12, wherein the data collection component receives data related to operation of the utility meter from the utility meter.

29. The fixed network theft determination system of claim 12, wherein the filter value is 2^N, wherein N is an integer value greater than 2.