Transmitting utility usage data via a network interface device

• US 9,130,898 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Casey, Steven M., Cook, Charles I., Phillips, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MURPHY, JEROLD B
• Application Number:
  US12/409,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 : for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 : the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Tools and techniques for transmitting utility usage data. In some cases, the tools receive utility usage data provided by a utility meter and transmit that data for reception by a utility provider. In particular cases, the utility usage data may be received at a network interface device. The network interface device might, in some instances, include a broadband modem, such as a digital subscriber line modem, which can be used to transmit the utility usage data to the utility provider.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting data about utility usage, the system comprising:

a power line;

a utility meter in communication with the power line and configured to provide utility usage data;

an IP-compatible home security system configured to provide home security data;

a network interface device comprising a housing defining at least a network area and a physically separated consumer area, said network interface device being located on the exterior of a customer premises in communication through a single medium with the utility meter, and with the IP-compatible home security system, the network interface device comprising;

a digital subscriber line (“

DSL”

) modem located in the network area of the network interface device which is physically accessible only to personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider in communication with a local loop of a public switched telephone network;

a web server; and

an application programming interface (“

API”

) located in the consumer area of the network interface device which consumer area is physically separated from the network area of the network interface device by the housing, and which consumer area of the network interface device is physically accessible to a customer and to the personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider for receiving configuration information from a control point through a web interface wherein the control point is located at the customer premises for configuring operation of the network interface device; and

a DSL distribution point in communication with the local loop;

wherein the network interface device is configured to;

receive the utility usage data from the utility meter;

receive the home security data from the IP compatible home security system;

transmit the utility usage data to the DSL distribution point via the local loop, such the utility usage data can be transmitted from the DSL distribution point to a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor and bill utility usage based on the utility usage data; and

transmit the home security data to the DSL distribution point via the local loop, such the home security data can be transmitted from the DSL distribution point to a network, to allow the customer to monitor and control home security functions remotely.

2. The system recited by claim 1, wherein the utility provider is selected from the group consisting of a city water department and an electrical utility.

3. The system recited by claim 1, wherein the public network is the Internet.

4. The system recited by claim 3, wherein the network interface device is configured to transmit the utility usage data over a virtual private network.

5. The system recited by claim 1, wherein the network interface device is attached to an exterior wall of a customer premises.

6. The system recited by claim 1, wherein the network interface device is co-located with the DSL distribution point.

7. The system recited by claim 1, wherein the DSL distribution point comprises a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (“

DSLAM”

).

8. The system recited by claim 1, wherein the utility meter is configured to transmit the utility usage data using Internet Protocol (“

IP”

).

9. A system for transmitting data about utility usage, the system comprising:

a first transport medium;

a utility meter configured to provide utility usage data and in communication with the first transport medium;

an IP-compatible home security system configured to provide home security data and in communication with the first transport medium;

a network interface device comprising a housing defining at least a network area and a physically separated consumer area, said network interface device being located on the exterior of a customer premises in communication with the first transport medium and a second transport medium, the network interface device comprising a digital subscriber line (“

DSL”

) modem located in the network area of the network interface device which is physically accessible only to personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider in communication with a local loop of a public switched telephone network, a web server and an application programming interface (“

API”

) located in the consumer area of the network interface device which consumer area is physically separated from the network area of the network interface device by the housing, and which consumer area of the network interface device is physically accessible to a customer and to the personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider for receiving configuration information from a control point through a web interface wherein the control point is located at the customer premises for configuring operation of the network interface device, the network interface device configured to;

receive the utility usage data via the first transport medium;

receive the home security data via the first transport medium;

transmit the utility usage data via the second transport medium for reception by a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor utility usage; and

transmit the home security data via the second transport medium for reception by a customer to allow the customer to monitor and control home security functions remotely;

wherein the network interface device comprises a web server and an application programming interface (“

API”

) for receiving configuration information from a control point through a web interface wherein the control point is located at the customer premises for configuring operation of the network interface device.

10. A network interface device comprising a housing defining at least a network area and a physically separated consumer area, said network interface device being located on the exterior of a customer premises in communication with a first transport medium and a second transport medium, the network interface device being configured to:

receive utility usage data from one or more utility meters via the first transport medium;

receive home security data from a home security system via the first transport medium;

transmit the utility usage data via the second transport medium for reception by a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor utility usage; and

transmit the home security data via the second transport medium for reception by a customer to allow the customer to monitor and control home security functions remotely;

wherein the network interface device comprises a digital subscriber line (“

DSL”

) modem located in the network area of the network interface device which is physically accessible only to personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider in communication with a local loop of a public switched telephone network, a web server and an application programming interface (“

API”

) located in the consumer area of the network interface device which consumer area is physically separated from the network area of the network interface device by the housing, and which consumer area of the network interface device is physically accessible to a customer and to the personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider for receiving configuration information from a control point through a web interface wherein the control point is located at the customer premises for configuring operation of the network interface device.

11. The network interface device recited by claim 10, wherein the network interface device is attached to an exterior wall of a customer premises.

12. The network interface device recited by claim 10, wherein the second transport medium is a local loop of a public switched telephone network, and wherein the network interface device comprises a digital subscriber line (“

DSL”

) modem in communication with the local loop.

13. The network interface device recited by claim 10, wherein the second transport medium is a coaxial cable, and wherein the network interface device comprises a cable modem in communication with the coaxial cable.

14. The network interface device recited by claim 10, wherein the second transport medium is a wireless transport medium.

15. The network interface device recited by claim 10, wherein the network interface device is configured to transmit the utility usage data via a public broadband network for reception by the utility provider.

16. The network interface device recited by claim 15, wherein the network interface device is configured to transmit the utility usage data over a virtual private network via the public broadband network.

17. The network interface device recited by claim 10, wherein the one or more utility meters are a plurality of utility meters, and wherein the network interface device comprises a router for aggregating the utility usage data from the plurality of utility meters.

18. A method of transmitting utility usage data, the method comprising:

providing communication between a network interface device comprising a housing defining at least a network area and a physically separated consumer area, said network interface device being located at a customer premises and a first transport medium, wherein the network interface device comprises an application programming interface (“

API”

);

providing communication between the network interface device and a second transport medium;

providing the network interface device with a digital subscriber line (“

DSL”

) modem located in the network area of the network interface device which is physically accessible only to personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider in communication with a local loop of a public switched telephone network, further providing a web server and an application programming interface (“

API”

) located in the consumer area of the network interface device which consumer area is physically separated from the network area of the network interface device by the housing, and which consumer area of the network interface device is physically accessible to a customer and to the personnel authorized by a telecommunication service provider for receiving configuration information from a control point through a web interface wherein the control point is located at the customer premises for configuring operation of the network interface device;

receiving, at a network interface device web server and via the API, configuration information from a control point through a web interface wherein the control point is located at the customer premises;

configuring operation of the network interface device in accordance with the configuration information;

receiving, at the network interface device, utility usage data from one or more utility meters via the first transport medium;

receiving, at the network interface device, home security data from one or more home security systems via the first transport medium;

transmitting the utility usage data from the network interface device, via the second transport medium and for reception by a utility provider, to allow the utility provider to monitor utility usage; and

transmitting the home security data from the network interface device, via the second transport medium for reception by a customer to allow the customer to monitor and control home security functions remotely.