Home display updatable via utility endpoint
First Claim
1. An in home display apparatus for displaying utility consumption and related messages to a consumer, comprising:
- means for monitoring transmissions of consumption data with flags indicating available related consumer messages from a battery powered endpoint of a utility consumption meter associated with a user to a central utility facility, the related consumer messages having been previously received by the endpoint from the central utility facility;
transmitter means for transmitting a flag-clear signal to the endpoint of the associated utility consumption meter upon receipt of a later transmitted consumer message, so as to indicate receipt at said in home display apparatus of a consumer message from the central utility facility; and
display means for providing a user readable display of consumption data and related consumer messages.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are an in home display apparatus and methodology for displaying utility consumption and other related information to a consumer. The display device monitors transmissions from a utility consumption endpoint on a meter for user readable display. Messages relevant to the consumer may be sent to the endpoint to be relayed along with bubbled-up data from the endpoint on the meter to the in home display device. Flags related to certain of the messages may be set by the endpoint and cleared by the in home display device as a mechanism for acknowledging receipt of messages. Network readers see that set flags have been cleared and thus confirm message delivery to the network.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An in home display apparatus for displaying utility consumption and related messages to a consumer, comprising:
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means for monitoring transmissions of consumption data with flags indicating available related consumer messages from a battery powered endpoint of a utility consumption meter associated with a user to a central utility facility, the related consumer messages having been previously received by the endpoint from the central utility facility; transmitter means for transmitting a flag-clear signal to the endpoint of the associated utility consumption meter upon receipt of a later transmitted consumer message, so as to indicate receipt at said in home display apparatus of a consumer message from the central utility facility; and display means for providing a user readable display of consumption data and related consumer messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An automatic meter reading system having in home consumer information features, comprising:
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a plurality of meters, respectively associated with a plurality of battery powered endpoints which collect meter readings at an associated meter and periodically transmit such readings wirelessly into a bidirectional network which conducts such collected meter readings to a central station; at least one in home consumer information device, associated onsite with a given endpoint and associated meter, said in home device including an RF transceiver for overhearing transmissions from its associated onsite meter; and message means associated with each of said endpoints and associated meters, for receiving consumer intended messages from a central station via the bidirectional network and for flagging transmitted readings that there is a consumer intended message available; wherein said in home device further includes means for transmitting a flag-clear signal to one of the network and its associated meter upon receipt of a later transmitted consumer intended message thereat, so as to indicate receipt at said in home device of a consumer intended message from the central station. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Methodology for in home receipt of onsite utility consumption data and consumer messages, comprising:
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providing a bidirectional network having a plurality of meters and battery operated endpoints respectively associated therewith, in communication with a collection engine via such network; collecting readings at such meters with such endpoints and periodically transmitting such readings wirelessly into the bidirectional network for conduct thereof to the collection engine; providing at least one in home consumer information device, associated onsite with a given endpoint and associated meter, and using such in home device for monitoring transmissions directly from its associated onsite meter and associated endpoint; receiving consumer intended messages at endpoints and associated meters as sent thereto via the bidirectional network; including with transmitted readings sent to the collection engine via the bidirectional network flags indicating that received consumer intended messages are available; and transmitting a flag-clear signal from such in home consumer information device to its associated meter and endpoint upon receipt of a consumer intended message later transmitted thereto, whereby messages may be sent to a consumer via the bidirectional network coupled with real time utility consumption data from the consumer'"'"'s associated meter with delivery of such messages confirmed by the cleared flag. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification