System and method for providing universal additional functionality for power meters
First Claim
1. A method for upgrading a power meter, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a power meter configured to perform a base level of functionality for measuring electrical parameters related to an amount of power consumed at a particular location, wherein the power meter comprises a first interface having a first connector coupled to a first data path and a second connector coupled to a second data path, and wherein the power meter further comprises a second interface having a first connector coupled to the first data path and a second connector coupled to the second data path;
providing a plurality of external option devices, wherein each external option device comprises a first connector and a second connector, and wherein each external option device is configured to enable the power meter to perform at least one optional function in addition to the base level of functionality;
allowing a user to select a first external option device from the plurality of external option devices and couple the first external option device with the first interface of the power meter such that the first connector of the first external option device contacts the first connector of the first interface and the second connector of the first external option device contacts the second connector of the first interface;
sending initialization data from a storage device disposed in the first external option device via the first connector of the first external option device to the first data path of the power meter via the first connector of the first interface, wherein the initialization data enables the power meter to operate with the first external option device;
sending electrical parameters measured by the power meter via the second data path and second connector of the first interface to the first external option device via the second connector of the first external option device;
processing the electrical parameters by the first external option device; and
operating the power meter with the first external option device, wherein the at least one optional function is added to the base level of functionality of the power meter when the first external option device is coupled with the first interface of the power meter and the power meter receives the initialization data from the first external option device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing an additional option function to existing functionality of a meter device configured for measuring parameters of energy is provided. The meter device is coupled with an option device for exchanging data between the meter and the option devices along at least one data path, including exchanging initialization data provided by the option device between the meter device and the option device, wherein the initialization data is useable by the meter device for configuring the meter device to be in condition to operate with the option device. The data exchanged between the meter device and the option devices are processed by at least one processor. Upon the coupling of the devices and the exchanging of the initialization data, the meter device is operated with the option device for adding the option function to existing functionality of the meter device.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for upgrading a power meter, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a power meter configured to perform a base level of functionality for measuring electrical parameters related to an amount of power consumed at a particular location, wherein the power meter comprises a first interface having a first connector coupled to a first data path and a second connector coupled to a second data path, and wherein the power meter further comprises a second interface having a first connector coupled to the first data path and a second connector coupled to the second data path; providing a plurality of external option devices, wherein each external option device comprises a first connector and a second connector, and wherein each external option device is configured to enable the power meter to perform at least one optional function in addition to the base level of functionality; allowing a user to select a first external option device from the plurality of external option devices and couple the first external option device with the first interface of the power meter such that the first connector of the first external option device contacts the first connector of the first interface and the second connector of the first external option device contacts the second connector of the first interface; sending initialization data from a storage device disposed in the first external option device via the first connector of the first external option device to the first data path of the power meter via the first connector of the first interface, wherein the initialization data enables the power meter to operate with the first external option device; sending electrical parameters measured by the power meter via the second data path and second connector of the first interface to the first external option device via the second connector of the first external option device; processing the electrical parameters by the first external option device; and operating the power meter with the first external option device, wherein the at least one optional function is added to the base level of functionality of the power meter when the first external option device is coupled with the first interface of the power meter and the power meter receives the initialization data from the first external option device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising the steps of:
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selecting an option device from a plurality of option devices, wherein each option device includes a first connector and a second connector, wherein each option device is configured to provide an additional option function to existing functionality of a meter device, wherein the meter device is configured to measure parameters of energy, wherein the meter device comprises a first option interface having a first connector coupled to a first data path and a second connector coupled to a second data path, and wherein the meter device further comprises a second option interface having a first connector coupled to the first data path and a second connector coupled to the second data path; coupling the selected option device with the first option interface of the meter device such that the first connector of the selected option device contacts the first connector of the first option interface and the second connector of the selected o ton device contacts the second connector of the first option interface, wherein the respective additional option function is provided to the existing functionality of the meter device when the selected option device is coupled with the first option interface; electrically isolating the meter device from the selected option device along the second data path of the meter device; exchanging initialization data along the first data path of the meter device; exchanging data related to the measured parameters of energy along the second data path of the meter device; and operating the meter device with the selected option device, wherein the additional option function is added to the existing functionality of the meter device when the selected option device is coupled with the meter device and the initialization data is exchanged; wherein the initialization data is sent from a storage device disposed in the selected option device to the meter device to be used by the meter device for configuring the meter device to be in condition to operate with the selected option device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification