Systems and methods for conveying utility operator data

• US 9,443,417 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-Radio USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: e-Radio USA, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jackson Kit, Koskowich, Calvin Daniel, Harvey, John Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US14/176,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/870.01, 34087011-87015, 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 340/13.24, 700/22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a message outputting device, an FM radio receiver, where the FM radio receiver is configured to obtain utility operator data provided by an FM subcarrier channel, and a processor in electrical communication with the FM radio receiver and the message outputting device is provided. The processor is configured to process the utility operator data and communicate a message in the utility operator data via the message outputting device. In some instances, the apparatus further comprises an input interface in electrical communication with the processor for receiving instructions from a user on whether to alter usage of the apparatus after the message in the utility operator data has been displayed via the message outputting device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a message outputting device;

an FM radio receiver, wherein said FM radio receiver is configured to obtain utility operator data provided by an FM subcarrier channel;

a processor in electrical communication with said FM radio receiver and said message outputting device, wherein said processor is configured to process said utility operator data and communicate a message in said utility operator data via said message outputting device; and

an input interface in electrical communication with said processor for receiving instructions from a user on whether to alter usage of said apparatus after the message in said utility operator data has been displayed via said message outputting device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said message includes text, an alarm, a sound, an audible message, an audible instruction, or a song.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said message outputting device comprises a plurality of lights.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said message outputting device comprises a display capable of displaying alphanumeric characters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said message outputting device comprises a speaker.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an air conditioner, a heater, a clothes dryer, a refrigerator, a freezer, a dishwasher, or a hot water heater.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said utility operator data comprises data concerning a power outage, and wherein said utility operator data is coded for a predetermined group of customers and includes an estimated time to restore power.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the utility operator data is a grid status or an energy tariff.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the utility operator data is customer relationship data.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory in electrical communication with said processor, wherein said memory stores a key that represents a geographical position of said apparatus, a network associated with said apparatus, a sub-station associated with said address, a section associated with said apparatus, a lateral associated with said apparatus, or a tap associated with said apparatus, wherein said key is used by said processor to select from said utility operator data information for display using said message outputting device which corresponds to said geographical position, said network, said sub-station, said section, said lateral, or said tap.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the apparatus further comprising an input interface in electrical communication with said processor, wherein said key is programmed into said apparatus using said input interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, where said key is determined using one or more properties of an FM signal received by the FM radio receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the FM radio receiver is a hybrid digital radio receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the utility operator data is in the form of IBOC or RDS/RBDS modulated electrical grid tariff data.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the utility operator data originates from a water utility, an electrical utility, a gas utility, a garbage pickup service, or a hazardous waste pickup service.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory in electrical communication with said processor, wherein

said memory stores a key that represents a geographical position of said apparatus, wherein said key is used by said processor to select from said utility operator data that information for display using said message outputting device which corresponds to said geographical position, and

the utility operator data originates from a water utility, an electrical utility, a gas utility, a garbage pickup service, or a hazardous waste pickup service.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising a transceiver in electrical communication with the processor, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate the utility operator data to one or more appliances in a home or a business via a local area network that interconnects the one or more appliances.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an air conditioner, a heater, a thermostat, a clothes dryer, a refrigerator, a freezer, a dishwasher, or a hot water heater.

15. The apparatus of 1, wherein the utility operator data is electrical grid data.