Systems and methods for wirelessly communicating with utility meters and utility meters using the same

• US 9,467,754 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMI Investments, LLC (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AMI Investments, LLC (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sparks, Travis, Rippetoe, Reggie, Kitowski, Charles, Weiser, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US14/974,207
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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

A communications and control system for use with a utility meter includes a first wireless communications subsystem for exchanging messages with a central facility via a cellular communications network. The first wireless communications system is operable to send messages including meter data generated by the utility meter to the central facility and receive utility control messages from the central facility for controlling the provision of a utility monitored by the utility meter. A second wireless subsystem communicates within a wireless mesh network of compatible wireless subsystems operating in conjunction with a set of utility meters for exchanging the meter data with a selected compatible wireless subsystem within the mesh network.

Claims

1. A utility meter comprising:

metrology circuitry operable to provide metrology data for an end user;

a cellular communications network subsystem for exchanging messages with a utility provider via a cellular communications network, the cellular communications network subsystem operable to exchange messages with the utility provider using a SMS messaging protocol and using an internet protocol (IP) messaging protocol, wherein a selection between the SMS messaging protocol and the IP messaging protocol is based on one or more of a message type, an amount of data being transferred, and a frequency of messages; and

at least one RF subsystem, the at least one RF subsystem operable to communicate with a utility network via a proprietary communication protocol, the at least one RF subsystem further operable to communicate with a home automation network via a standard communication protocol, wherein the utility meter is operable to receive a first plurality of messages from the utility provider via the cellular communications network, communicate with the utility network via the proprietary communication protocol, and communicate with the home automation network via the standard communication protocol, and wherein the utility meter is operable to transmit a second plurality of messages to the utility provider based on the metrology data, the communications with the utility network, or the communications with the home automation network.

2. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the cellular communications network subsystem comprises a SIM card.

3. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the utility meter is operable to receive a firmware update via the cellular communications network.

4. The utility meter of claim 3, wherein the utility meter comprises a boot loader operable to be executed by a processor to store the firmware update at the utility meter.

5. The utility meter of claim 3, wherein the utility meter is operable to transmit the firmware update to an additional utility meter of the utility network via the proprietary communication protocol.

6. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the utility meter is operable to receive a configuration message via the cellular communications network.

7. The utility meter of claim 6, wherein the utility meter is operable to be configured based on the configuration message.

8. The utility meter of claim 6, wherein the utility meter is operable to transmit the configuration message to the utility network via the proprietary communication protocol.

9. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein a selection between the SMS messaging protocol and the IP messaging protocol is based on the message type.

10. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein a wake-up message is provided via the SMS messaging protocol, and wherein one or more components of the utility meter are in a sleep mode prior to receiving the wake-up message.

11. The utility meter of claim 10, wherein the one or more components wake from the sleep mode in response to the wake-up message, and wherein the utility meter exchanges messages with the utility provider via the IP messaging protocol while the one or more components are awake.

12. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein a selection between the SMS messaging protocol and the IP messaging protocol is based on the message size.

13. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the utility meter is operable to receive data from the utility network via the proprietary communication protocol and provide the received data to the utility provider via the SMS messaging protocol.

14. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the utility meter is operable to receive commands from the utility provider via the SMS messaging protocol and provide the commands to the utility network via the proprietary communication protocol.

15. The utility meter of claim 14, wherein the commands comprise one or more of a connect message, a disconnect message, a current limiting message, and a duration limiting message.

16. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the utility meter is operable to receive a command to control a device on the home automation network from the utility provider via the SMS messaging protocol and to communicate with the device via the home automation network to control the device.

17. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the proprietary communication protocol comprises an electronic receiver transmitter (ERT) protocol, and wherein the standard communication protocol comprises a ZigBee protocol.

18. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the utility meter is operable to operate for at least one second after power is removed from the utility meter and to transmit a power disruption message via the SMS messaging protocol during the at least one second after power is removed from the utility meter.

19. A utility meter comprising:

a wireless modem configured to communicate with a cellular communications network in a SMS messaging mode and in an IP messaging mode, and wherein a selection of the SMS messaging mode or the IP messaging mode is based on one or more of a message type, an amount of data being transferred, and a frequency of messages;

at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver, wherein the at least one RF transceiver is configured to communicate via a plurality of protocols, wherein a first protocol of the plurality of protocols is associated with a utility network and a second protocol of the plurality of protocols is associated with a home automation network;

metrology circuitry operable to provide metrology data for an end user;

a plurality of switches operable to control power provided to the end user; and

a processor configured to receive the metrology data from the metrology circuitry, receive a plurality of messages via the wireless modem and the at least one RF transceiver, and operate the plurality of switches to control the power provided to the end user based on the metrology data and at least a first message of the plurality of messages.

20. The utility meter of claim 19, wherein the first message comprises a disconnect message received from a utility provider via the wireless modem or the at least one RF transceiver, and wherein the switches are operable to disconnect power to the end user in response to the disconnect message.

21. The utility meter of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a first control message to control one or more devices within the home automation network via the second protocol, wherein the first control message is based on a second message of the plurality of messages, wherein the second message is received from a utility provider via the wireless modem, and wherein the control of the one or more devices comprises one or more of demand load control, time of use pricing, appliance interactivity, intelligent thermostat control, electric car charging, and reduction in power consumption by appliances.

22. The utility meter of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a second control message to the utility network via the first protocol based on a third message of the plurality messages.

23. The utility meter of claim 19, wherein the first protocol comprises an electronic receiver transmitter (ERT) protocol and the second protocol comprises a ZigBee protocol.

24. A utility meter comprising:

a wireless modem configured to communicate with a utility provider via a cellular communications network in an SMS messaging mode and in an internet protocol (IP) messaging mode, and wherein a selection between the SMS messaging mode and the IP messaging mode is based on one or more of a message type, an amount of data being transferred, and a frequency of messages;

a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver, wherein the RF transceiver is configured to communicate with a mesh network;

a second RF transceiver, wherein the second RF transceiver is configured to communicate with a utility network;

metrology circuitry operable to provide metrology data for an end user;

a processor configured to receive the metrology data from the metrology circuitry, receive a first message via the wireless modem, receive a second message via the first RF transceiver, and receive a third message via the second RF transceiver, wherein the power provided to the end user is based on a plurality of the metrology data, the first message, the second message, and the third message.

25. The utility meter of claim 24, wherein the mesh network comprises a home automation network.

26. The utility meter of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to control one or more devices of the home automation network based on the metrology data and a fourth message received from the utility provider via the wireless modem.

27. The utility meter of claim 26, wherein the control of the one or more devices comprises one or more of demand load control, time of use pricing, appliance interactivity, intelligent thermostat control, electric car charging, and reduction in power consumption by appliances.