Integrated utility meter-reading, billing, payment and usage management system
First Claim
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1. A Utility meter-reading system comprising:
- a plurality of meter devices spread over a geographical area, said meter devices capable of communicating with each other over a wireless communication link whose range is limited to less than the extent of the geographical area, said meter devices further capable of sensing usage of said Utility continually and recording said usage at periodic time intervals as usage data;
a control device located separately from said meter devices but within said geographical area, said control device capable of communicating with each of said plurality of meter devices either directly in the case where the meter device is physically located within communication range of said control device or indirectly in the case where the meter device is physically located beyond communication range of said control device through the means of using a chain of meter devices physically located within communication range of each other, the first meter device in the chain being physically located within communication range of control device, as message relays; and
a server device, capable of communicating with said control device over a global communications network.
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Abstract
An automatic, integrated utility usage monitoring, management, billing and payment system is described. Meter reading devices are spread over a geographical area and transmit usage data to a control device which communicates such data to a service device by means of a global communications network.
42 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A Utility meter-reading system comprising:
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a plurality of meter devices spread over a geographical area, said meter devices capable of communicating with each other over a wireless communication link whose range is limited to less than the extent of the geographical area, said meter devices further capable of sensing usage of said Utility continually and recording said usage at periodic time intervals as usage data;
a control device located separately from said meter devices but within said geographical area, said control device capable of communicating with each of said plurality of meter devices either directly in the case where the meter device is physically located within communication range of said control device or indirectly in the case where the meter device is physically located beyond communication range of said control device through the means of using a chain of meter devices physically located within communication range of each other, the first meter device in the chain being physically located within communication range of control device, as message relays; and
a server device, capable of communicating with said control device over a global communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification