Endpoint location file format, such as for use in mapping endpoints in a utility meter reading system
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium comprising a data structure including utility endpoint location information for use with a mobile utility data collection system, the data structure comprising:
- information associated with identifying the utility endpoint, wherein the utility endpoint corresponds to an intermediate collection point for meter data associated with the consumption of a utility;
at least one of address information associated with the location of the utility endpoint, wherein the address information includes one or more of a street address, a city, a state or province, a zip code, and a country, and wherein the address information is determined by the mobile utility data collection system if not accurately provided, and geographic location coordinate information associated with the location of the utility endpoint, wherein the location coordinate information is calculated by the mobile utility data collection system if not initially provided; and
wherein the data structure is included as a record in a utility endpoint location file containing information from multiple utility endpoints recognized in the mobile utility data collection system, and wherein the utility endpoint location file is used in providing a graphical display of at least some of the multiple utility endpoints during or after performing a mobile automatic meter reading route using the mobile utility data collection system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for locating data collection points in a mobile data collection system includes receiving geographic location information for multiple data collection points used in collecting, for example, utility consumption information. In one embodiment, the geographic location information may be in the form of an endpoint location file that a utility company may provide to an operator of a mobile data collection system for the purpose of completing a meter reading route. The geographic location information may include complete or incomplete address information and complete or incomplete geographic location coordinate information (e.g., GPS coordinates). If the geographic location coordinate information for at least one utility data collection point is incomplete, the mobile data collection system may then compute complete geographic location coordinate information.
59 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium comprising a data structure including utility endpoint location information for use with a mobile utility data collection system, the data structure comprising:
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information associated with identifying the utility endpoint, wherein the utility endpoint corresponds to an intermediate collection point for meter data associated with the consumption of a utility;
at least one of address information associated with the location of the utility endpoint, wherein the address information includes one or more of a street address, a city, a state or province, a zip code, and a country, and wherein the address information is determined by the mobile utility data collection system if not accurately provided, and geographic location coordinate information associated with the location of the utility endpoint, wherein the location coordinate information is calculated by the mobile utility data collection system if not initially provided; and
wherein the data structure is included as a record in a utility endpoint location file containing information from multiple utility endpoints recognized in the mobile utility data collection system, and wherein the utility endpoint location file is used in providing a graphical display of at least some of the multiple utility endpoints during or after performing a mobile automatic meter reading route using the mobile utility data collection system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for locating data collection points in a mobile utility data collection system, the method comprising:
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receiving, in a computer-readable medium, location information for multiple utility data collection points used in collecting utility consumption information, wherein the location information for the multiple utility data collection points includes complete or incomplete address information and complete or incomplete geographic location coordinate information; and
if the geographic location coordinate information for at least one utility data collection point is incomplete, determining complete geographic location coordinate information for the at least one data collection point. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for locating data collection points in a mobile utility data collection system, the method comprising:
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means for receiving geographic location information for multiple intermediate data points used in providing information to the mobile utility data collection system, wherein the geographic location information for the multiple intermediate data points includes complete or incomplete address information and complete or incomplete geographic location coordinate information for locating the intermediate data points;
means for validating the received geographic location information;
means for determining complete geographic location coordinate information for the at least one data collection points if the geographic location coordinate information for at least one data collection points is incomplete; and
means for providing access to the geographic location information, wherein the access allows for modification of the geographic location information by a user. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for managing utility endpoint location files that include geographic information used for locating utility data collection points in a mobile utility data collection system, the method comprising:
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providing an editing component in association with the mobile utility data collection system, wherein the editing component includes functions for managing the utility endpoint location files that include geographic location information used for locating utility data collection points in the mobile utility data collection system; and
wherein the geographic location information for the multiple utility data collection points includes complete or incomplete address information and complete or incomplete geographic location coordinate information. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification