Automated utility data services system and method

• US 20070165835A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Communications Services LLC (Widewall Investments SL)
• Original Assignee: Current Communications Services LLC (Widewall Investments SL)
• Inventors: Berkman, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,769,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/399.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

An automated utility data service system for communicating over a telecommunication medium that also communicates user data is provided. One embodiment includes a first transceiver coupled to a telecommunication medium and configured to receive user data in a customer premises via the telecommunication medium, and a modem communicatively coupled to a sensor configured to provide utility data. The first said first modem is communicatively coupled to the telecommunication medium, directly or indirectly to transmit the utility data over the telecommunication medium. The telecommunication medium may be a cable television coaxial cable, a fiber optic broadband internet cable, or a digital subscriber line twisted pair.

Claims

1. An automated utility data service system, comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to a telecommunication medium and configured to receive user data in a customer premises via the telecommunication medium;

a first modem communicatively coupled to a sensor configured to provide utility data; and

wherein said first modem is communicatively coupled to the telecommunication medium and configured to transmit the utility data over the telecommunication medium.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second modem configured to communicate data between the telecommunication medium and said first modem.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said second modem is configured to communicate with the first modem via a communication medium comprising, at least in part, a wireless link.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said second modem is configured to communicate with the first modem via a communication medium comprising, at least in part, a power line conductor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises power usage data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the user data comprises digital television data.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the user data comprises broadband Internet data.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the first transceiver comprises a cable modem.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the first transceiver comprises a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises gas usage data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises water usage data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user data comprises digital television data.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the user data comprises voice over internet protocol (VoIP) data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a cable modem.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a DSL modem.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a fiber optic transceiver.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first modem is communicatively coupled to the telecommunication medium, at least in part, via the first transceiver.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a second modem and wherein said first transceiver is configured to receive data from said first modem via said second modem.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a router in communication with said first transceiver.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is mounted on a utility pole.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said utility data includes data for determining the power factor of a medium voltage power line.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the utility data comprises data indicative of a street light failure.

23. A method of using a telecommunication medium coupled to a customer premises to communicate utility data, comprising:

at a first device;

receiving first user data via the telecommunication medium; and

transmitting second user data over the telecommunication medium;

at a second device;

receiving utility data from a sensor;

storing the utility data in memory;

receiving a command;

processing the command;

transmitting the utility data over the telecommunication medium.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said command includes a request for data and said transmitting the utility data is performed in response to the request.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said user data is received via a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) compatible protocol.

26. A method of using a telecommunication medium coupled to a customer premises to communicate utility data, comprising:

receiving, at a first device, first user data via the telecommunication medium;

transmitting, from a first device, second user data over the telecommunication medium; and

transmitting utility data over the telecommunication medium.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving a request for utility data via the telecommunication medium; and

wherein said transmitting utility data is in response to receiving said request.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the first user data comprises digital television data.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the first user data comprises voice over internet protocol (VoIP) data.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the first device includes a cable modem.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the first device includes a DSL modem.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the first device includes a fiber optic transceiver.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

collecting the utility data at a sensor;

transmitting the utility data along a second medium from a first transceiver; and

receiving the utility data at a second transceiver.

34. The method of claim 26, where the second medium comprises, at least in part, a wireless link.

35. The method of claim 26, where the second medium comprises, at least in part, a power line conductor.

36. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving the utility data at the first device; and

wherein said transmitting utility data is performed by the first device.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein said transmitting the second user data and said transmitting utility data are performed via time division multiplexing.

38. The method of claim 26, wherein the first user data, the second user data, and the utility data are each included in one or more addressed Internet Protocol data packets.