System and method for controlling a utility meter

• US 8,140,414 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carina Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carina Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Neil, Adrian, Harbin, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US11/824,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 705/34, 705/412, 340/870.02, 340/870.03
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 system and method for monitoring and controlling utility meters is provided. A collar communicatively connected to the utility meter monitors power usage and provides usage data, power quality data, and other data to the utility and the customer. The system provides for pre-pay power, and the collar relay can automatically connect or disconnect power to a customer as required. The system provides intelligent remote control of utility meters via wireless or other communications means.

Claims

1. A system to control a utility meter comprising:

a collar unit coupled to the utility meter; and

a display unit communicatively coupled to the collar unit to display customer utility data corresponding to the utility meter;

said collar unit configured to mount between said meter and a meter base, said collar unit configured to electrically couple said meter to said meter base, said collar unit adapted to mount on said meter base and said collar unit adapted to mount said meter on said collar unit;

said collar unit configured to receive utility power from a power provider through a first connection between said collar unit and said meter base and to provide said power to said meter, said collar unit configured to receive measured power from said meter and to provide said measured power to a consumer premises through a second connection between said collar unit and said meter base;

said collar unit configured to receive measurement information relating to said measured power from said meter;

said collar unit comprising a power supply connected to said utility power and configured to supply auxiliary power to external communications equipment through an auxiliary power connection to said collar unit, said auxiliary power connection separate from said first connection and said second connection;

said auxiliary power not conducted through said second connection;

said external communications equipment being disposed external to said collar unit;

said collar unit having a network interface for network communications with a data server for said power provider;

said collar unit configured to receive commands through said external communications equipment from said data server and said collar unit configured to provide said measurement information through said external communications equipment to said data server;

said collar unit comprising a relay configured for connection and disconnection of said measured power to said consumer premises in response to said commands received through said external communications equipment; and

said system comprising a backup battery to provide power to said collar unit and said external communications equipment;

said backup battery connected to said collar unit through said auxiliary power connection.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer utility data comprises data indicative of at least one of a group consisting of:

real-time power readings, real-time voltage readings, real-time current readings, and real-time power factor readings.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer utility data comprises data indicative of power quality.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer utility data comprises data indicative of energy usage.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the data indicative of energy usage is identified for at least one appliance.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer utility data comprises data indicative of customer billing data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer utility data comprises data indicative of anticipated energy consumption over time period.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the collar further comprises an internal communication device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the display unit is configured to display a message in the form of at least one of the following:

a video display, a digital display, text message, an e-mail, or a web portal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the display unit is remote to the collar and the internal communication device is configured to transmit the customer utility data to the display unit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the collar unit further comprises logic to collect customer utility data from the utility meter.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the collar unit further comprises logic to calculate customer utility data from the utility meter.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said external communications equipment comprises a network data converter.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said network data converter is a fiber optic data converter.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said external communications equipment is coupled to said collar unit using Ethernet®

.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, further including said utility meter.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, further including said meter base.

18. A method for controlling a utility meter, comprising the steps of:

providing a collar unit for mounting between said meter and a meter base,

adapting said collar unit for electrically coupling said meter to said meter base,

adapting said collar unit for mounting on said meter base and adapting said collar unit for mounting said meter on said collar unit;

said collar unit receiving utility power from a power provider through a first connection between said collar unit and said meter base and providing said utility power to said meter, said collar unit receiving measured power from said meter and providing said measured power to a consumer premises through a second connection between said collar unit and said meter base;

said collar unit receiving at least one reading from said utility meter;

transmitting data indicative of the reading from said collar unit to a customer display unit; and

displaying the data by using the customer display unit;

said collar unit comprising a power supply connected to said utility power and configured for supplying auxiliary power to external communications equipment through an auxiliary power connection to said collar unit, said auxiliary power connection separate from said first connection and said second connection;

said auxiliary power not conducted through said second connection;

, said external communications equipment being disposed external to said collar unit;

said collar unit having a network interface for network communications with a data server for said power provider;

said collar unit receiving commands through said external communications equipment from said data server and said collar unit providing said measurement information through said external communications equipment to said data server;

said collar unit comprising a relay configured for connection and disconnection of said measured power to said consumer premises in response to said commands received through said external communications equipment; and

said system comprising a backup battery for providing power to said collar unit and said external communications equipment;

said backup battery connected to said collar unit through said auxiliary power connection.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of calculating customer utility data based upon the reading received from the utility meter.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the calculating step further comprises the step of calculating data indicative of power quality.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the calculating step further comprises the step of calculating data indicative of energy usage.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the customer utility data to the customer display unit; and

displaying the customer utility data by using the customer display unit.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting step further comprises the step of transmitting energy usage data indicative of energy consumed by at least one appliance.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the displaying step further comprises the steps of:

displaying the energy usage data indicative of energy consumed by the appliance; and

identifying the data with the appliance.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the data wirelessly to the customer display unit.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the data to the customer display unit via a power line carrier.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the customer display unit displays a message in the form of at least one of the following:

a digital display, a video display, a text message, an e-mail, or a web portal.

28. A system, comprising:

a collar unit communicatively coupled to a utility meter; and

a billing server communicatively coupled to the collar unit via a network, wherein the collar unit is configured to transmit customer utility data to the billing server;

said collar unit for mounting between said meter and a meter base, said collar unit for electrically coupling said meter to said meter base, said collar unit adapted to mount on said meter base and said collar unit adapted to mount said meter on said collar unit;

said collar unit configured to receive utility power from a power provider through a first connection between said collar unit and said meter base and to provide said utility power to said meter, said collar unit configured to receive measured power from said meter and to provide said measured power to a consumer premises through a second connection between said collar unit and said meter base;

said collar unit configured to receive measurement information relating to said measured power from said meter;

said collar unit comprising a power supply connected to said utility power and configured to supply auxiliary power to external communications equipment through an auxiliary power connection to said collar unit, said auxiliary power connection separate from said first connection and said second connection;

said auxiliary power not conducted through said second connection;

said external communications equipment being disposed external to said collar unit;

said collar unit having a network interface for communications over said network with said billing server for said utility;

said collar unit configured to receive commands through said external communications equipment from said billing server and said collar unit configured to provide said measurement information through said external communications equipment to said billing server;

said collar unit comprising a relay configured for connection and disconnection of said measured power to said consumer premises in response to said commands received through said external communications equipment; and

said system comprising a backup battery to provide power to said collar unit and said external communications equipment;

said backup battery connected to said collar unit through said auxiliary power connection.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said collar unit is configured to receive a request for customer utility data from said billing server.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the collar unit is configured to automatically transmit the customer utility data to the billing server.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the collar unit comprises logic configured to calculate a forward daily available power (FDAP).

32. A system comprising:

a network;

a collar unit communicatively coupled to a utility meter;

means for receiving payment data indicative of a payment via the network;

means for storing the payment data in memory via said collar unit communicatively coupled to said utility meter; and

means for calculating, based upon the payment data, an amount of power available corresponding to said utility meter;

said collar unit for mounting between said meter and a meter base, said collar unit for electrically coupling said meter to said meter base, said collar unit adapted to mount on said meter base and said collar unit adapted to mount said meter on said collar unit;

said collar unit configured to receive utility power from a power provider through a first connection between said collar unit and said meter base and to provide said utility power to said meter, said collar unit configured to receive measured power from said meter and to provide said measured power to a consumer premises through a second connection between said collar unit and said meter base;

said collar unit configured to receive measurement information relating to said measured power from said meter;

said collar unit comprising a power supply connected to said utility power and configured to supply auxiliary power to external network communications equipment through an auxiliary power connection to said collar unit, said auxiliary power connection separate from said first connection and said second connection;

said auxiliary power not conducted through said second connection;

said external communications equipment being disposed external to said collar unit;

said collar unit configured to receive said payment data over said network through said external network communications equipment;

said collar unit comprising a relay configured for connection and disconnection of said measured power to said consumer premises in response to said commands received through said external communications equipment; and

said system comprising a backup battery to provide power to said collar unit and said external communications equipment;

said backup battery connected to said collar unit through said auxiliary power connection.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

logic configured to activate the relay upon receipt of data indicative of a notification from the network that the amount of power available has reached a threshold value.