Patent
Method and apparatus for reading a meter and providing customer service via the internet
TLDR
In this article, a real-time method for optimizing energy costs operationally by combining optimization algorithms and real time pricing data to lower costs to the energy user is presented, where a meter reading module is connected to one of an electrical, gas or water meter.Abstract:
A method and system for monitoring usage of a utility at a remote location by a central station and incorporates a real time method for optimizing energy costs operationally by combining optimization algorithms and real time pricing data to lower costs to the energy user. The system includes a meter reading module for determining an amount of usage at the remote location and generating a data signal indicative of the determined amount of usage and a personal computer (PC) located at the remote location and connected to the meter reading module. The PC is connectable to the internet for receiving and storing the data signal from the meter reading module for transmission to a processor located at the central location via the internet. The meter reading module is connected to one of an electrical, gas or water meter. The processor determines an amount of usage of the utility based upon the data signal. The meter reading module is connected to the PC via one of a hardwired connection, X-10 technology or sent over existing telephone lines. The processor is able to generate a bill based upon a determined amount of usage and transmit the bill to the PC in the form of one of an e-mail message, Internet browser or other Internet related technologies. Payment of the bill by the PC at the remote location is performed automatically over the Internet via online banking protocols or other internet related payment technologies.read more
Citations
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Patent
Method of communicating between a utility and its customer locations
Paul Di Martini,Muir Davis,Stephanie L. Hamilton,Paul G Kasick,Russell Neal,Lester Hirata,Mark Martinez,Robert G. Woods,Victor Pimentel,Bob Yinger,Syd Nagoshl,James McGrath,Mark B. Reardon,Cathy Melton,Debbie Tillman,Larry Colwell,John Bubb,Thomas J. Dossey,Jeremy Laundergan,Jeff Gooding,Kevin G Wood +20 more
TL;DR: In this article, a method for communicating between a utility and individual customer locations includes the step of communicating between the utility and customers and between the utilities and customer equipment located at each individual customer location via the Internet or via an advanced utility meter.
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References
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Patent
Wireless remote telemetry system
TL;DR: A wireless remote telemetry system which uses low-cost remote communication devices operating on existing wireless communication systems in order to provide real-time reading and control of remote devices is described in this article.
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TL;DR: A computer-based system for generating customized proposals relating to consumption and cost of utilities is described in this article, where the system receives and stores information related to a utility company's services and conservation programs, utility rates and a customer's inventory.
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TL;DR: In this paper, a method and apparatus for measuring use of a commodity and for transmitting the measurement over a global computer information network to a remote location is presented, consisting of a data acquisition and reporting device and an automatic meter reading device.
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Utility meter providing an interface between a digital network and home electronics
TL;DR: In this article, a utility meter interface apparatus is connected between a utility company and a home and a computer located external to the home is connected to the utility meter and provides an interface between a communication network and a device located inside the home.
Patent
Remote meter reading system
Nelson E. Knight,David M. Banks +1 more
TL;DR: A system for remote automatic monitoring and recording of utility meter readings which comprises an electronic meter reader (EMR), a data concentrator which collects accumulated meter counts from the EMR, a telephone interface for placing a first data call from an EMR to the data concentrators over an available telephone line, a billing computer connected to the eMR, and a modem for placing another data call including the accumulated meter count to the billing computer utilizing standard telephone service is described in this paper.