Data collector for an automated meter reading system

Abstract

The invention includes an electronic utility meter, a data collector/meter and a method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system. The inventive method includes communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter, and communicating the data with the first electronic utility meter and one or more other meters.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic utility meter, comprising: 
 a first port for communicating data with one or more other electronic meters;    a second port for communicating data with a network;    a transceiver in communication with the first port and the second port, wherein the transceiver communicates data between the other electronic meter and the computer; and    a computer in communication with the transceiver.    
     
     
         2 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic utility meter is at least one of the following: a gas meter, a water meter, and an electric power meter.  
     
     
         3 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a central computer at a utility in communication with a billing system.  
     
     
         4 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the data is communicated as a function of predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         5 . The meter of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined criteria filter the data provided by the electronic utility meter to the other meters.  
     
     
         6 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver routes the data from the network to the other meters.  
     
     
         7 . The meter of  claim 1 , further comprising a data storage device for data received from the other meters and from the network.  
     
     
         8 . The meter of  claim 7 , wherein the data storage device provides the stored data to the network when requested by the network.  
     
     
         9 . The meter of  claim 7 , wherein the data storage device provides the stored data to the other meters when requested by the network.  
     
     
         10 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the computer provides timing data to the other meters.  
     
     
         11 . The meter of  claim 10 , wherein the timing data is transmitted to the other meters at a substantially similar time.  
     
     
         12 . The meter of  claim 10 , wherein the timing data is transmitted to the other meters at different times.  
     
     
         13 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the data comprises at least one of the following: time-of-use data and demand data.  
     
     
         14 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the electronic utility meter and the other meters is accomplished via wireless techniques.  
     
     
         15 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the electronic utility meter and the other meters is accomplished via wired techniques.  
     
     
         16 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the electronic utility meter and the network is accomplished via wireless techniques.  
     
     
         17 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the electronic utility meter and the network is accomplished via wired techniques.  
     
     
         18 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the electronic utility meter and the other meters is accomplished using at least one of the following techniques: TCP/IP, Internet, electronic messaging, XML, digital encryption, digital signature, Ethernet, DSL, Cable Modem, 802.11, Bluetooth, and X10.  
     
     
         19 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the communication between the electronic utility meter and the computer is accomplished using at least one of the following techniques: TCP/IP, Internet, electronic messaging, XML, digital encryption, digital signature, Ethernet, DSL, Cable Modem, 802.11, Bluetooth, and X10.  
     
     
         20 . The meter of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a query from a customer premise to the electronic utility meter via the other meter.  
     
     
         21 . The meter of  claim 20 , wherein the customer premise provides the query to the electronic utility meter using access identification.  
     
     
         22 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the data represents utility usage.  
     
     
         23 . The meter of  claim 22 , wherein the utility includes at least one of the following: water, gas, and electricity.  
     
     
         24 . The meter of  claim 22 , wherein the utility usage is determined over a billing period.  
     
     
         25 . The meter of  claim 24 , wherein the billing period represents one or more days.  
     
     
         26 . The meter of  claim 24 , wherein the billing period represents a season of the year.  
     
     
         27 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the data represents a billing rate to be applied to utility usage.  
     
     
         28 . The meter of  claim 27 , wherein the billing rate is provided for one or more days.  
     
     
         29 . The meter of  claim 27 , wherein the billing rate is provided for a season of the year.  
     
     
         30 . The meter of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating a demand reset request from the electronic utility to the other meters at a predetermined interval.  
     
     
         31 . The meter of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined interval is at least one of the following: a billing change date, and a season change date.  
     
     
         32 . The meter of  claim 30 , further comprising continuously verifying that the demand reset was accomplished in the other meters.  
     
     
         33 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic utility meter transmits identification designations to the other meters.  
     
     
         34 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic utility meter transmits time-of-use designations to the other meters.  
     
     
         35 . The meter of  claim 34 , wherein the electronic utility meter transmits time-of-use schedules to the other meters as a function of the time-of-use designations.  
     
     
         36 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic utility meter registers the other meters such that data is not lost.  
     
     
         37 . The meter of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic utility meter receives load profile data from the other meters.  
     
     
         38 . The meter of  claim 37 , wherein receiving the load profile data is a function of at least one of the following predetermined criteria: the quantity of load profile data, a time of the day, a day of the year, and a season of the year.  
     
     
         39 . A method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system, comprising: 
 communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter; and    communicating the data with the first electronic utility meter and one or more other meters.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising communicating the data as a function of predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the predetermined criteria filter the data provided by the first meter to the other meters.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising routing data from the network to the other meters via the first meter.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising storing the data in the first meter received from the other meters.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising providing the stored data to the network when requested by the network.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the first meter providing timing data to the other meters.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the timing data is transmitted to the other meters by the first meter at a substantially similar time.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the timing data is transmitted to the other meters at distinct times.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising receiving a query from a customer premise to the first meter via the other meter.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the customer premise provides the query to the first meter using access identification.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the data represents utility usage.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the data represents a billing rate to be applied to utility usage.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising communicating a demand reset request from the first meter to the other meters at a predetermined interval.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the predetermined interval is at least one of the following: a billing change date, a season change date.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising continuously verifying that the demand reset was accomplished in the other meters.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the first meter assigning identification designations to the other meters.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the first meter assigning time-of-use designations to the other meters.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising the first meter assigning time-of-use schedules to the other meters as a function of the time-of-use designations.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the first meter registering the other meters such that data is not lost.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising the first meter receiving load profile data from the other meters.  
     
     
         60 . A data collector device, comprising: 
 a first port for communicating data with one or more other electronic meters;    a second port for communicating data with a network;    a transceiver in communication with the first port and the second port, wherein the transceiver communicates data between the other electronic meter and the computer; and    a computer in communication with the transceiver, wherein the computer routes the data from the network to the electronic meter.