Meter with Irda Port

Abstract

A meter is provided of the type used for recording data primarily related to power and/or energy use. The meter includes an IrDA port for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from the meter. Preferably, the IrDA port operates according to one or more of the standard IrDA protocols and is preferably mounted on the face of the meter to allow data to be read using a handheld computing device. Upon the detection of the handheld computing device, the IrDA port automatically transmits data to the handheld computing device. The handheld computing device is preferably programmed with application software for processing the read data. The processed data can then be transmitted either wirelessly or non-wirelessly to a computing device, such as a remote server or personal computer, for preparing bills, statistical charts, energy reports, etc.

1 . A meter for measuring data, the meter comprising:
 at least one processor for processing at least one measurement data recorded by the meter and converting the processed data to at least one IrDA protocol; and   an optical port disposed on a face of the meter for at least wirelessly transmitting the converted data to an optical port of a computing device located at a predetermined distance away from the optical port of the meter.   
   
   
       2 . The meter according to  claim 1 , wherein the meter is a power meter and the at least one measurement data indicates the amount of power or energy consumed. 
   
   
       3 . The meter according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical port of the meter includes a transmitter for transmitting the converted data via an optical pulse. 
   
   
       4 . The meter according to  claim 3 , wherein the optical port of the meter includes a receiver for receiving configuration data via an optical pulse. 
   
   
       5 . The meter according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitted data includes a name, an address, and an account number corresponding to a customer, and an amount of energy consumed over a given time period. 
   
   
       6 . The meter according to  claim 1 , wherein the meter is selected from the group consisting of power, gas, oil, pressure, and water measuring meters. 
   
   
       7 . The meter according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one IrDA protocol is selected from the group consisting of IrDA Infrared Link Access Protocol (IrLAP), IrDA Infrared Link Management Protocol (IrLMP), IrDA Transport Protocols (Tiny TP), IrDA Object Exchange Protocol (IrOBEX), Extensions to IrOBEX for Ir Mobile Communications, and IrTran-P (Infrared Transfer Picture) Specification. 
   
   
       8 . The meter according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical port of the meter comprises: means for intermittently transmitting an optical pulse for detecting the computing device; and means for automatically transmitting the data upon the detection of the computing device. 
   
   
       9 . The meter according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining whether to wirelessly transmit data via the optical port of the meter. 
   
   
       10 . The meter according to  claim 9 , wherein the means for determining whether to wirelessly transmit data includes:
 means for wirelessly receiving a key via the optical port of the meter;   means for determining if the key matches a key stores within a memory of the meter; and   means for actuating transmission of the data via the optical port of the meter if the received key matches the stored key.   
   
   
       11 . The meter according to  claim 1 , wherein the IrDA port comprises means for receiving data to re-program and configure the meter. 
   
   
       12 . A power meter for measuring power consumed, the power meter comprising:
 an IrDA port for wirelessly transmitting data to an optical port of a computing device located at a predetermined distance away from the IrDA port, wherein the power meter comprises a processing assembly for processing the measured power and converting the measured power to at least one IrDA protocol.   
   
   
       13 . The power meter according to  claim 12 , wherein the transmitted data includes an amount of power consumed, and a name, an address, and an account number corresponding to a customer. 
   
   
       14 . The power meter according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one IrDA protocol is selected from the group consisting of IrDA Infrared Link Access Protocol (IrLAP), IrDA Infrared Link Management Protocol (IrLMP), IrDA Transport Protocols (Tiny TP), IrDA Object Exchange Protocol (IrOBEX), Extensions to IrOBEX for Ir Mobile Communications, and IrTran-P (Infrared Transfer Picture) Specification. 
   
   
       15 . The power meter according to  claim 12 , wherein the IrDA port comprises: means for intermittently transmitting an optical pulse for detecting a computing device; and means for automatically transmitting the data upon the detection of the computing device. 
   
   
       16 . The power meter according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for determining whether to wirelessly transmit data via the IrDA port. 
   
   
       17 . The power meter according to  claim 16 , wherein the means for determining whether to wirelessly transmit data includes:
 means for wirelessly receiving a key via the IrDA port;   means for determining if the key matches a key stores within a memory of the meter; and   means for actuating transmission of the data via the IrDA port if the received key matches the stored key.   
   
   
       18 . The power meter according to  claim 12 , wherein the IrDA port comprises means for receiving data to re-program and configure the power meter. 
   
   
       19 . A meter for measuring data, the meter comprising:
 a first optical port for at least wirelessly transmitting data to a second optical port of a computing device located at a predetermined distance away from the first optical port, wherein the meter includes at least one processor for processing at least one measurement data and converting the processed data to at least one transmission protocol.   
   
   
       20 . An electrical panel meter for measuring data, the electrical panel meter comprising:
 at least one processor for processing at least one measurement data recorded by the electrical panel meter and converting the processed data to at least one wireless protocol; and   a wireless port disposed on the housing of the electrical panel meter for at least wirelessly transmitting the converted data to a receiving port of a computing device located at a predetermined distance away from the wireless port of the electrical panel meter.   
   
   
       21 . The electrical panel meter according to  claim 20 , wherein the wireless port is an optical port. 
   
   
       22 . The electrical panel meter according to  claim 20 , further comprising a self enclosed housing with internal connection for voltage and current inputs. 
   
   
       23 . The electrical panel meter according to  claim 22 , wherein the wireless port is an optical port. 
   
   
       24 . An electrical sub-meter for measuring data at a point of consumption in a utility substation, the electrical sub-meter comprising:
 at least one processor for processing at least one measurement data recorded by the electrical sub-meter and converting the processed data to at least one wireless protocol; and   a wireless port disposed on the housing of the electrical sub-meter for at least wirelessly transmitting the converted data to a receiving port of a computing device located at a predetermined distance away from the wireless port of the electrical sub-meter.   
   
   
       25 . A utility billing system comprising:
 at least one meter including at least one processor for processing at least one measurement data recorded by the meter and converting the processed data to at least one IrDA protocol and an optical port disposed on a face of the meter for at least wirelessly transmitting the converted data to an optical port of a computing device located at a predetermined distance away from the optical port of the meter; and   the computing device configured for receiving and storing the converted data of the at least one meter and for preparing a utility bill for each of the at least one meter based on the received data.   
   
   
       26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one meter is a power meter and the at least one measurement indicates the amount of power or energy consumed. 
   
   
       27 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the data transmitted from the at least one meter includes a name, an address, and an account number corresponding to a customer, and an amount of energy consumed over a given time period. 
   
   
       28 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one meter is selected from the group consisting of power, gas, oil, pressure, and water measuring meters. 
   
   
       29 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one IrDA protocol is selected from the group consisting of IrDA Infrared Link Access Protocol (IrLAP), IrDA Infrared Link Management Protocol (IrLMP), IrDA Transport Protocols (Tiny TP), IrDA Object Exchange Protocol (IrOBEX), Extensions to IrOBEX for Ir Mobile Communications, and IrTran-P (Infrared Transfer Picture) Specification. 
   
   
       30 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the optical port of the at least one meter comprises: means for intermittently transmitting an optical pulse for detecting a handheld device; and means for automatically transmitting the data upon the detection of the handheld device. 
   
   
       31 . The system according to  claim 25 , further comprising means for determining whether to wirelessly transmit data via the optical port of the at least one meter. 
   
   
       32 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the means for determining whether to wirelessly transmit data includes:
 means for wirelessly receiving a key via the optical port of the at least one meter;   means for determining if the key matches a key stores within a memory of the at least one meter; and   means for actuating transmission of the data via the optical port of the at least one meter if the received key matches the stored key.   
   
   
       33 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the computing device is a handheld device. 
   
   
       34 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the computing device is Windows™ operating system based. 
   
   
       35 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the computing device is a remote server.