Satellite-based low power resource meter reading systems and methods
US10260902B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2015 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY04S20/30
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring a utility resource are disclosed. One system includes a plurality of utility resource usage capture components connected to a utility resource management computing system via a satellite communications network. Each of the utility resource usage capture components includes a utility resource meter interface and a satellite communication module. The utility resource meter interface is configured to communicate with a plurality of different types of utility resource meters from a plurality of different manufacturers. Each of the plurality of utility resource usage capture components has a low power state and an operational state and configured to automatically enter the operational state, interrogate an associated utility resource meter to obtain a reading and communicate the reading via the satellite communication module, and return to the low power state. The utility resource management computing system stores information regarding a location of each of the utility resource usage capture components and is configured to receive and store readings from each of the plurality of utility resource usage capture components.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.