Method, system and apparatus for controlling prepaid delivery of utilities

US11544802B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ORTIVA CANADA INC. · CA

Inventors

• Frank Nest · Berlin, DE
• Andreas Schroder · Oettingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 13, 2015
• Grant date: Jan 3, 2023
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q20/28
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system for controlling prepaid delivery of utilities includes a utility meter with a cutoff device for enabling or disabling delivery of a utility; and a server connected to the utility meter via a network. The utility meter receives a usage limit from the server, measures usage of the utility by the load, and when the usage limit is exceeded, activates the cutoff device. The utility meter transmits the measured usage to the server at configurable intervals. The server maintains an account balance associated with the load, receives the measured usage from the utility meter, and decrements the account balance based on the measured usage. When the account balance is exhausted, the server sends a command to activate the cutoff device to the utility meter. Otherwise, the server generates a further usage limit based on the account balance, and sends the further usage limit to the utility meter.