Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for reading and controlling utility consumption

US7039532B2 · kind B2 · utility

273Cited by
103References
37Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 10, 2003
Grant dateMay 2, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 16, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R21/133
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and system for controlling electric power consumption using a computer to create a forecast and then controlling devices that use power based on the forecast. An automatic reader device is used to gather power consumption data from a point of utility service. The power consumption data is then provided to a computer. The computer is used to create a forecast of energy use for instantaneous demand and time-based usage. The computer then provides alerts based on the forecast for the manual or automatic control of devices that consume electricity. The system may be managed locally or remotely by a computer, PDA, cell phone or other network enabled device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.