Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120197546 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT TO IDENTIFY A PHYSICAL EVENT USING A VIBRATION SIGNATURE - Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems to identify a physical event using a vibration signature. One aspect of the method comprises forming one or more identified vibration signatures that are each associated with a respective known physical event. The method further comprises receiving a vibration signature associated with an actual physical event, and identifying the actual physical event by comparing the vibration signature with the one or more identified vibration signatures that are each associated with a respective known physical event. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197556 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO DETECT ACTUATION OF A SWITCH USING VIBRATIONS OR VIBRATION SIGNATURES - Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems to detect actuation of a switch using vibrations and vibration signatures. One aspect of the method comprises sending an actuation signal to a switch, receiving a vibration signal associated with the switch, and determining from the vibration signal whether the actuation occurred. | 08-02-2012 |
20120206274 | SYSTEM FOR SENDING UTILITY METER ALERTS - Systems for sending utility meter alerts in response to a predetermined threshold condition being met at the utility meter are disclosed. In one embodiment, the utility meter has a communications stack embedded therein, and the communications stack is configured to send an alert through a network in response to a predetermined threshold being met. In another embodiment, a server is communicatively connected to a utility meter, and the server is configured to send an alert through a network in response to a predetermined threshold being met at the utility meter. In either embodiment, the alert can comprise an email, a Short Message Service (SMS), a voice alert, or an instant message. Examples of predetermined threshold conditions that could trigger an alert include total energy consumption, peak energy consumption or total currency, e.g., dollars, spent at the location of the utility meter for a set consumption period. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207056 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF WIRELESS ENABLED DEVICE CONFIGURATION OVER AN ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) - Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems for configuring a wireless-enabled device over an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided comprising receiving, from a first device via a first network, information about one or more wireless access points accessible by the first device. The method further comprises receiving, from a second device via a second network, configuration information for the first device for configuring the first device to connect to a wireless network through one of the one or more wireless access points; and configuring the first device using the configuration information. In one aspect, configuring the first device includes sending at least a portion of the configuration information to the first device via the first network. | 08-16-2012 |
20120229298 | HOME OCCUPANCY DETECTION SWITCHES - Disclosed are methodologies for enabling energy conservation in a home. Occupancy by an entity of the home may be detected and used by a utility meter associated with the home to control and/or adjust operation of energy consuming devices based, at least in part, on the occupancy state of the home. Occupancy detection is based on signals received from devices generally associated with those entities that may from time to time occupy the home. In selected embodiments, detection of a Bluetooth or RFID device associated with a home occupant including items such as key chains, work ID cards, Bluetooth enable equipment such as cell phones and audio equipment or infrared signals from presence detectors may be used to provide indications of home occupancy. | 09-13-2012 |
20120274440 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT A UTILITY SERVICE BASED ON SEISMIC ACTIVITY - Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems to disconnect utility service based on seismic activity. One aspect comprises a method. One embodiment of a method of disconnecting a utility service based on seismic activity comprises receiving, from a measurement device, an output signal. A level of seismic activity can be determined based on the output signal. If the determined level of seismic activity meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold level of seismic activity, then a disconnect signal is sent to disconnect a utility service from a facility. | 11-01-2012 |
20120280829 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING UTILITY METER COMMUNICATION - Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating utility meter communication are provided. One or more communications to be transmitted by a utility meter may be identified by the utility meter. A cost associated with the transmission of the one or more communications may be determined by the utility meter, and a determination may be made as to whether the cost satisfies one or more cost parameters if it is determined that the cost satisfies the one or more cost parameters, the one or more communications may be transmitted by the utility meter. If however, it is determined that the cost does not satisfy the one or more cost parameters, the one or more communications may be stored by the utility meter for subsequent transmission. | 11-08-2012 |
20120303553 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ENERGY PRICES - A computing device for use with a charging station is provided. The computing device includes an interface that is configured to receive demand response data for the charging station. Moreover, the computing device includes a processor that is coupled to the interface and that is programmed to generate a plurality of energy prices based on the demand response data, wherein each energy price is associated with a time range. The computing device also includes a presentation interface that is coupled to the processor for use in presenting the plurality of energy prices to a user of the charging station. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303829 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO A NETWORK - A network access system for use with a charging station is provided. The network access system is configured to receive at least one signal representative of a network. The network access system is also configured to prompt a user for at least one input. Moreover, the network access system is configured to receive the input from the user, wherein the input includes a confirmation to receive access to the network. The network access system provides at least one unique identifier to the user to enable the user to receive access to the network within a distance from the charging station while a battery is being charged. | 11-29-2012 |
20120307708 | REPEATER PASS-THROUGH MESSAGING - Embodiments of this invention include a network communications stack for a system for communicating data over a network. A media access control (MAC) layer running on a radio processor of the communications stack at least partially processes messages received from a network, i.e., before the message is passed to a host processor. Specifically, the MAC layer includes software configured to analyze a destination address contained in the message, and determine whether the destination address contained in the message matches a destination address programmed in the MAC layer. | 12-06-2012 |
20120319865 | ASSIGNING TOWER MULTICAST ADDRESS TO ELECTRONIC UTILITY METERS - A system including a computer device configured to associate a tower multicast address with a first radio frequency (RF) tower; and assign the tower multicast address to each of a plurality of electronic utility meters communicating through the first RF tower. | 12-20-2012 |
20130090748 | REMOTE DISCONNECT SWITCH ASSEMBLY - Described herein are embodiments of a remote disconnect switch assembly. In one embodiment, the remote disconnect switch assembly comprises: an actuator; a shuttle that is operably moved by the actuator; one or more disconnect switches that are opened or closed by movement of the shuttle; one or more sensors; a communication interface; and a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with the actuator, the one or more sensors and the communication interface, and wherein the processor is configured to: communicate with one or more other computing devices over a network using the communication interface; receive signals from the one or more sensors; and cause the actuator to operate in accordance with the signals received from the one or more sensors or the communications with the one or more other computing devices. | 04-11-2013 |
20130176141 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHANGING OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS OF A UTILITY METER - A system and method that allow customers to provide acknowledgement to a utility provider for closing a utility meter. One embodiment features an authorization code disposed on the utility meter such that when a customer sends the authorization code to the utility provider as acknowledgement, the utility provider, having received the authorization code, sends a signal to the utility meter that closes the utility meter. | 07-11-2013 |
20130201839 | SEGMENT SIZE DETERMINATION - A method is provided that includes determining, via data processing circuitry, error rate metrics of data transmissions over a constrained application protocol (CoAP) using a first CoAP segment size. The method further includes determining, via the data processing circuitry, a second CoAP segment size for the data transmissions based at least in part upon the error rate metrics. | 08-08-2013 |