Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-05-29
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S870060, C340S870180, C340S315000, C370S320000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239722
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to utility monitoring systems and more particularly to systems for communicating between remote locations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Metering devices have for years been used in the monitoring of utility consumption, such as water, electricity, gas, to name a few. Utility providers have typically utilized metering devices at the various locations of its customers, i.e., residences or businesses, in order to monitor the consumption of a given utility. The utility provider would monitor the utility consumption by reading the various metering devices at each of the customer locations. In recent years, it has been recognized that the costs incurred by the utility provider have significantly increased in view of the numerous employees required to manually read each of the metering devices at the customer locations; especially in view of the higher number of customers of many current day utility providers.
In view of the foregoing, there is seen a need to provide a system for monitoring of metering devices from remote locations in order to reduce both the time and costs associated with manual reading of metering devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a system and method for a utility provider to monitor a plurality of metering devices from a remote location. For this purpose, the present invention discloses control means for at least receiving data, a plurality of metering devices arranged in a defined number of metering groups and a defined number of concentrators, with each concentrator comprising relay means for communication between one metering group and the control means.
The present invention also discloses a relay for communication between a plurality of metering devices and at least one control station. As will be described in more detail herein, the relay in one embodiment comprises LAN means for receiving data from the plurality of metering devices over a local area network and WAN means for transmitting data associating with the plurality of metering devices over a wide area network to the at least one control station.
The present invention also discloses a communication system for transmitting data between a plurality of locations. In this regard, the present invention comprises control means for receiving and transmitting data, relay means in communication with the control means and a plurality of servicing means in communication with the relay means for transmitting data to and receiving data from the control means.
In accordance with the present invention, an object is to provide a system and method for a utility provider to monitor metering devices from remote locations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for monitoring metering devices from remote locations which is efficient in operation so that minimal parts are required and which can be provided at minimal cost.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a communication system for transmitting data between a plurality of locations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel concentrator for use in data transmission between a plurality of locations to provide for improved data transmission.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent when taken into consideration with the following description and the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3445814 (1969-05-01), Spalti
patent: 3656112 (1972-04-01), Paull
patent: 3683343 (1972-08-01), Feldman et al.
patent: 3688271 (1972-08-01), Rouse
patent: 3693155 (1972-09-01), Crafton et al.
patent: 3702460 (1972-11-01), Blose
patent: 3705385 (1972-12-01), Batz
patent: 3706930 (1972-12-01), Harner
patent: 3719928 (1973-03-01), Oishi et al.
patent: 3747104 (1973-07-01), Pansini
patent: 3815119 (1974-06-01), Finlay, Jr. et al.
patent: 3820106 (1974-06-01), Yamashita et al.
patent: 3855503 (1974-12-01), Ristuccia
patent: 3900842 (1975-08-01), Calabro et al.
patent: 3911415 (1975-10-01), Whyte
patent: 3914757 (1975-10-01), Finlay, Jr., et al.
patent: 3925763 (1975-12-01), Wadhwani et al.
patent: 3942168 (1976-03-01), Whyte
patent: 3942170 (1976-03-01), Whyte
patent: 3944723 (1976-03-01), Fong
patent: 3944932 (1976-03-01), Fong
patent: 3952285 (1976-04-01), Falck, Jr.
patent: 3967264 (1976-06-01), Whyte et al.
patent: 3973240 (1976-08-01), Fong
patent: 3980954 (1976-09-01), Whyte
patent: 4040046 (1977-08-01), Long et al.
patent: 4085287 (1978-04-01), Kullman et al.
patent: 4101834 (1978-07-01), Stutt et al.
patent: 4107656 (1978-08-01), Farnsworth et al.
patent: 4109204 (1978-08-01), Kincaid et al.
patent: 4130874 (1978-12-01), Pai
patent: 4131881 (1978-12-01), Robinson
patent: 4135101 (1979-01-01), Young et al.
patent: 4135181 (1979-01-01), Bogacki et al.
patent: 4161720 (1979-07-01), Bogacki
patent: 4178482 (1979-12-01), Ouellette
patent: 4188619 (1980-02-01), Perkins
patent: 4190800 (1980-02-01), Kelly, Jr. et al.
patent: 4199761 (1980-04-01), Whyte, et al.
patent: 4204194 (1980-05-01), Bogacki
patent: 4204195 (1980-05-01), Bogacki
patent: 4250489 (1981-02-01), Dudash et al.
patent: 4254402 (1981-03-01), Perkins
patent: 4264960 (1981-04-01), Gurr
patent: 4270206 (1981-05-01), Hughes
patent: 4276644 (1981-06-01), DeWitte
patent: 4298986 (1981-11-01), Hughes
patent: 4300126 (1981-11-01), Gajjar
patent: 4301445 (1981-11-01), Robinson
patent: 4302750 (1981-11-01), Wadhwani et al.
patent: 4307464 (1981-12-01), Hughes
patent: 4308619 (1981-12-01), Hughes
patent: 4310805 (1982-01-01), Hackert et al.
patent: 4315251 (1982-02-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 4322842 (1982-03-01), Martinez
patent: 4323882 (1982-04-01), Gajjar
patent: 4344180 (1982-08-01), Cummiskey
patent: 4349879 (1982-09-01), Peddie et al.
patent: 4361766 (1982-11-01), deMontgolfier et al.
patent: 4375100 (1983-02-01), Tsuji et al.
patent: 4393501 (1983-07-01), Kellogg et al.
patent: 4396915 (1983-08-01), Farnsworth et al.
patent: 4400811 (1983-08-01), Brown et al.
patent: 4427968 (1984-01-01), York
patent: 4429299 (1984-01-01), Kabat et al.
patent: 4446462 (1984-05-01), Ouellette et al.
patent: 4455655 (1984-06-01), Galen et al.
patent: 4462109 (1984-07-01), Hughes
patent: 4475217 (1984-10-01), Hughes
patent: 4504831 (1985-03-01), Jahr et al.
patent: 4513415 (1985-04-01), Martinez
patent: 4517562 (1985-05-01), Martinez
patent: 4518822 (1985-05-01), Martinez
patent: 4584685 (1986-04-01), Gajjar
patent: 4628313 (1986-12-01), Gombrich et al.
patent: 4641322 (1987-02-01), Hasegawa
patent: 4641325 (1987-02-01), Hughes
patent: 4713837 (1987-12-01), Gordon
patent: 4749992 (1988-06-01), Fitzemeyer et al.
patent: 4833618 (1989-05-01), Verma et al.
patent: 4862493 (1989-08-01), Venkatarman et al.
patent: 4881070 (1989-11-01), Burrowes et al.
patent: 5268666 (1993-12-01), Michel et al.
patent: 5438329 (1995-08-01), Gastouniotis et al.
patent: 5452291 (1995-09-01), Eisenhandler e al.
patent: 5495239 (1996-02-01), Ouellette
patent: 5553094 (1996-09-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5590179 (1996-12-01), Shincovich et al.
patent: 5602744 (1997-02-01), Meek et al.
patent: 5748104 (1998-05-01), Argyroudis et al.
patent: 1140251 (1965-02-01), None
patent: 1121719 (1966-08-01), None
patent: 1172344 (1969-11-01), None
patent: 1400477 (1975-07-01), None
Colton Laurence Jay
Faith Douglas D.
Rioboli Richard David
Worman Jonathan Peter
CIC Global, LLC
Edwards, Jr. Timothy
Horabik Michael
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
LandOfFree
System and method for communication between remote locations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for communication between remote locations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for communication between remote locations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520940