U.S. patent application number 12/344152 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-23 for multifunction data port providing an interface between a digital network and electronics in residential or commercial structures.
Invention is credited to Charles E. ROOS.
Application Number | 20090102680 12/344152 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40298125 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090102680 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ROOS; Charles E. |
April 23, 2009 |
MULTIFUNCTION DATA PORT PROVIDING AN INTERFACE BETWEEN A DIGITAL
NETWORK AND ELECTRONICS IN RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES
Abstract
A multifunction data port is located in or attached to the
utility meter or the meter box. The installation or removal of the
data port requires opening the meter seal. The data port interface
can provide broad band access to a digital network and the
Internet. It can provide the utility customer with a secure
computer terminal for commerce and telecommunications. It can
provide the electric utility load management and time of use
metering of electrical power.
Inventors: |
ROOS; Charles E.;
(Nashville, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
425 MARKET STREET
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94105-2482
US
|
Family ID: |
40298125 |
Appl. No.: |
12/344152 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09667408 |
Sep 21, 2000 |
7486782 |
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12344152 |
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09508998 |
May 18, 2000 |
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PCT/US97/16426 |
Sep 17, 1997 |
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09667408 |
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60155069 |
Sep 21, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/870.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y04S 20/30 20130101;
G06Q 20/102 20130101; Y04S 50/12 20130101; Y04S 10/50 20130101;
G06Q 50/06 20130101; Y02B 90/20 20130101; G01D 4/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/870.02 |
International
Class: |
G08C 15/06 20060101
G08C015/06 |
Claims
1. An interface, connected between a communications network and a
utility user's structure, for use with a utility meter, wherein the
utility meter collects utility usage information associated with
the utility user's structure, comprising: a computer coupled to the
utility meter for receiving the utility usage information and for
providing an interface between the communications network and a
device located inside the utility user's structure, wherein the
computer is configurable to allow the utility user to control the
device.
2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the communications network is
operable to communicate information between a utility company and
the computer.
3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the communication network is
selected from the group consisting of: fiber optic cable, a coaxial
cable, a twisted pair cable, electric power lines, and wireless
transmission media.
4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the device located inside the
utility user's structure is selected from the group consisting of:
an air conditioner, a heater, and a hot water heater.
5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the computer is configurable
to detect a power outage and inform the utility company of the
location of the utility user's structure.
6. The interface of claim 5, wherein the computer is configurable
to notify the utility user that the utility company has been
notified of the power outage.
7. The interface of claim 1, wherein the utility meter has a
housing and the computer is located inside the housing.
8. The interface of claim 1, wherein the computer is located
outside of the utility user's structure.
9. A method of interfacing a communications network and a device
located inside a utility user's structure with a utility meter,
wherein the utility meter collects utility usage information
associated with the utility user's structure, comprising: providing
an interface between the communications network and a device
located inside the utility user's structure with a computer coupled
to the utility meter, wherein the computer is configurable to allow
the utility user to control the device.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network is
operable to communicate information between a utility company and
the computer.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network is
selected from the group consisting of: fiber optic cable, a coaxial
cable, a twisted pair cable, electric power lines, and wireless
transmission media.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the device located inside the
utility user's structure is selected from the group consisting of:
an air conditioner, a heater, and a hot water heater.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is configurable to
detect a power outage and inform the utility company of the
location of the utility user's structure.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the computer is configurable to
notify the utility user that the utility company has been notified
of the power outage.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the utility meter has a housing
and the computer is located inside the housing.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer is located outside
of the utility user's structure.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application for a U.S. patent is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/667,408, filed Sep. 21,
2000, which is a continuation-in-part of now abandoned U.S.
national phase patent application Ser. No. 09/508,998, filed Jun.
15, 2000, based on international application number
PCT/US1997/016426, filed Sep. 17, 1997, from which priority is
claimed; and claims priority from U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/155,069, filed Sep. 21, 1999. The present
application incorporates by reference the foregoing patents and
applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention is related to a data port and, more
particularly, to a multifunction intelligent data port having a
computer interface between a digital service network and a utility
user's home electronics. The invention further relates to remote
utility meter reading and remote load management, as well as
telecommunications, Internet access and methods to provide secure
digital transactions.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] A customer of an electric company typically has an electric
meter located at the customer's structure or site of distribution
of electrical power. The customer's structure may be, for example,
the customer's home or office. The electric meter is owned by the
electric company and is installed in a meter box, which holds the
electric meter. The meter box may be provided and owned by the
building owner, the utility or the landlord.
[0006] The prior art includes a number of references that disclose
utility meters with associated electronics.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,453 issued to Parasekvakos et al.,
incorporated herein by reference, discloses an apparatus for remote
meter reading, wherein a remote unit, preferably located inside a
house, periodically initiates a telephone call to a utility company
and communicates power usage information.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,632 issued to Frew et al., incorporated
herein by reference, discloses a utility meter having a CPU, a
display, and associated circuitry which may be located in the
conventional meter location. Frew also discloses a remote unit
located inside the house which displays the meter information and
allows the customer to pay his bill by credit card. The remote unit
communicates with the CPU over the house's power lines. The meter
in Frew can be read by a meter reader either through the house's
power lines or via optical coupling at the meter, but does not
contain a multifunction data port with a voice and video interface,
or other attendance electronics to provide broadband digital
services with the utility and/or the Internet Service Provider
(ISP) as taught by the subject invention. Similarly, Karlsson et al
(U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,492) has disclosed a limited data port
interface and computer than can read a meter an transmit this
information back to the utility over the power lines. Karlsson can
also receive a change in power rates from the utility and transmit
both the cost and power use to a device in the user's household.
Furthermore, Frew et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,632) has disclosed a
device in the home that can read credit or debit cards and allows
the customer to pay their power bill over the communication
network. Combining Karlsson and Frew teaches a device or devices
that include(s) a computer and two-way communication of utility use
and billing data between the utility and its customer. The Frew and
Karlsson devices have electronics primarily directed to meter
reading and processing utility billing data. The purpose of the
Frew patent, as stated, is "utility meter system having all of the
functions and providing all of the information of interest to
customers and to the utility company." The 16 digit alphanumeric
display in the Frew patent is refreshed 1024 times/second. These
very small data rates are orders of magnitude lower than the
required rates for the multifunction data port of the present
invention, and do not teach the very significant elements of the
subject invention including the voice and video processor and other
multiple interfaces to both the utility and the utility user's
internal electronics and appliances. The specifications in the
current patent application describe features in the multifunction
data port that clearly distinguish it from a device like the
combination of Karksson and Frew, or either such device.
[0009] The present invention distinguishes between the limited data
rates and electronics needed for automatic meter reading and the
broad band Internet communication rates specified for the
multifunction data port. While one potential function of the
multifunction data port in the present invention is receiving and
communicating data from the utility meter, it is the other features
of the invention that make it unique in the art. The multifunction
data port in the present invention can analyze, store and report
meter and load usage information as well as communicate with the
utility user's internal electronics and appliances through voice
and video interfaces. The current cost to an electric utility to
read their meters on-site can be as low as $12-20 per year, while
potential revenues from other features offered by the multifunction
data port to the utility user can easily be over 100 times larger.
The subject invention with its multiple interfaces differ in
purpose, design, utility, novelty and data rates from other remote
reading meters and devices such as Karlsson and Frew.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,957 issued to Selph et al, incorporated
herein by reference, discloses a utility meter using a
microprocessor-based circuit and Hall effect current sensors to
measure power usage. In Selph, the meter may be read by either
remote interrogation via a telephone link or serial communication.
Selph also discloses a networked submetering arrangement useful in
apartment buildings and the like.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,995 issued to Bonner et al.,
incorporated herein by reference, discloses a remote meter reading
apparatus which is designed to retrofit existing electric meters
with a transponder capable of communicating power usage information
to the electric company over the electric power distribution
system.
[0012] It is also known in the art to utilize a house's power lines
for communication between a variety of devices.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,517 issued to Mandel, incorporated
herein by reference, discloses a central system for controlling
remote devices over a house's power line. A central control unit is
plugged into a wall outlet for communicating over the power lines
with remote units which are also plugged into wall outlets.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,862 issued to Campbell et al.,
incorporated herein by reference, discloses an appliance control
system wherein a data transmitter communicates with slave units
over a house's power lines by using digital address and operation
signals. In Campbell, the data transmitter and various slave units
are plugged into wall outlets.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,939 issued to Mansfield, Jr.,
incorporated herein by reference, discloses a circuit for
communicating over a house's power lines in which extension
telephones are connected to a conventional electrical wall outlet.
A master station connector is plugged into a wall outlet and is
also connected to the telephone line to facilitate full duplex
communication between the extension telephones and the house's
telephone line.
[0016] It is further known in the art to provide digital network
services to a house. U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,980 issued to Reynolds et
al., incorporated herein by reference, discloses a multiple service
system which delivers a variety of services to a subscriber over
telephone lines. The services disclosed in Reynolds include remote
meter reading and load management. In Reynolds, a subscriber data
subsystem is placed in the subscriber's house and communicates with
peripheral devices over a subscriber data bus. The subscriber data
bus is accessed via dedicated wiring and separate data service wall
jacks.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,191 issued to MacFayden et al.,
incorporated herein by reference, discloses a house wiring
arrangement for controlling the distribution of energy and
communications within a house. MacFayden provides a gateway
terminal as an interface for communicating outside the house over
the public telephone network or power lines.
[0018] An article entitled "Country Road Warrior" and written by
Todd Lappin, published in the August 1995 issue of WIRED on pages
46 and 50, incorporated herein by reference, discloses an electric
company which provides digital network services to its customers
using conventional communication technology over a coaxial cable
network. The network was installed for remote meter reading and
later adapted to deliver high-bandwidth data services.
[0019] None of the prior art discloses a utility meter or data port
which provides an interface between a digital service network and
home electronics.
[0020] In Parasekvakos, Frew, Selph, and Bonner, the electronics
associated with the utility meter are directed primarily to meter
reading functions.
[0021] In Mandell, Campbell, and Mansfield, communication over the
power lines is directed primarily to communication with devices
within the house. Also, in Mandell, Campbell, and Mansfield, a
separate "master" unit must be located inside the house and plugged
into a wall outlet.
[0022] In both Reynolds and MacFayden, a house must be wired with a
special wiring configuration to accommodate the specific bus
structures and communication methods disclosed. Reynolds and
MacFayden also require some type of interface unit located inside
the house. The network described by the Lappin article does not use
a computer in the meter as an interface with the digital network,
but rather requires installation of a special jack for connection
to the network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the
above and other disadvantages in the prior art. Specifically, it is
an object of the invention to provide a data port with associated
electronics to perform functions beyond meter reading, including
functions such as providing an interface between a digital services
network and home electronics.
[0024] It is an object of the invention to provide a digital
service network interface which is not located inside the house and
does not plug into a wall outlet.
[0025] It is an object of the invention to provide digital data
services into a house without rewiring the house and without
requiring special wiring.
[0026] It is an object of the invention to provide conventional
meter capabilities in conjunction with associated electronics and
broadband access to digital networks.
[0027] It is an object of the invention to provide a multifunction
data port device in a secure sealed location where installation or
removal requires breaking the utility's meter seal.
[0028] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a data
port which provides a secure banking and Internet browsing
capability.
[0029] The above and other objects of the invention are
accomplished by a data port having a standard electric power meter
and associated electronics within a meter enclosure and having a
standard base suitable for mating with a standard meter box. The
associated electronics include a computer having a network
interface and a house interface.
[0030] The computer may include a video processor and/or
descrambler for television services, a modem processor for data
services, and a voice processor for telephone services. The
computer may also include a meter interface for remote meter
reading. The meter interface may be coupled to a circuit breaker
box equipped with triacs or solid state switches for load
management. The computer may further include a personal computer
(PC) interface coupled to the other various processors and
interfaces.
[0031] The network interface may be coupled to a digital service
network, which communicates, for example, via satellite, wireless
communication, fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, or twisted pair
telephone lines. The house interface may be coupled to the house's
internal wiring including the house's power lines, telephone lines
and television coaxial cables. The house interface may communicate
with home electronics via wireless communication through, for
example, short range microwave signals such as those used by
cordless telephones. The network interface may be directly coupled
to the house interface and/or coupled through the various other
processors and interfaces.
[0032] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description, which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentality and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently
preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, and, together
with the general description given above and the detailed
description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to
explain the principles of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
multifunction data port according to the invention which provides
an interface between an electric company and a house.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the
data port attached and connected to an electric meter and said data
port encased within a meter box containing said electric meter
according to the invention which provides an interface between an
electric company and a house.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of the
data port connected to an electric meter according to the invention
which provides an interface between an electric company, a digital
service provider and a house.
[0037] FIG. 4a shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of the
multifunction data port within an electric meter housing wherein a
connection is made to a communication line according to the
invention.
[0038] FIG. 4b shows a front view of the fourth embodiment of the
multifunction data port within an electric meter housing wherein a
connection is made to a communication line according to the
invention.
[0039] FIG. 5a shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention
with a multifunction data port located between the utility meter
and the meter box,
[0040] FIG. 5b shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention
with the utility interface apparatus or multifunction data port
attached to the side of a meter box.
[0041] FIG. 5c shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention
with the utility interface apparatus or multifunction data port
attached to the front of a meter box.
[0042] FIG. 5d shows an embodiment of the invention with the
utility interface apparatus or multifunction data port attached to
the side of a power pole and thence connected to a meter box.
[0043] FIG. 5e shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention
with a utility interface apparatus or multifunction data port
located inside the meter box.
[0044] FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method
using said data port interface apparatus according to the invention
to provide for secure financial transactions.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a system and apparatus for the
distribution of broadband communication, other utility services and
electrical power to multifamily living units and commercial
buildings with the said multifunction data port.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of 110 a data port 165
according to the invention connected to a standard meter box 114
and an electric meter 110. An electric company 120 provides
electrical service to a house 130 over external power lines 128
suspended by utility poles 124. Alternatively, the electric company
120 may provide electric service to the house 130 via power lines
buried under the ground.
[0047] According to the invention, electric company 120 provides a
digital service over a network communication line 160, which may
be, for example, fiber optic cable, coaxial cable, wireless, power
lines or twisted pair cable. The data port 165 provides an
interface between the digital service network and the internal
house wiring 134. Internal house wiring 134 may include, for
example, power lines, telephone lines, and television coaxial
cables. An electronic interface device 150 can plug into a wall
outlet 138 to access said digital service network. Device 150 may,
for example, provide video, multimedia and game signals to
television or monitor 142.
[0048] As previously discussed, the electric meter 110 is owned by
the electric company 120 and is installed in the meter box 114
which is provided by the building owner or by the utility. The data
port 165 according to the invention includes the addition of a
video connection and various computer electronics and switches and
in this embodiment, the data port 165 is attached by wire and/or
wirelessly 164 to said meter 110. The electric meter 110 continues
to measure power consumption by standard means. The addition of the
data port's 165 signal processing permits the electric company 120
and/or the ISP 161 to provide, for example, both video and
telephone communication in addition to electrical service.
[0049] The data port 165 according to this embodiment of the
invention may also provide remote meter 110 readings and load
control, simultaneously with interactive communication, and a
household computer connection at very little extra cost. The use of
the data port 165 to read the electric meter 110 is advantageous
because the electric company can justify the costs to a regulatory
agency on the basis of remote meter readings, load control, and
customer billing and communication at times of power outages and
other emergencies. The data port 165 according to the invention
also can be quickly installed in the sealed meter box 114. The
invention thus permits a regulated electric utility 120 to have an
unregulated subsidiary that can deliver broadband access to digital
and analog data and be in the telephone, video or multimedia
business.
[0050] Further advantages may be realized because many electric
companies already run fiber optic or coaxial cables or wireless
connections to their major switching stations. Typically, utility
companies have easements and own the utility poles. Therefore the
electric company can easily extend these cables or wireless
connections to each household.
[0051] The electric utility also has the option to work with a
cable company to use the cable company's previously existing
coaxial lines. For example, the previously-existing coaxial cable
may be run directly to the data port 165 according to the invention
and thereafter supplied to the house with multiple functions
supplied by the data port 165. Data port 165 may be installed and
attached to existing coaxial cables quickly without access to the
internal wiring of the house. The utility 120 may be in a good
position to negotiate with the cable company because it has the
alternative of running its own coaxial cable and offering Internet
and digital cable service competing directly, like the electric
company in the Lappin article.
[0052] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a
multifunction data port 270 in an electric meter case 210,
according to the invention providing a connection to an electric
company 220 and digital service provider 261 which provides digital
service over network communication line 260 to a house 230 using
house power line 232 and/or communication line 236. The meter case
210 is coupled to the sealed meter box 214 and protects data port
270. Said data port 270 is connected to network communication line
260 through a network interface 272. Said data port also includes a
house interface 274 and meter interface 384 to read a standard
electric power meter 280, both of which are coupled with network
interface 272. Network interface 272 and house interface 274 may
comprise signal-processing computers that can function as a router
for access to the Internet or other digital services networks.
[0053] Electric company 220 supplies electrical power over external
power lines 228 which are connected to standard electric power
meter 280 and house's internal power lines 232. House interface 274
is also coupled to house's internal power lines 232 and the house's
other internal communication wiring 236. The house interface 274
may communicate with devices such as those described in the prior
art references. The house interface 274 may also transmit and
receive telephone and computer signals over the internal power
lines 232 and the network interface 272 may receive and transmit
these signals over the network communication line 260. This
configuration puts the digital service providers 261 in
communication with home electronics over the network communication
line 260, through the data port 270.
[0054] The electric utility 220 and/or digital service providers
261 may, for example, compete with a local telephone company by
providing a telephone device adapted to communicate over the
internal power line 232 or communication line 236 to the house
interface 274 and through the data port's 270 network interface 272
to a digital switching service 261. Thus, the voice processor 394
shown in FIG. 3 may be a commercially available voice processor
adapted for transmitting and receiving analog or digital voice
information directly over the house internal power lines 332. The
electric company 220 could further provide a direct connection to
various long distance companies and Internet digital service
providers 261. The electric utility also has the option to contract
with the local phone companies and make use of their existing
switching systems.
[0055] In another example, said data port 270 with network
interface 272 may function as a computer switch and Internet router
and communication line 260 may comprise a fiber optic or coax cable
or wireless. A computer switch or router operating in conjunction
with connection 260 to a digital service provider 261 can receive
several hundred channels of information, and broadband data
transmission. House interface 274 may be in communication with a
home electronic device, such as a video monitor, and may, in
response to a request from the home electronic device, function to
select a desired channel for transmission over the internal power
lines 232 and/or other internal wiring 236 to the home electronic
device. Network interface 272 with data port 270 may be further
operative to descramble signals, function as a firewall, and
provide billing information. Because of the ease of installing a
data port 270 according to the invention, connection to a digital
service provider 261 is relatively inexpensive.
[0056] The meter box 214 is typically located near a junction of
the internal telephone and cable lines 236 and power lines 232, all
of which belong to the house owner 230. An electric meter case 210
containing a data port 270 according to the invention, by being
installed in the sealed meter box 214, puts the electric company
220 in an advantageous position to control the flow of multimedia
information. Because of the advantageous location, the invention
provides convenient access to the utility user's electronics.
[0057] The electric company 220 can also provide the home owner 230
a unique advantage by integrating the various functions described
herein into the data port 270 in the electric meter case 210
according to the invention. Because the electric company owns and
can replace the previously-existing electric meter with an electric
meter 280 and data port 270 according to the invention, the
invention eliminates the need for any installation on the part of
the customer 230. The invention is advantageous even in new
construction situations, because no additional installation is
required. The invention provides a further advantage by not
requiring a dedicated wall outlet or special wiring to provide
access to a digital service network.
[0058] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of associated electronics
for a data port 370 connected to an electric meter 380 through a
meter interface 384 according to the invention with a detailed
block diagram of said data port, comprising a signal processing
computer-router 398 which comprises and provides an interface
between an electric company 320, a digital services provider 360
and a house 330. The data port 370 may be located in the electric
meter case (not shown) or may be located at a distant location from
the meter 380 and in communication with said meter through meter
interface 384. The electric company 320 and/or the ISP 360 provides
digital data services via network wireless transceiver device 361
and over fiber optic cables 364, coaxial cables 366, and twisted
pair cables 368, or directly over power lines 328. The computer
router 398 is coupled to the digital data services 360 through
network interface 372.
[0059] Network interface 372 provides a remote wireless transceiver
device 362 to communicate via wireless transmission 361. Such
communication might include transmitting and receiving signals over
a selected microwave frequency channel, or the publicly owned
Industrial, Science and Medical (ISM) band broadcasting. Data
transmission on the selected frequency channel might also include
such techniques as token ring data transmission, spread spectrum
transmission, and/or packet data transmission. Alternatively,
wireless transmission media might include infrared, optical,
cellular, or satellite communications.
[0060] Said data port 370 provides a video processor 390, a modem
processor 392, and a voice processor 394 and a meter interface 384,
all of which are coupled to network interface 372, house interface
374, and router computer 398 for both receiving and transmitting
their respective signals. Said data port 370 also provides a
battery backup 376 to supply power to the data port with its
attendant electronics and multiple interfaces 370 in the event of a
power failure, and a hard disk drive 399 or alternative storage
device.
[0061] Data port 370 may notify electric company 320 in the event
of power failure. Likewise, the data port 370 may store customer
service messages from the power company 320 on hard drive or memory
storage device 399. In the case of a power outage as detected by
the meter interface 384, the data port 370 could retrieve a
customer service message from drive 399 and use it to telephone and
reassure the customer that the utility is aware of said power
outage and is working to solve the problem. Typically, the utility
customer service telephone lines are overloaded at times of power
problems and the recorded message should help to reduce the number
of telephone calls.
[0062] Video processor 390 operated by the data port 370 is further
coupled to de-scrambler 396 for providing de-scrambled video
signals to house interface 374. For example, the video processor
390 may be an a commercially available MPEG-2 decoder chip, with
both audio and vide decoding capability. Alternatively, multi-chip
or software MPEG-2 decoders can be employed, or decoders based on
other audiovisual standards, such as motion JPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-4,
H.261 or H.263 may be utilized.
[0063] The data port's 370 hard drive 399 may also be written with
educational or commercial materials previously requested by the
customer via messages received by processors 390, 392 & 394 at
times when there is little demand for telephone usage. Such
capability allows the customer fast access to materials recorded on
the drive 399 without the need for high speed broadband access, in
the case where such access is not available. A full feature movie
or other lengthy audiovisual materials could be ordered by a
consumer for delivery during off-peak hours.
[0064] House interface 374 is coupled to house's internal wiring
including house's internal power lines 332, and telephone lines or
communication wiring 338, and television coaxial cables 339. The
house interface 374 may also communicate with home electronics via
wireless communication 375. For example, cordless telephones
communicate over short range microwave signals, including the IEEE
standard 802.11a/b/g. The house interface 374 may utilize similar
short-range wireless communication using antennas 378 and 377.
[0065] Computer-router 398 is coupled to house interface 374 and
can provide personal computer functions to users in house 330.
Personal computer peripherals which require user access, such as
floppy disk drives, audio speakers, and CD ROM drives, may be
provided inside the house 330 and communicate with the data port's
computer-router 398 through the house interface 374. Thus, the data
port 370 according to the invention may be used as an Internet
router 398, incorporating all the functions of a personal computer
configured for Internet browsing.
[0066] Electric company 320 provides electrical power service over
external power lines 328. External power lines 328 enter the meter
box (not shown) 134 to which meter 380 is sealed and then into the
house 330 via power lines 332 to circuit breaker box 388. Meter
interface 384 is electrically connected to the power meter 380 and
it is electrically connected via power lines 332 to circuit breaker
box 388. Circuit breaker box 388 passes electrical power service to
house over the house's internal power lines (not shown) 134. The
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is advantageous with respect to power
management. For example, the electric company 320 may obtain a time
of use record of both power use and power factor by communicating
periodically with the data port 370 and said data port meter
interface 384.
[0067] Alternatively, the device may be employed to change
thermostat settings for air conditioning, heat and hot water
functions in the house 330 as a function of changes in the cost
and/or availability of electric power. In order to effect such
changes, the utility would transmit to the device the current cost
of power, which would then be compared to predetermined thresholds
set by the home owner and change the temperature settings for the
water heater and air conditioner. The house owner can thus select a
permitted range of thermostat changes for their electrical services
based on the cost of power.
[0068] In addition to reduction in costs for meter reading, the
third embodiment of the data port 370 may also detect tampering or
attempts at bypassing the meter 380. Likewise, a global positioning
satellite may be employed to monitor the position of the meter via
wireless transmission device 362 to detect movement of the device
and the location of the device, in the event of a disaster or
tampering.
[0069] The data port 370 coupled to electric meter 380 according to
the invention can also notify the utility when there is a power
outage. Another example is advantageous billing arrangements. If
there was a problem with the customer's payments, the electric
company 320 could instruct the data port 370 to notify the customer
through, for example, a message on the customer's television 142 or
by email over the Internet or any digital network as the invention
prescribes.
[0070] Regarding load management, the use of triacs or other solid
state switches (not shown) in meter 380 or circuit breaker box 388
enables the electric company 320 in communication with the data
port 370 to selectively turn on and off the power remotely to
specific circuits. For example, the electric company 320 might turn
off hot water heater circuits during excess power demands. In
another example, the triacs in communication with the data port 370
and the electric company 320 can be used to reduce the voltage if
the power company has excess power demands. Triacs or other
remotely controlled switches in the meter box 114 (not shown)
coupled with the data port 370 could also be used to remotely shut
off power if there is evidence of meter tampering, unpaid power
bills or a change in the account, such as a request for disconnect
made by the house owner through the data port 370, or communicated
to said data port by the electric company 320 and/or the house
owner.
[0071] The data port 370 coupled to the electric meter 380
according to the invention also provides advantages for the
customer's own energy management. The customer can use the data
port 370 coupled to the electric meter 380 according to the
invention to change the thermostat settings for air conditioning
and the hot water heater and to control the use and operation of
appliances. This system will permit the customer to enjoy reduced
rates by, for example, running the dishwasher and hot water heater
at the times of lowest power demands and reducing the air
conditioning load at times of peak demand. The interaction of the
TV 142 and internal power lines advantageously permits the power
user to control their power use with the TV as a potential monitor
or with the house owner's computer peripherals and the data port
370. For example, the data port 370 according to the invention can
be programmed to give different customers an individual choice of
lower power rates by controlling the timing of different loads or
higher rates with unrestricted use of power.
[0072] The data port 370 and its multiple interfaces 372,374,384
coupled to electric meter 380 according to the invention also
advantageously provides each household with the functional
equivalent of a personal computer, which can potentially use a TV
142 as a monitor, and be connected to the house owner's other
computers and peripheral electronic devices and microprocessors,
forming a home network. The electric company 320 or the ISP 360 may
supply or rent software for the personal computer 398 over the said
digital service network.
[0073] For example, the electric company 320 might provide a "free"
service for school children to use said data port and Internet
access for their homework. This has the advantage of improving the
public relations with utility customers and the state regulatory
commissions as well as getting children used to using the software
made available by the electric company 320 and/or the ISP 360. The
data port 370 according to the invention might be used by the house
owner to also utilize the computer-router 398 in said data port,
coupled to the meter 380 to provide access to the Internet and for
conducting secure financial transactions, such as described below
in FIG. 6. The electric company 320 can also provide programming to
and through the data port 370 to make it very easy for the consumer
to pay their power bills each month.
[0074] A regulated utility, like an electric company 320, can
justify the costs of the data port 370 coupled to the electric
meter 380 according to the invention because it will reduce the
costs to read meters, provide better communication between the
utility and its customers and it will provide significant help in
power management. The unregulated portion of the electric company
320, which could also be an ISP 360, can obtain revenues from
electronic communications. Recent legislation has reduced
regulation in communications and this opens the field for the
electric company 320, which is already connected to every house.
The data port 370 coupled to the electric meter 380 according to
the invention will enable the electric company to be competition
for both the telephone and television cable companies and provides
a strong incentive for these companies to work with the electric
company 320 by supplying a digital service network over existing
telephone and television lines, by fiber optics or wirelessly, or
any combination thereof according to the embodiment of the
invention described in FIG. 3.
[0075] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a side and a front view, respectively,
of a fourth embodiment of the data port 470 in an electric meter
enclosure 412 according to the invention wherein a connection is
made to a communication line 460 & 436.
[0076] Electric meter-data port 410 has a meter enclosure 412,
which encloses standard electric power meter 480 and associated
electronics of the data port 470. Meter enclosure 412 forms a seal
with meter seal ring 418 to provide protection from the elements
and is mated with standard meter box 414 and by the seal 418 is
sealed to the meter box 414. External power lines or conduit 428
enter the sealed meter box 414 from the top (or any angle or
direction) and power is supplied to a house 330 through a power
conduit 433 also coupled and/or connected to the data port 470
which said conduit is shown exiting the meter box 414 from the
side.
[0077] Associated electronics 470 are coupled to communication line
460 through a cable 465. Electric meter enclosure 412 provides a
stress relief 467 for cable 465. Cable 465 is coupled to
communication line 460 at connection point 463, and to the data
port 470. Signals are communicated in the house over internal cable
436 or by power lines 332 in this embodiment.
[0078] According to the fourth embodiment, communication line 460
comprises, for example, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, power
line, wireless or a twisted pair telephone line. In the case of a
coaxial cable, connection point 463 may be a simple coaxial "T"
connection. Connection point 463 may otherwise be a "splice" type
connection wherein signals on communication line 460 are passed
directly onto internal cable 436 in addition to being processed by
the data port and its associated electronics 470 over cable
465.
[0079] For example, communication line 460 may deliver conventional
television signals to the house, some of which are scrambled or in
digital format. The conventional signals could be delivered
directly to the house for reception on a conventional TV.
Concurrently, via a "T" connection, associated electronics in the
data port 370 may process the scrambled television signals and
deliver de-scrambled television signals over the house's internal
power lines for reception by a remote device 150 plugged into an
electrical wall outlet. The remote device would put the
de-scrambled signals back on conventional television coaxial cable
or conventional video and audio cables 339 for reception on the TV
142. Alternatively, the associated video processor 390 electronics
could convert digital TV signals to analog signals and/or may shift
and superimpose the de-scrambled television signal onto internal
cable 339 for reception on the conventional analog TV 142.
[0080] The data port 370 according to the invention can provide
numerous advantageous applications to the user. For example, the
user can request information regarding the user's utility usage and
bill. The user may utilize the data port 370 according to the
invention for Internet banking or to pay the utility bill and other
bills via credit card or other payment arrangements.
[0081] Another example is information access. The data port 370
according to the invention could provide a virtual personal
computer for the user that can be interfaced to the user's home
electronics and appliances. The personal computer connection
feature may provide access to various interactive computer services
supplied by the utility 320 or the ISP 360, or both. For example,
the user can utilize the data port and its associated electronics
370 according to the invention to access the Internet and other
information sources. The user could use their home television set
142 as a display or monitor. The electric company 320 or the ISP
360 or both may also provide computer software and games for use
with the virtual personal computer function of the data port 370,
470 and its associated electronics and interfaces.
[0082] Both the electric company 320 and the user could use the
multifunction data port 370 according to the invention
advantageously for load management. The electric company 320 could,
for example, suspend electric service to non-essential circuits,
such as hot water heaters, during peak demand times. The user
could, for example, arrange to have the dishwasher run during lower
rate hours. The electric company 320 could also use the data port
and its associated electronics 370 according to the invention for
remote meter reading and also for detection of tampering by, for
example, determining unusual changes in power usage.
[0083] The data port 370 according to the invention can also detect
power outages and other problems with the electric company's
distribution system. The data port's computer-router 398 may be
programmed to calculate the harmonic distortion in the power line
using fast Fourier transform analysis. Providing this calculation
of harmonics to the power company 320 via network interface 362 can
enable the said company to either correct the power factor or
harmonic noise or, when appropriate, to charge higher fees when the
home owner or power user is creating excessive electrical noise or
power factor.
[0084] Alternatively, the data port 370 device may be employed to
remotely change thermostat settings for air conditioning, heat and
hot water functions in the house 330 as a function of changes in
the cost and/or availability of electric power; this may be
accomplished by the house owner or the utility or both, though the
use of the data port and its associated electronics 370. Power
costs have recently gone as high as $500 to $1,000 per
kilowatt-hour at times of reduced generation capacity. In order to
effect such changes, the utility 320 would transmit to the data
port device 370 the current cost of power, which would then be
compared to predetermined thresholds set by the home owner on the
computer router 398 of the data port 370. The amount of the change
in thermostat settings could be set as a function of the current
cost of a kilowatt-hour. The house owner is able to choose
different ranges of thermostat settings at times of reduced
generation capacity depending on the cost of electrical power. Both
the utility user 330 and the utility company 320 can change
thermostatic settings in this embodiment of the invention remotely
over the Internet from any location utilizing the features of the
data port 370. Changing settings on thermostats is a much better
way for the utility to shed load than cutting power to whole
regions of the city.
[0085] The data port 370 according to the invention provides a
further advantage of being able to monitor and collect data on the
television 142 viewing habits of the user. Safeguards must insure
that this information is only available if the homeowner authorizes
it. Likewise, the data port could be used as the means for voting
or census taking. Such information can be collected at the home 330
and communicated over the communication network 362,364,366, 368.
For example, viewing habit information may be collected by the
video processor 390 of the data port 370 and stored on the hard
disk or other memory device 399 of the data port 370 by the data
port's router-computer 398, and transmitted to the electric company
320 upon request. Such information is useful to determine the size
of the viewing audience for various different television programs.
Likewise, voting, census or other information could be collected in
the house 330 using a television remote control or other input
device coupled to the data port as a sealed secure terminal
623.
[0086] The data port 370 according to the invention could be used
for interactive instructional and job training programs in the
home. An instructional program could be viewed on the user's
television set and the user could, for example, use a remote
control device coupled to the data port 370 to respond to multiple
choice questions posed by the instructional program.
[0087] Other advantages of the data port 370 include the ability
for the electric company 320 to provide video signals, such as
pay-per-view programs, to the user. The signals may be scrambled at
the point of distribution and de-scrambled 396 by the data port 370
according to the invention. The electric company 320 may also
provide connection to various local and long distance telephone
services and the ISP 360 through the data port 370 according to the
invention.
[0088] A particularly advantageous use of the data port 370, 470
according to the invention includes monitoring movement and/or a
personal medical alert device worn by a user inside the home. Such
a device may, for example, transmit medical data on a periodic
basis and be relayed to a physician through the data port 370, 470
according to the invention. For example, the device 370 could
transmit information by way of a wireless connection 361,362 to the
utility company 320 or digital service provider 360 via the
computer-router 398. Alternatively, said device may be activated by
the user to alert emergency medical services through the data port
370, 470 according to the invention. A similar advantage can be
achieved to monitor movements of a user restricted to their homes
by, for example, a court order when said user is wearing a wireless
homing and/or tracking device coupled to the data port 370, 470.
Computer 398 in multifunction data port 370 may include global
position software (GPS) for detecting a satellite identified
location of the personal medical alert device or other such other
tracking device using, for example, network wireless transmission
362 which includes GPS satellite communications. Multifunction data
port 370 may also be configured to detect security breaches in the
seal 418 of said data port with motion sensors (not shown).
[0089] As noted above, the data port 370 according to the invention
can transmit and or receive information from digital and analog
networks directly over the power lines 128. Any of the several
well-known techniques for using power lines to transmit digital or
analog information into the home 330 may be employed. For example,
Dr. Sanderson has described a system for distribution of broad band
multi-media services over the high-voltage cables of a power
distribution network (U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,759), the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein, and this 759 patent includes other
references to power line carrier technology (PLC) also known as
broadband over power line (BPL).
[0090] FIGS. 5a-5e illustrate various arrangements for placement of
the multifunction data port 570 attached to a meter box or power
pole or placed within a utility meter. Thus, in FIG. 5a, an
embodiment of the invention where a multifunction data port 570 is
located between the utility meter 510 and the meter box 514, via
meter seal rings 518. The multifunction data port 570 is coupled to
a wireless communication line through stress relief 567 and antenna
565 in FIG. 5a.
[0091] In FIG. 5b, the utility interface apparatus or multifunction
data port 570 is attached to the side of a meter box 514, using,
for example, a seal ring 518, which is also shown as seal ring 418.
In some case, a conduit or connector 560 may connect data port 570
to a side of meter box 514. Conduit or connector 560 may be similar
to connection line 460 as is in (FIG. 4). In FIG. 5c, the utility
interface apparatus or multifunction data port 570 is attached to
the front of a meter box 514. In FIG. 5d, the utility interface
apparatus or multifunction data port 570 is attached to the side of
a power pole 524 with cross tie 522 and coupled to a meter box 514
of the house 530 owner. Said data port is in a secure location near
the transformer 540 under high voltage distribution lines 548 with
insulators 545. Said data port is also shown connected to junction
box 542 connecting lower voltage wires 528 to the step down
terminals 543 of said transformer. This provides a tamper-resistant
location where a potential vandal faces the threat of being
electrocuted. The data port 570 in this embodiment is, as similarly
illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, also connected to the utility company
520, the ISP, 561 by wireline 563 and wirelessly 565, 567, and
thence to the electric meter 514 of the house 530 owner, also by
wireline 549, 528, and wirelessly 566. Finally, in FIG. 5e, the
utility interface apparatus and multifunction data port 570 is
located inside of the meter box 514.
[0092] Referring next to FIG. 6, a sixth embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated, with the data port being used to
facilitate secure banking and Internet transactions. As noted
above, the data port may be used in connection with a home based
input device, such as a television remote control, to enable
communication between the electric company and the homeowner. Using
a remote control, a wireless keyboard or other input devices (not
shown) that are linked to a house electric lines 332, the present
invention likewise permits a homeowner to conduct secure banking
and Internet purchasing. In addition bank 621 has the option 635 to
check if the vendor is not trustworthy or a suspect company 635
cited for fraud, prior liens or with a poor credit rating and the
option to check if the vendor is not a domestic business subject to
U.S. laws 630, in which event additional purchase authorization
requirements may be imposed 632. If vendor 630 is not trustworthy
635 or subject to US domestic laws 630, bank 621 may require proof
that vendor 631 has shipped the goods to purchaser before
guaranteeing payment 632.
[0093] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps of a method
to conduct secure banking and Internet purchasing using the data
ports. A purchaser 620 who wishes to conduct such business may use
the data port, acting as a secure terminal 623, to contact his or
her bank 621. At step 620 router-computer 398 in the data port
secure terminal 623 monitors the security of the data port seal 418
and/or network interface 372 for any breaches to the physical
firewall 615. In this embodiment the said data port 622 would be
under seal and placed close to electric wires. When a home owner
initiates a banking transaction or Internet purchase on data port
interface 620, computer-router 398 it will transmit only the
encrypted data port serial number, and encrypted data to the
appropriate bank or other financial institution, which has stored
the private encryption algorithm or key in said data port with bank
customer's permission, via the digital services network 625. Vendor
630 is only sent an encrypted credit or debit card number designed
for one time use and the bank would be the only institution, which
has a look up table to associate the data port's 623 serial number
with the encryption key required to ultimately decode the message.
In this way, a thief would have to gain access to both the serial
number and public key table that is only held by the financial
institution 621.
[0094] Returning to FIG. 6, when a purchaser at the data port
interface 620 transmits their credit or debit card information over
the Internet 622 to a vendor 630 to make a purchase, the vendor
will ordinarily contact 624 the bank 621 that issued the credit
card to verify the transaction. The bank then checks to determine
whether the purchaser has sufficient funds to conduct the
transaction/Internet purchase 622. In accordance with the present
invention, in order to verify that the purchase has originated from
the homeowner's secure terminal 623 the bank can also send a query
625 to the home owner's data port secure terminal 623 if the card
number is not encrypted and lacks code from card's magnetic strip
showing that vendor 630 used said card for the authorization
request 624. If sufficient funds are lacking 633, or the purchase
authorization 634 was not on the secure terminal 623 and vendor 630
did not have physical possession of said card, the bank 621
notifies the vendor 630 that payment has been refused 640 and
informs the purchaser 620 the reason that the bank 621 refused
payment authorization 641.
[0095] In addition, bank 621 has the option 635 to check if the
vendor is not trustworthy, e.g., because it is a suspect company or
the option 636 to check if the vendor is not a domestic business
subject to US laws 630, in which event additional purchase
authorization requirements may be imposed 632. Options 635 and 636
may be exercised sequentially. First exercising option 635, bank
621 may find that the vendor is untrustworthy (untrustworthy=YES),
then bank 621 may refuse authorization (641). If the vendor is
trustworthy (untrustworthy=NO), bank 621 may then exercise option
636 to check if the vendor is or is not a domestic business subject
to US laws. If vendor 630 is subject to US domestic laws, bank 621
may promptly guarantee payment to the vendor (631). If vendor 630
is not subject to US domestic laws, bank 621 may require proof that
vendor 630 has shipped the goods to the purchaser before
guaranteeing payment (632).
[0096] Only when all safeties are met will the bank 621 guarantee
payment to the vendor 630 and the transaction is consummated 631.
Each secure purchase or secure transaction by the purchaser house
owner at data port interface 620 rate will generate a different
encrypted key or encryption algorithm for each transaction or
purchase. In this way, the purchaser 620 is offered additional
consumer protection to prevent transactions initiated by a third
party which may have gained unauthorized access to his or her
credit card information or in dealings with potentially troublesome
vendors 635.
[0097] FIG. 7 shows the use of the invention to sub-meter
electrical power and to provide computer services and Internet
access to apartment buildings, military housing, residential and
commercial complexes 700. This invention can be a way to bridge the
"digital divide" and bring computer services and access to the
Internet for transient populations and low income groups, with
benefits to each consumer with meter box 740, the utility 120 and
the telecommunication facility or ISP 161.
[0098] The municipality or owner of the commercial or residential
complex 700 can contract with the utility 120 for wholesale
electric power delivered by the power line 710 to the master meter
705 before and this power is distributed over the internal lines
715 to each sub meter 740 in the complex 700. Each sub-meter box
740 and the multifunction data port 741 are attached under seal
(not shown) in the sub meter box 740. The multiple data ports 741
are in this embodiment acting as slave units to the master data
port 725 which is also an Internet router and can have multiple
interfaces including video, voice, telephone, thermostatic heating
and cooling, messaging and alarming, scrambling and descrambling
and digital routing as described in FIG. 3 above. The multiple data
ports 741 are capable of being networked with the master data port
725 in order to create a grid computing network, thus leveraging
the computing power of the total of the said data ports. The
landlord or municipality also can obtain broad band data access to
the Internet 720 and digital data via the external signal access
connection 720, which can be wireless, OC1, T1, DSL, coax cable or
direct fiber, or power line carrier (PLC) or broadband over power
line (BPL), or by any combinations of connections through any
technologies or spectra as outlined herein. The internal Internet
Router 725 sends this digital data over the internal signal lines
730 to the individual multifunction data ports 741 located in each
unit. The internal signal lines 730 can be optic fiber, wireless,
twisted pair telephone lines etc. or they can represent use of the
internal power lines 715 for data distribution and Internet access
710 via PLC or BPL.
[0099] The electric meter box 740 is a secure sealed location with
power for the computer and data port 741 and helps to insure that
this invention will remain with the property when the tenant moves
and that the data port will always be available for use by future
residents. The secure sealed location of the data ports 741 in this
embodiment protects against misappropriation of electric power or
outright theft of the data port 741. The municipality or landlord
can offer additional services to residents and apartment tenants
through the 705 master meter, the slave unit data ports 741 and/or
the data port master router-computer-central processing unit 725.
These features of this embodiment of the present invention can be
used in apartments, commercial buildings, public and military
housing, or sections of a city, to provide the following:
[0100] 1. Data port for telecommunications, multimedia and Internet
access
[0101] 2. Education and Internet access
[0102] 3. A secure terminal for e-Banking and e-Commerce
[0103] 4. Job services and job training.
[0104] 5. Medical monitoring and home care.
[0105] 6. Time of use electric rates and energy management
[0106] 7. Computer technology and games
[0107] 8. Descrambler for video and MPEG 2.
[0108] 9. Communication and public safety
[0109] 10. Controller for internal appliances
[0110] 11. Networked grid computing
[0111] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. For example, an alternative
arrangement might include having the associated data port 570
electronics located in a junction box on the utility pole or in
another external location, as illustrated and described in FIG. 5-d
above. While the foregoing embodiments have been described with
reference to a house and multiple dwelling units, one skilled in
the art will appreciate that the invention is applicable to other
residential and commercial structures and utility
infrastructure.
[0112] Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not
limited to the specific details, and representative devices, shown
and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications and
alterations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope
of the general and specific inventive concepts as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *