Mobile application-based proxy service for connecting devices such as meters to a remote server

A computer program product comprising:

• a first plurality of processor-executable instructions that embody software for execution by a device, the first plurality of instructions being resident on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and being configured, upon execution by a processor of the device, to cause the device to (1) assemble data from the device into a message and (2) command a first personal area network (“PAN”) transceiver to wirelessly transmit the message over a PAN as a plurality of message segments according to a PAN protocol;
• and
• a second plurality of processor-executable instructions that embody a mobile application for execution by a portable computer, wherein the portable computer comprises a second PAN transceiver and a wide area network (“WAN”′) transceiver, the second plurality of instructions being resident on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and being configured, upon execution by a processor of the portable computer, to:
• create a proxy service that links the PAN with a WAN, wherein the proxy service includes (1) a wireless PAN connection that pairs the portable computer with the device over the PAN via the first and second PAN transceivers and (2) a wireless connection with the WAN via the WAN transceiver for communications over the WAN with a remote server;
• receive the message segments from the device through the proxy service via the wireless PAN connection;
• reassemble the message from the received message segments according the PAN protocol;
• prepare the message for transmission over the WAN according to a WAN protocol;
• and
• send the prepared message to the remote server through the proxy service via the wireless WAN connection according to the WAN protocol;
• wherein the proxy service created by the mobile application leverages an existing data service plan from a carrier for the portable computer to communicate the assembled data from the device to the remote server (i) without leveraging a tethering plan from the carrier for the portable computer to provide a path for communicating the assembled data from the device to the remote server and (ii) without making any phone calls.

A proxy system comprising:

• software for provisioning to a device, the software for execution by the device to cause the device to (1) assemble data from the device into a message and (2) command a first personal area network (“PAN”) transceiver to wirelessly transmit the message over a PAN as a plurality of message segments according to a PAN protocol;
• and
• a member of the group consisting of (1) a smart phone, (2) a tablet computer, and (3) a mobile handheld computing device, wherein the member comprises:
• a wide area network (“WAN”) transceiver;
• a second PAN transceiver;
• a memory configured to store a plurality of processor-executable instructions that embody a mobile application;
• and
• a processor in cooperation with the memory, wherein the processor configured to execute the mobile application;
• wherein execution of the mobile application causes the processor to:
• create a proxy service that links the PAN with a WAN, wherein the proxy service includes (1) a wireless PAN connection that pairs the member with the device over the PAN via the first and second PAN transceivers and (2) a wireless connection with the WAN via the WAN transceiver for communications over the WAN with a remote server;
• receive the message segments from the device through the proxy service over the wireless PAN connection;
• reassemble the message from the received message segments according the PAN protocol;
• prepare the message for transmission over the WAN according to a WAN protocol;
• and
• send the prepared message to the remote server through the proxy service via the wireless WAN connection according to the WAN protocol;
• wherein the proxy service created by the mobile application leverages an existing data service plan from a carrier for the member to communicate the assembled data from the device to the remote server (i) without leveraging a tethering plan from the carrier for the member to provide a path for communicating the assembled data from the device to the remote server and (ii) without making any phone calls.

A proxy system that links a personal area network (“PAN”) with a wide area network (“WAN”) to provide a communication path between a device and a remote server, the system comprising:

• a distinct PAN transceiver unit for connection with the device to provide connectivity for the device with the PAN, wherein the distinct PAN transceiver unit comprises a processor, a memory, and a first PAN transceiver, wherein the processor of the distinct PAN transceiver unit is configured to (1) assemble data from the device into a message and (2) command the PAN transceiver to wirelessly transmit the message over the PAN as a plurality of message segments according to a PAN protocol;
• and
• a mobile application for download onto a portable computer that includes (1) a processor, (2) a second PAN transceiver, and (3) a WAN transceiver, wherein the mobile application comprises a plurality of processor-executable instructions for execution by the processor of the portable computer to:
• create a proxy service that links the PAN with the WAN, wherein the proxy service includes (1) a wireless PAN connection that pairs the portable computer with the device over the PAN via the first and second PAN transceivers and (2) a wireless connection with the WAN via the WAN transceiver for communications over the WAN with the remote server;
• receive the message segments from the device through the proxy service over the wireless PAN connection;
• reassemble the message from the received message segments according the PAN protocol;
• prepare the message for transmission over the WAN according to a WAN protocol;
• and
• send the prepared message to the remote server through the proxy service via the wireless WAN connection according to the WAN protocol;
• and
• wherein the proxy service created by the mobile application leverages an existing data service plan from a carrier for the portable computer to communicate the assembled data from the device to the remote server (i) without leveraging a tethering plan from the carrier for the portable computer to provide a path for communicating the assembled data from the device to the remote server and (ii) without making any phone calls.