Method of obtaining a reading of a utility meter
OwnerGregory T. Taisto, Steven J. Schneider +2inventors
InventorsGregory T. Taisto, Steven J. Schneider, Sidney Mack Harrison, David Lee Hill JR.
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Abstract
A method is provided of obtaining a reading of a utility meter. The method includes the steps of connecting a control circuit to the utility meter and transmitting a first data packet to the control circuit. The data packet requests the control circuit to read the utility meter. The utility meter is read in order to obtain a meter reading and a second data packet is constructed from the meter reading. The second data packet is transmitted to a central server which generates a utility bill in response to the second data packet.
Claims25
A method of obtaining a reading of a utility meter, comprising the steps:
- connecting a control circuit to the utility meter;
- transmitting a first data packet to the control circuit, the data packet requesting the control circuit read the utility meter;
- reading the utility meter to obtain a meter reading;
- and
- constructing a second data packet from the meter reading.
The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of:
- transmitting the second data packet to a server.
A method of obtaining a reading of a utility meter, comprising the steps:
- generating a first data packet for a selected utility meter, the first data packet requesting a reading of the selected utility meter;
- operatively connecting a control circuit to the selected utility meter;
- transmitting the first data packet to the control circuit over a first telephonic network;
- reading the selected utility meter to obtain a meter reading in response to receipt of the first data packet by the control circuit;
- constructing a second data packet from the meter reading;
- and
- transmitting the second data packet to a server over a second telephonic network;
- and
- generating a utility bill in response to the second data packet.
A method of obtaining a meter reading, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a control circuit to the utility meter, the utility meter being at a first location;
- transmitting a request to the control circuit to read to utility meter from a second location;
- reading the utility meter to obtain the meter reading;
- and
- transmitting the meter reading to desired location over a communications network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.