System and method for on-line monitoring and billing of power consumption

A power line communication system for communication between a master device and a slave device, comprising:

• (a) a master device coupled to a power line and operative to transmit a request for data over said power line to a slave device and to receive data transmitted by said slave device over said power line,
• wherein said master device is operative to transmit a request for data over said power line to said slave device that is at a baud rate low enough to ensure reliable reception by said slave device, and
• wherein said request for data comprises instructions to said slave device to transmit responsive data over said power line within specific transmission parameters;
• and
• (b) a slave device coupled to said power line and operative to transmit data over said power line in response to a request for data received over said power line from a master device,
• wherein said slave device is capable of transmitting data over said power line within said specific transmission parameters.

A method of monitoring energy usage, comprising the steps of:

• (a) measuring energy usage using a microprocessor-controlled digital electricity metering device;
• (b) storing data representing measured energy usage at regular intervals of time in a non-volatile, non-battery-operated data storage device;
• (c) receiving a request for said stored data over a power line from a transponder;
• and
• (d) in response to said request, transmitting said stored data over said power line to said transponder.

A method of power line communication between a master device and a slave device, comprising the steps of:

• (a) transmitting a request for data over a power line from a master device to a slave device,
• wherein said request is at a baud rate low enough to ensure reliable reception by said slave device, and
• wherein said request for data comprises instructions to said slave device to transmit responsive data over said power line within a first set of specific transmission parameters;
• and
• (b) transmitting responsive data over said power line from said slave device to said master device in response to said request for data received by said slave device over said power line from said master device,
• wherein said responsive data is transmitted over said power line within said first set of specific transmission parameters.

An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for monitoring energy usage, comprising:

• (a) a meter component;
• (b) a digital control logic component;
• (c) a real-time clock component;
• and
• (d) a power line communication component.

A device for monitoring energy usage, comprising:

• (a) an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip coupled to and controllable by a microprocessor;
• (b) a microprocessor coupled to said ASIC chip and operative to control the operation of said ASIC chip;
• and
• (c) a flash memory device coupled to said ASIC chip and to said microprocessor, wherein said flash memory device is operative to receive energy usage data from said ASIC chip and controllable by said microprocessor.

A method of detecting unauthorized usage of electricity transmitted over power lines, comprising the steps of:

• (a) mapping a network of phase feeders, nodes, and end users that receive electricity from a distribution transformer to determine which feeder supplies each node and which feeders and nodes supply each end user;
• (b) for an interval of time, metering the electricity transmitted along each phase feeder feeding from said distribution transformer;
• (c) for said interval of time, metering the electricity transmitted through each node;
• (d) for said interval of time, metering the electricity consumed by each end user;
• and
• (e) for said interval of time, identifying all feeders for which the total amount of electricity metered at all nodes and end users for the feeder is unacceptably less than the amount of electricity metered at said feeder.

An electricity metering device for providing a paper printout to a customer, comprising:

• (a) a microprocessor;
• (b) a meter component coupled to and controllable by said microprocessor;
• (c) a communication component coupled to and controllable by said microprocessor;
• and
• (d) a printer coupled to and controllable by said microprocessor.

A method of providing electricity on a credit basis, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing electricity to an end user according to a credit policy;
• (b) determining that said end user has violated said credit policy;
• and
• (c) instructing over a power line a microprocessor-controlled meter that meters said end user's electricity consumption to limit service to said end user.

A device for monitoring energy usage by a plurality of end users, comprising:

• (a) a main processor;
• (b) a remote processor in communication with said main processor, and directed by said main processor regarding which current channels to read;
• (c) an analog multiplexer controllable by said remote processor;
• (d) a current sensing circuit coupled to said analog multiplexer;
• (e) an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip coupled to and controllable by said remote processor;
• and
• (f) a flash memory device coupled to said ASIC chip and to said remote processor, wherein said flash memory device is operable to receive energy usage data from said ASIC chip and controllable by said remote processor.