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US 2016/0109263 A1Published application
Method and system for initializing a meter reading device
AssigneeSensus Spectrum, LLC
InventorJustin DUBS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of initializing a meter reading device that communicates a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility includes capturing, by a camera, an optical image of the meter that displays meter information and determining an initial meter value from the meter information in the optical image of the meter. The method further includes initializing the meter reading device using the initial meter value.
Claims25
1:
- A method of initializing a meter reading device that communicates a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility, the method comprising:
- capturing, by a camera, an optical image of the meter that displays meter information;
- determining an initial meter value from the meter information in the optical image of the meter;
- and
- initializing the meter reading device using the initial meter value.
2 more elements
2:
- The method according to claim 1, wherein the capturing and the determining are performed by a portable device.
3:
- The method according to claim 2, wherein the initializing includes communicating the initial meter value from the portable device to the meter reading device via a wireless communication link.
4:
- The method according to claim 3, wherein the initializing includes storing the initial meter value communicated from the portable device in the meter reading device.
5:
- The method according to claim 4, further comprising:
- determining the current meter value of the meter based on the initial meter value stored in the meter reading device;
- and
- communicating the current meter value from the meter reading device to the central metering facility via a wireless link.
1 more element
6:
- An apparatus for initializing a meter reading device, the meter reading device configured to communicate a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility, the apparatus comprising:
- a camera configured to capture an optical image of the meter that displays meter information;
- and
- a processor configured to
- determine an initial meter value from the meter information in the optical image of the meter;
- and
- initialize the meter reading device using the initial meter value.
4 more elements
7:
- The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a portable device.
8:
- The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the initial meter value to the meter reading device via a wireless communication link.
9:
- The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the meter reading device stores the initial meter value communicated from the portable device.
10:
- The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the meter reading device
- determines the current meter value of the meter based on the initial meter value stored in the meter reading device;
- and
- communicates the current meter value to the central metering facility via a wireless link.
1 more element
11:
- A system for initializing a meter reading device, the system comprising:
- the meter reading device configured to communicate a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility;
- and
- an initialization apparatus including
- a camera configured to capture an optical image of the meter that displays meter information;
- and
- a processor configured to
- determine an initial meter value from the meter information in the optical image of the meter;
- and
- initialize the meter reading device using the initial meter value.
7 more elements
12:
- The system according to claim 11, wherein the initialization apparatus is a portable device.
13:
- The system according to claim 12, wherein the initialization apparatus is configured to communicate the initial meter value to the meter reading device via a wireless communication link.
14:
- The system according to claim 13, wherein the meter reading device is further configured to store the initial meter value communicated from the initialization apparatus.
15:
- The system according to claim 14, wherein the meter reading device is further configured to
- determine the current meter value of the meter based on the initial meter value stored in the meter reading device;
- and
- communicate the current meter value to the central metering facility via a wireless link.
1 more element
16:
- A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of initializing a meter reading device that communicates a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility, the method comprising:
- capturing, by a camera, an optical image of the meter that displays meter information;
- determining an initial meter value from the meter information in the optical image of the meter;
- initializing the meter reading device using the initial meter value.
1 more element
17:
- The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the capturing and the determining are performed using a portable device.
18:
- The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the initializing includes communicating the initial meter value from the portable device to the meter reading device via a wireless link.
19:
- The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the initializing includes storing the initial meter value communicated from the portable device in the meter reading device.
20:
- The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising
- determining the current meter value of the meter based on the initial meter value stored in the meter reading device;
- and
- communicating the current meter value from the meter reading device to the central metering facility via a wireless link.
1 more element
21:
- An apparatus for initializing a meter reading device, the meter reading device configured to communicate a current meter value of a meter to a central metering facility, the apparatus comprising:
- a camera configured to capture an optical image of the meter that displays meter information;
- and
- a processor configured to
- transmit the optical image of the meter to a server;
- receive, from the server, an initial meter value determined from the meter information in the optical image of the meter;
- and
- initialize the meter reading device using the initial meter value.
5 more elements
22:
- The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus is a portable device.
23:
- The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the initial meter value to the meter reading device via a wireless communication link.
24:
- The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the meter reading device stores the initial meter value communicated from the portable device.
25:
- The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the meter reading device
- determines the current meter value of the meter based on the initial meter value stored in the meter reading device;
- and
- communicates the current meter value to the central metering facility via a wireless link.
1 more element