# US 2021/0279080 A1 · Navigating a user interface of a utility meter with touch-based interactions

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- Number: US 2021/0279080 A1
- Document ID: US20210279080A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/809,293
- Filed: 2020-03-04
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04
- Assignees: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
- Applicants: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
- Inventors: Doug Busekrus; Gerry VanHorn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210279080A1

## CPC

- G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces
- G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Techniques for detecting interactions with a utility meter. In an example, a method transitions from a locked user input state into an unlocked user input state. While in the unlocked user input state, the method performs operations, including displaying, on a display of the utility meter, a menu that includes objects. The operations further include receiving, from an accelerometer, an acceleration measurement that represents three-dimensional movement. The operations further include comparing the acceleration measurement to an expected user input. The expected user input is associated with an interaction with a selected surface of the utility meter and is based on the displayed menu. The operations can further include when the acceleration measurement corresponds to the expected user input, updating the displayed menu to indicate a user selection of a selected object on the displayed menu and updating the display by navigating the menu to indicate the selected object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of navigating a user interface of a utility meter, the method comprising:
while in a locked user input state:
receiving a first accelerometer measurement and remaining in the locked user input state;
transitioning from the locked user input state into an unlocked user input state;
while in the unlocked user input state:
displaying, on a display of a utility meter, a menu that comprises a plurality of objects;
receiving, from an accelerometer, a second acceleration measurement that represents three-dimensional movement;
comparing the second acceleration measurement to an expected user input, wherein the expected user input is associated with an interaction with a selected surface of the utility meter and is based on the displayed menu; and
when the second acceleration measurement corresponds to the expected user input, selecting an object from the plurality of objects.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises:
receiving, from the accelerometer, an additional acceleration measurement that represents an additional three-dimensional movement;
comparing the additional acceleration measurement to an expected unlock user input, wherein the expected unlock user input is associated with an additional interaction with the utility meter and is different from the expected user input; and
responsive to identifying a match between the additional acceleration measurement to the expected unlock user input, transitioning to the unlocked user input state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises identifying that (i) a cover of the utility meter is removed or (ii) that a connection has been established between the utility meter and an external device; and
responsive to the identifying, transitioning to the unlocked user input state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises:
receiving, from a magnetic sensor and for a time threshold, a magnetic sensor signal indicating that a magnetic field has been applied to an exterior of the utility meter; and
when the time threshold has lapsed, transitioning to the unlocked user input state.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to displaying the menu:
starting a timer; and
when a value of the timer is greater than a threshold, configuring the utility meter in the locked user input state.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the accelerometer, an additional acceleration measurement that represents three-dimensional movement;
comparing the additional acceleration measurement to an additional expected user input, wherein the additional expected user input is associated with an additional interaction with an additional surface of the utility meter, wherein the additional surface differs from the selected surface; and
when the additional acceleration measurement corresponds to the additional expected user input, updating the display of the utility meter to an additional menu.

### Claim 7

(canceled)

### Claim 8

A utility meter comprising:
an accelerometer configured to measure three-dimensional movement and attached to the utility meter;
a display;
a processor configured to perform operations comprising:
while in a locked user input state:
receiving a first accelerometer measurement and remaining in the locked user input state;
transitioning from the locked user input state into an unlocked user input state;
while in the unlocked user input state:
displaying, on the display, a menu that comprises an object;
receiving, from the accelerometer, a second acceleration measurement;
comparing the second acceleration measurement to an expected user input, wherein the expected user input is associated with an interaction with a selected surface of the utility meter and is based on the displayed menu; and
when the second acceleration measurement corresponds to the expected user input, updating the displayed menu to indicate a user selection of the object and updating the display by navigating the menu to indicate the selected object.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The utility meter of claim 8, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises:
receiving, from the accelerometer, an additional acceleration measurement that represents an additional three-dimensional movement;
comparing the additional acceleration measurement to an expected unlock user input, wherein the expected unlock user input is associated with an additional interaction with the utility meter and is different from the expected user input; and
responsive to identifying a match between the additional acceleration measurement to the expected unlock user input, transitioning to the unlocked user input state.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The utility meter of claim 8, further comprising a communications port, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises identifying that a connection has been established between the communications port and an external device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The utility meter of claim 8, further comprising a magnetic sensor, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises:
receiving, from the magnetic sensor and for a time threshold, a magnetic sensor signal indicating that a magnetic field has been applied to an exterior of the utility meter; and
when the time threshold has lapsed, transitioning to the unlocked user input state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The utility meter of claim 8, the operations further comprising, subsequent to displaying the menu:
starting a timer; and
when a value of the timer is greater than a threshold, configuring the utility meter in the locked user input state.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The utility meter of claim 8, the operations further comprising:
receiving, from the accelerometer, an additional acceleration measurement that represents three-dimensional movement;
comparing the additional acceleration measurement to an additional expected user input, wherein the additional expected user input is associated with an additional interaction with an additional surface of the utility meter, wherein the additional surface differs from the selected surface; and
when the additional acceleration measurement corresponds to the additional expected user input, updating the display of the utility meter to an additional menu.

### Claim 14

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-executable program instructions, wherein when executed by a processing device, the computer-executable program instructions cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:
while in a locked user input state:
receiving a first accelerometer measurement and remaining in the locked user input state;
transitioning from a locked user input state into an unlocked user input state;
while in the unlocked user input state:
displaying, on a display of a utility meter, a menu that comprises a plurality of objects;
receiving, from an accelerometer, second acceleration measurement that represents three-dimensional movement;
comparing the second acceleration measurement to an expected user input, wherein the expected user input is associated with an interaction with a selected surface of the utility meter and is based on the displayed menu; and
when the second acceleration measurement corresponds to the expected user input, selecting an object from the plurality of objects on the displayed menu.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises:
receiving, from the accelerometer, an additional acceleration measurement that represents an additional three-dimensional movement;
comparing the additional acceleration measurement to an expected unlock user input, wherein the expected unlock user input is associated with an additional interaction with the utility meter and is different from the expected user input; and
responsive to identifying a match between the additional acceleration measurement to the expected unlock user input, transitioning to the unlocked user input state.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises identifying that (i) a cover of the utility meter is removed or (ii) that a connection has been established between the utility meter and an external device.

### Claim 17

(canceled)

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises:
receiving, from a magnetic sensor for a time threshold, a magnetic sensor signal indicating that a magnetic field has been applied to an exterior of the utility meter; and
when the time threshold has lapsed, unlocking the utility meter.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the operations further comprising, subsequent to displaying the menu:
starting a timer; and
when a value of the timer is greater than a threshold, configuring the utility meter in the locked user input state.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the operations further comprising:
receiving, from the accelerometer, an additional acceleration measurement that represents three-dimensional movement;
comparing the additional acceleration measurement to an additional expected user input, wherein the additional expected user input is associated with an additional interaction with an additional surface of the utility meter, wherein the additional surface differs from the selected surface; and
when the additional acceleration measurement corresponds to the additional expected user input, updating the display of the utility meter to an additional menu.

### Claim 21 (depends on 8)

The utility meter of claim 8, further comprising a cover removal switch configured to detect whether a cover of the utility meter is attached or removed, and wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, from the cover removal switch, an indication that the cover is removed; and
transition to the unlocked user input state based on the indication.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning to the unlocked user input state comprises:
receiving, on a radio of the utility meter, a signal from a mobile device; and
responsive to the receiving, transitioning to the unlocked user input state.