Systems and methods for providing remote monitoring of consumption for a utility meter

A communication device for measuring utility consumption, the device adapted for use in an automated monitoring system for providing remote monitoring of consumption, the automated monitoring system comprising a site controller in communication with a plurality of utility meters via a wireless communication network and in communication with a host computer via a wide area network, the communication device comprising:

• a utility meter configured for measuring utility consumption;
• a data interface configured to receive data related to the consumption measured by the utility meter;
• memory comprising a unique identifier corresponding to the utility meter;
• logic configured to receive the data related to the consumption of the utility meter, retrieve the unique identifier corresponding to the utility meter, and generate a transmit message using a predefined communication protocol being implemented by the wireless communication network, the transmit message comprising the unique identifier and the data related to the consumption measured by the utility meter and configured such that the transmit message may be received by the site controller via the wireless communication network and such that the site controller may identify the utility meter and notify the host computer of the transmit message;
• a wireless transceiver configured for communication over the wireless communication network and configured to provide the transmit message to the wireless communication network and receive messages from the wireless communication network;
• and
• logic configured to receive a transmit message from another communication device and retransmit the received transmit message.

A communication device adapted for use in an automated monitoring system for providing remote monitoring of utility consumption, the automated monitoring system comprising a site controller in communication with a plurality of utility meters via a wireless communication network and in communication with a host computer via a wide area network, the communication device comprising:

• a means for receiving data related to the consumption measured by a utility meter;
• a means for storing a unique identifier corresponding to the utility meter;
• a means for receiving the data related to the consumption measured by the utility meter, retrieving the unique identifier corresponding to the utility meter, and generating a transmit message using a predefined communication protocol being implemented by the wireless communication network, the transmit message comprising the unique identifier and the data related to the consumption measured by the utility meter and configured such that the transmit message may be received by the site controller via the wireless communication network and such that the site controller may identify the utility meter and notify the host computer of the transmit message;
• a means for transmitting the transmit message to the wireless communication network;
• and
• a means for receiving a transmit message from another communication device and retransmitting the received transmit message.

A communication device for measuring the consumption corresponding to a load associated with a utility meter, the utility meter adapted for use in an automated monitoring system for providing remote monitoring of utility consumption, the automated monitoring system comprising a site controller in communication with a plurality of utility meters via a wireless communication network and in communication with a host computer via a wide area network, the communication device comprising:

• a means for measuring the consumption of a load;
• a means for receiving data related to the consumption measured by the utility meter;
• a means for storing a unique identifier corresponding to the means for measuring the consumption of the load;
• a means for receiving the data related to the consumption of the utility meter, retrieving the unique identifier corresponding to the utility meter, and generating a transmit message using a predefined communication protocol being implemented by the wireless communication network, the transmit message comprising the unique identifier and the data related to the consumption of the utility meter and configured such that the transmit message may be received by the site controller via the wireless communication network and such that the site controller may identify the utility meter and notify the host computer of the transmit message;
• a wireless transceiver configured for communication over the wireless communication network and configured to provide the transmit message to the wireless communication network and receive messages from the wireless communication network;
• and
• means for receiving a transmit message from another communication device and retransmitting the received transmit message.

A system for providing remote monitoring of utility consumption, the system comprising:

• a plurality of utility meters, each configured to measure the consumption of a load attached to the utility meter;
• a plurality of communication devices having a unique identifier and defining a wireless communication network, each of the plurality of communication devices associated with one of the plurality of utility meters and configured to receive data related to the consumption of the corresponding utility meter and generate a transmit message using a predefined communication protocol being implemented by the wireless communication network, the transmit message comprising the corresponding unique identifier and the data related to the consumption of the corresponding utility meter, each of the plurality of communication devices further configured to receive a transmit message from at least one of the other communication devices and retransmit the received transmit message;
• and
• a site controller configured for communication with the wireless communication network and configured to receive the transmit message from one of the plurality of communication devices, identify the utility meter associated with the transmit message, and provide information related to the transmit message to a wide area network for delivery to a host computer.

A system for providing remote monitoring of utility consumption, the system comprising:

• a plurality of means for measuring the consumption of an attached load;
• a plurality of communication means having a unique identifier and defining a wireless communication network, each of the plurality of communication means associated with one of the plurality of means for measuring the consumption comprising a means for receiving data related to the consumption of a corresponding utility meter and a means for generating a transmit message using a predefined communication protocol being implemented by the wireless communication network, the transmit message comprising the unique identifier and the data related to the consumption of the corresponding utility meter, each of the plurality of communication means further configured to receive a transmit message from at least one of the other communication means and retransmit the received transmit message;
• and
• a means for receiving the transmit message from one of the plurality of communication devices, identifying the utility meter associated with the transmit message, and providing information related to the transmit message to a wide area network for delivery to a host computer.