Server and method for processing meter data into a common format

A server for processing meter data into a common format, comprising:

• an application operable to receive, in a first transmission, meter data using a satellite communications network in a common protocol, the meter data representing information read at time intervals from associated utility meters in at least two data formats, each data format associated with a type of utility meter;
• a process manager coupled to the application and operable to process the meter data in the plurality of formats into a common data format;
• and
• a database coupled to the process manager and operable to store the meter data in the common format as interval data for transmission to a customer, wherein the application is further operable to:
• compare a first time interval of the received data to a second time interval of previously stored data from a particular meter;
• if at least a portion of the first time interval and the second time interval overlap, determine an overlap of data;
• discard a selected portion of the received data or the stored data to remove the overlap;
• if the first time interval is not contiguous with the second time interval, determine a gap is in the data;
• initiate a request for data from the meter to fill the gap in the data;
• and
• if the data to fill the gap is not received, transmit the data with the gap to the customer.

A method for processing meter data into a common format, comprising:

• receiving, in a first transmission, meter data using a satellite communications network in a common protocol, the meter data representing information read at time intervals from associated utility meters in at least two data formats, each data format associated with a type of utility meter;
• comparing a first time interval of the received data to a second time interval of previously stored data from a particular meter;
• if at least a portion of the first time interval and the second time interval overlap, determining an overlap of data;
• discarding a selected portion of the received data or the stored data to remove the overlap;
• if the first time interval is not contiguous with the second time interval, determining a gap is in the data;
• initiating a request for the data from the meter to fill the gap in the data;
• if the data to fill the gap is available, receiving, in a second transmission over the satellite communications network, data in accordance with a request for data from the meter to fill the gap in the data;
• placing the data received from the request into the gap;
• processing the meter data in the plurality of formats into a common data format;
• storing the meter data in the common format as interval data for transmission to a customer;
• inserting the interval data into a header table, the header table storing the interval data for transmission to the customer;
• determining whether eligible data is available to transmit to the customer, the eligible data comprises data without a processing condition;
• transmitting the eligible data to the customer if the eligible data is available;
• formatting the eligible data in accordance with a customer preference;
• and
• if the data to fill the gap is not received, transmitting the data with the gap to the customer.