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US 8,299,939 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for utility usage monitoring
AssigneeVerizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
InventorsBhaskar R. Gudlavenkatasiva, George L. Hughes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An approach is provided for monitoring utility usage and generating notifications. A platform collects utility data from a utility meter of a subscriber and determines whether the utility data satisfies a usage threshold. The platform generates a notification based on the determination and presents the notification.
Claims14
A method comprising:
- collecting utility data, at a set-top box, from a utility meter of a subscriber;
- determining whether the utility data satisfies a usage threshold of the subscriber;
- generating a notification based on the determination;
- presenting the notification via the set-top box;
- prompting, via the set-top box, to determine whether deviation from the usage threshold is acceptable to the subscriber;
- and
- prompting, via the set-top box, for dispatching a utility service technician of a utility provider associated with the utility meter.
4 more elements
A set-top box apparatus comprising:
- a memory configured to store utility data collected from a utility meter of a subscriber;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- determine whether the utility data satisfies a usage threshold of the subscriber;
- generate a notification based on the determination;
- present the notification;
- generate a prompt for determining whether deviation from the usage threshold is acceptable to the subscriber;
- and
- generate a prompt for dispatching a utility service technician of a utility provider associated with the utility meter.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving utility data from a plurality of set-top boxes of a respective plurality of subscribers corresponding to a service provider, wherein the utility data is collected from a plurality of meters maintained by a utility provider;
- storing the utility data in a database maintained by the service provider;
- storing a profile for one of the subscribers, wherein the profile specifies a usage threshold of the one subscriber;
- determining whether the utility data of the one subscriber satisfies the usage threshold;
- generating a notification based on the determination;
- and
- transmitting the notification to a corresponding one of the set-top boxes of the one subscriber.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a utility monitoring platform configured to receive utility data from a plurality of set-top boxes of a respective plurality of subscribers corresponding to a service provider, wherein the utility data is collected from a plurality of meters maintained by a utility provider;
- and
- a database configured to store the utility data in a database maintained by the service provider and a profile for one of the subscribers, wherein the profile specifies a usage threshold of the one subscriber,
- wherein the platform is further configured to determine whether the utility data of the one subscriber satisfies the usage threshold, to generate a notification based on the determination, and to initiate transmission of the notification to a corresponding one of the set-top boxes of the one subscriber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.