Systems, methods, and apparatuses for reducing network congestion in a smart utility meter system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorBradley Richard Ree
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for reducing network congestion in a smart utility meter system are provided. The systems, methods, and apparatuses may include providing, for a utility meter, a first communications interface for communicating with a first network; providing, for the utility meter, a second communications interface for communicating with a second network different from the first network; receiving or generating, by the utility meter, information having a destination; selecting either the first communications interface or the second communications interface; and delivering the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.
Claims16
A utility meter, comprising:
- a first communications interface for communicating with a destination via a first network, wherein the destination is at least one of a computer or another utility meter that is coupled to a wide area network (WAN), and wherein the first network is a neighborhood area network (NAN) in communication with the WAN;
- a second communications interface for communicating with the destination via a second network different from the first network, wherein the second network is a home area network (HAN) or a local area network (LAN) having a routing device in communication with the WAN;
- and at least one processor in communication with the first and second communications interfaces, the at least one processor configured to:
- receive or generate information for delivery to the destination;
- select the first communications interface when the first network is at least one of:
- a normally utilized network for delivering data to the destination, is available for use, or is uncongested;
- or select the second communications interface when the first network is at least one of:
- not available for use and is congested;
- and transmit the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.
A method of operating a utility meter, the method comprising:
- providing, for a utility meter, a first communications interface for communicating with a destination via a first network;
- providing, for the utility meter, a second communications interface for communicating with the destination via a second network different from the first network;
- receiving or generating, by the utility meter, information for delivery to the destination;
- selecting the first communications interface when the first network is at least one of:
- a normally utilized network for delivering data to the destination, is available for use, or is uncongested;
- or selecting the second communications interface when the first network is at least one of:
- not available for use or is congested;
- and
- transmitting the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.
A system, comprising:
- a server computer;
- a plurality of utility meters in communication with the server computer, wherein each utility meter includes:
- a first communications interface for communicating with a destination via a first network, wherein the destination is at least one of a computer or another utility meter that is coupled to a wide area network (WAN), and wherein the first network is a neighborhood area network (NAN) in communication with the WAN;
- a second communications interface for communicating with the destination via a second network different from the first network, wherein the second network is a home area network (HAN) or a local area network (LAN) having a routing device in communication with the WAN;
- and at least one processor in communication with the first and second communications interfaces, the at least one processor configured to:
- receive or generate information for delivery to the destination;
- select the first communications interface when the first network is at least
- one of:
- a normally utilized network for delivering data to the destination, is available for use, or is uncongested;
- or select the second communications interface when the first network is at least one of:
- not available for use and is congested;
- and transmit the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.