Patent ID: 9734708
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: G01D,G08C,Y02B,Y04S

Claim:
1. A method for enabling a safe interaction with a prepayment smart utility meter, comprising: transmitting a command signal from a remote handheld electronic device through a short range wireless optical communication link between an optical transmitter provided on the handheld electronic device and an optical receiver provided on the prepayment smart utility meter, wherein the command signal comprises encoded information corresponding to a credit amount for authorizing delivery of energy and encoded information to instruct the prepayment smart utility meter to restore an energy supply wherein the command signal is transmitted according to the IEC 62056 series of standards; the method further comprising the prepayment smart utility meter taking an initiation step which comprises: settling the optical receiver of the prepayment smart utility meter into a listening mode for receiving the command signal based on an instruction code within software run by the prepayment smart utility meter, wherein the software settles the optical receiver into a listening mode based on a meter re-armed status.