Patent ID: 8792626
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: G01D,H04B,H04L,H04M,H04N,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A method for transmitting utility usage data using a public switched telephone network, the method comprising: collecting, with a utility meter at a customer premises, utility usage data pertaining to the customer premises; transmitting automatically the utility usage data from the utility meter to an access point of the public broadband network; receiving the utility usage data at the access point; modulating the utility usage data at the access point with a digital subscriber line modem coupled with the access point; and transmitting securely the utility usage data through the public switched telephone network to an Internet point of presence, using a secure communications protocol selected from the group consisting of secure sockets layer, virtual private network, and hypertext transfer protocol secure; receiving the utility usage data at the Internet point of presence; transmitting the utility usage data from the Internet point of presence to a utility provider via the Internet; receiving, at the access point, a set of control data; transmitting the control data from the access point to the utility meter; receiving the control data at the utility meter; transmitting the control data from the utility meter to a security system at the customer premises; and controlling the security system with the control data to arm and disarm the security system.