Patent ID: 6734806
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: G01D,G06Q,G08B,Y04S

Abstract:
A method of continuously signaling a utility's usage, comprising the steps of:providing a reconfigurable display capable of displaying at least one of a plurality of indicators; providing a first value indicative of a threshold level of utility usage; determining a second value indicative of a projected level of usage of a utility; determining a status that is equal to a difference between said first value and said second value; providing at least one third value indicative of a percentage of said first value; and displaying at least one of said plurality of indicators on said reconfigurable display based on a comparison between said status and said at least one third value, wherein said at least one third value comprises two third values to establish three adjoining ranges of utility usage with a first range defining a lowest amount of utility usage, a second range defining a highest amount of utility usage and a third range defining an amount of utility usage that is between said first range and said second range, each of said two third values defining a boundary level between two adjoining ranges of said three adjoining ranges, each of said three adjoining ranges having a unique configuration of color associated therewith with said first range being associated with the color green, said second range being associated with the color red and said third range being associated with the color yellow wherein, during said step or displaying, said reconfigurable display only displays one of the colors green, red and yellow using at least one of said plurality of indicators.