Patent ID: 6133850
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: G01D,G01R,G06Q,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
A method for reducing channel capacity required to report a billable consumption of a utility commodity, the method comprising by a pricing entity the step ofperiodically transmitting pricing information comprising pricing of the utility commodity as a function of time; andthe method further comprising in a meter apparatus the steps of:periodically making a measurement of consumption of the utility commodity during a predetermined interval;determining a time at which the measurement is made;storing the measurement and the time of the measurement in a memory;receiving and storing the pricing information;calculating a billable cost incurred during the predetermined interval, from the measurement and the pricing of the utility commodity corresponding to the time of the measurement;adding the billable cost to an accumulated cost record stored in the meter apparatus; andsubsequently transmitting the accumulated cost record to a billing entity, in response to reaching a reporting threshold, such that customer billing based upon the cost of the utility commodity at the time of consumption is enabled without having to report each usage sample.