Patent ID: 8306668
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: G01D,G01R,G06Q,H04M,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A system for displaying utility commodity cost and usage data at a subscriber's location and for local or remote control of utility commodity usage; the system comprising: at least one meter for measuring usage of at least one utility commodity and generating at least one usage signal comprising a measurement of said subscriber's usage of said at least one utility commodity; at least one central location for receiving said subscriber's utility commodity usage data and a utility commodity cost for said subscriber and transmitting at least one utility commodity rate signal or at least one utility commodity usage control signal, or both, to an information and control apparatus at the subscriber's location; said information and control apparatus comprising: a display microprocessor; a memory; a display; a user interface; a display clock; and a display communication device for receiving utility commodity rates and utility control signals from said at least one central location, for receiving at least one usage signal from said at least one meter, and for transmitting said subscriber's utility commodity usage data to said at least one central location; a control system interface apparatus comprising: a remote computer comprising a remote communication device for transmitting signals to said control system interface apparatus requesting download of said time interval usage data and to receive said time interval usage data transmitted by said interface communication device, wherein each of said at least one meter further comprises a meter communication device for transmitting at least one usage signal to said information and control apparatus and wherein each of said at least one central locations further comprises a center communication device for transmitting utility commodity rate signals or utility commodity usage control signals to said information and control apparatus and for receiving said subscriber's utility commodity usage data from said information and control apparatus.