Patent ID: 7897905

Claim:
An electrical metering device for measuring an amount of electrical power usage of a power distribution system comprising: an input channel for receiving a master message, the master message being in the form of a light signal; light to voltage converter (LVC) circuitry for receiving the master message from the input channel and converting the form of master message into a voltage signal; at least one processor for determining electrical power usage data from power measured by the electrical metering device, the power being supplied remotely from the electrical metering device, the at least one processor for receiving the master message from the LVC circuitry, processing the master message and outputting a reply message in the form of a voltage signal, the reply message including at least a portion of the electrical power usage data; voltage to light converter (VLC) circuitry for receiving the reply message from the at least one processor and the master message and converting the form of the reply message and master message to a light signal; and an output channel for outputting the reply message and master, wherein the reply message and master message are propagated along a fiber-optic connection.