Patent ID: 7184904

Claim:
A method for providing an additional option function to existing functionality of a meter device of the type configured for measuring parameters of energy, the method comprising the steps of: coupling the meter device of the type configured for measuring parameters of energy with an option device providing an option function; exchanging data between the coupled devices along at least one data path, comprising the step of: exchanging initialization data provided by the option device between the meter device and the option device, wherein the initialization data is useable by the meter device for configuring at least one of the meter device and the option device to be in condition to operate with the at least one of the meter device and the option device; processing the exchanged data; operating the meter device with the option device for adding the option function to existing functionality of the meter device upon exchanging initialization data and coupling the meter device with the option device; and uncoupling the meter device and the option device; coupling the meter device with another option device providing another option function; exchanging data between the meter and the another option devices along at least one data path, comprising the step of: exchanging initialization data provided by the another option device between the meter device and the another option device, wherein the initialization data is useable by the meter device for at least one of the meter device and the another option device to be in condition to operate with the at least one of the meter device and the another option device; processing the data exchanged between the meter and the another option devices; and operating the meter device with the another option device for adding the another option function to the existing functionality of the meter device upon exchanging initialization data and coupling the meter device with the another option device.