Patent ID: 8477794

Claim:
A method of sharing a wide area network (WAN) connection between an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system and a Utility Automation (UA) system, the method comprising: receiving an outgoing data packet in a communication device; using the communication device to determine whether the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system; if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is formatted according to the first protocol, then, based on the determination, forwarding the outgoing data packet to a first outward device that is in communication with the AMI system; and if it is determined that the received outgoing data packet is not formatted according to the first protocol, then, based on the determination, forwarding the outgoing data packet to a second outward device that is in communication with the UA system, wherein the first and second outward devices are positioned at system endpoints or between system endpoints and the communication device.