Patent ID: 7058524

Claim:
An electrical power metering system comprising: a power meter coupled with a power line for measuring power consumption data from the power line, the power meter dividing the power line to form an internal network and an external power line network; a processor connected to the power meter for converting the power consumption data measured by the power meter into Internet Protocol (IP) data; a network interface connected between the processor and the internal network for transmitting and receiving IP data between the processor and the internal network; a transceiver connected between the processor and the external power line network for transmitting and receiving IP data between the processor and the external power line network; and means for selectively routing IP data between the external power line network and the internal network, said means selectively operable as a firewall for filtering IP data routed between the external power line network and the internal network; wherein power consumption information is transmitted autonomously in IP format over the external power line network.