Patent ID: 7986246

Claim:
A mobile utility data collection apparatus for gathering data regarding consumption of a utility such as electricity, gas or water, wherein the apparatus is for use by an in-field utility data collection worker, the apparatus comprising: a wireless transceiver for wirelessly gathering consumption data from multiple utility meters during an in-field utility data collection route; a memory for at least partially or temporarily storing the gathered consumption data, and for storing executable instructions; at least one processor coupled among the wireless transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute at least some of the executable instructions in the memory, and wherein the processor is configured under the executable instructions to: receive internal and external data, wherein the internal data is associated with data gathered by or generated from a utility company, and wherein the external data is associated with data external to the utility company and is associated with a third party data source; execute rules based on at least two of the 1) external data, 2) internal data, and 3) gathered consumption data for at least one utility meter to determine whether a possible theft of the utility has occurred during the in-field utility data collection route; and if the processor determines that a possible theft of the utility has occurred, then providing one or more instructions to the in-field data collection worker to investigate the at least one utility meter, during the in-field utility data collection route, to gather more information regarding the at least one utility meter or determine whether a theft has occurred.