Smart Utility Meter with Security System Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electric meters lack the ability to provide time-of-use consumption data, leading to inefficient pricing strategies and increased costs during peak electrical demand periods, while existing smart meters primarily focus on load management without comprehensive fault detection and integration with security systems.
Innovation Solution
A smart utility meter system incorporating a radio frequency transceiver and processor that communicates with a utility company via a mesh network, enabling real-time energy usage monitoring, load shedding, fault detection, and integration with security systems for enhanced communication and response to faults and alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional electric meters are used, then device complexity is low, but the ability to provide time-of-use consumption data and integrate with security systems is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The smart meter system performs multiple functions including energy consumption measurement, time-of-use data collection, fault detection, and security system integration through a single device. The meter incorporates a processor that can handle both utility billing functions and security alarm reporting, eliminating the need for separate traditional meters and security devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the utility metering function with security system communication capabilities in one integrated device. The smart meter merges energy measurement, data processing, and security alert transmission into a unified system that reports both consumption data and security faults through the same communication infrastructure
2Reliability
If smart meters with comprehensive monitoring are implemented, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart meter system performs self-diagnosis and automatically detects faults within its own operation. The processor monitors the meter's own status, communication functionality, and operational parameters, enabling the device to identify and report its own failures without external intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the processor continuously monitors operational status and communicates fault conditions back to the utility company. The meter provides real-time feedback on its own health status, communication integrity, and operational parameters, enabling proactive fault management
3Adaptability or versatility
If integration with security systems is added, then communication versatility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The smart meter is designed to operate within existing security system communication infrastructures, utilizing the same network and protocols already deployed for alarm reporting. This universal compatibility allows the meter to leverage existing communication pathways without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The smart meter acts as an intermediary device that can communicate through existing security system networks. It mediates between the utility company's billing system and the security system's communication infrastructure, translating and transmitting data through the available network without requiring direct integration between utility and security systems
4Productivity
If real-time monitoring and load management are implemented, then energy distribution efficiency is improved, but loss of time for data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart meter continuously monitors energy consumption and system status without interruption, maintaining constant data collection and processing. The processor operates continuously to track consumption patterns, detect faults, and manage load conditions, eliminating gaps in monitoring that would reduce distribution efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data processing and fault detection locally at the meter before transmitting information to the utility company. The processor pre-analyzes consumption data and identifies potential issues in real-time, preparing information for immediate transmission and enabling faster response to emerging conditions
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is provided that includes a utility meter of a utility company that measures consumption of a utility within a space occupied by a user, a wireless fault detector associated with the utility located within the space and a wireless transmitter of the utility meter that receives a fault message from the fault detector, confirms consumption of the utility within the space and transmits a fault message that identifies the space to the utility company.