MXPA00002747A - Utility meter providing an interface between a digital network and home electronics - Google Patents

Abstract

A utility meter interface apparatus is connected between a utility compagny and a home. The utility meter interface includes a utility meter for measuring utility usage and a computer located external to the home. The computer is connected to the utility meter and provides an interface between a communication network and a device located inside the home. The computer may be adapted to communicate with the device over the home's internal wiring.

Description

UTILITY METER THAT PROVIDES AN INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN A DIGITAL NETWORK AND DOMESTIC ELECTRONIC APPLIANCES Background of the ntion 1. Field of the ntion The ntion relates to utility meters having associated electronics, more particularly, to a utility meter having a computer interconnection between a digital service network and the user's home electronics. The ntion also relates to a remote reading utility meter and a remote loading administration. 2. Related art A customer of an electric company typically has an electric meter located in the structure or site of the electric power distribution customer. The customer structure can be, for example, the customer's home or office. The electric meter is owned by the electric company and is installed in the standard meter box that contains the electric meter. The standard meter box is provided and owned by the customer.

The prior art includes a number of references which describe utility meters with associated electronics.

The patent of the United States of America No. 4,455,456 issued to Parasekvakos et al., Incorporated herein by reference, describes an apparatus for remote reading of a meter, wherein a remote unit, preferably located in a house, periodically initiates a telephone call to a public service company and communicates information of energy use.

U.S. Patent No. 4,803,632 issued to Frew and others incorporated herein by reference, discloses a utility meter having a CPU, a display, and associated circuits, which may be located at the conventional meter location. Frew also describes a remote unit located inside the house which displays the meter's information and allows the customer to pay his bill with a credit card. The remote unit communicates with the CPU through the power lines to the house.

The meter in Frew can be read by a meter reader, either through the house power cables or through an optical coupling to the meter.

U.S. Patent No. 4,804,957 issued to Selph and others incorporated herein by reference, discloses a utility meter that uses a microprocessor-based circuit and Hall effect current sensors to measure energy usage. In the Selph et al patent, the meter can be read by either a remote interrogation path through a telephone link or serial communication. Selph and others also describe a network sub-metering arrangement useful in buildings and departments and the like.

U.S. Patent No. 4,904,995 issued to Bonner et al., And incorporated herein by reference, discloses a remote meter reading apparatus, which is designed to feed back existing electrical meters with a transponder capable of communicating the information of a meter. Use of energy to the electric company on the electric power distribution system.

It is also known in the art to use the house's electrical cables for communication and to have a variety of devices.

The patent of the United States of America No. 4,174,517, issued to Mandel, incorporated herein by reference, describes a central system for controlling remote devices on a house electric power cable. A central control unit is connected to a wall outlet for communication over the power lines by remote units which are also connected to the wall outlets.

U.S. Patent No. 4,200,862 issued to Campbell and others incorporated herein by reference discloses an apparatus control system in which a data transmitter communicates with slave units on the electrical power cables of the home, by means of the use a digital address and operation signals. In the Campbell patent the data transmitter and several slave units are connected to the outputs of the wall.

U.S. Patent No. 5,066,939 issued to Mansfield, Jr., and incorporated herein by reference, discloses a circuit for communicating about the power lines of the house in which the extension telephones are connected to an output of conventional electric wall. A master station connector is connected to the wall outlet and is also connected to the telephone line to facilitate a complex dual communication between extension telephones and the telephone line of the house.

It is also known in the art to provide digital network services to a house.

U.S. Patent No. 4,332,980 issued to Reynolds et al. And incorporated herein by reference, discloses a multiple service system, which delivers a variety of services to a subscriber over telephone cables. The Reynolds described services include remote meter reading and load management. At Reynolds, a subscriber data subsystem is placed in the subscriber's home and communicates with the peripheral devices over a subscriber data bus. The subscriber data bus is accessed through dedicated wiring and separate data service wall sockets.

U.S. Patent No. 5,101,191 issued to MacFayden et al. And incorporated herein by reference, describes a house wiring arrangement for controlling the distribution of energy and communications within a house. MacFayden provides a gate terminal as an interconnection for communication outside the home on power lines or public telephone network.

An article entitled "Road Warrior" and written by Todd Lappin, published in August 1995 in the WIRED issue on pages 46 and 50, incorporated herein by reference describes an electric utility, which provides digital network services to its customers using a conventional communication technology over a coaxial cable network. The network was originally installed for reading remote meter 5 and then adapted to deliver high bandwidth data services.

None of the patents of the prior art disclose a utility meter, which provides an interconnection between the digital service network and domestic electronics.

In Parasekvakos, Frew, Selph and Bonner, the electronics associated with the utility meter are directed primarily to the meter reading functions.

In the Mandell, Campbell and Mansfield patents, the communication on the power lines is primarily directed to communication with the devices within the house. Also in the Mandell, Campbell and Mansfield patents, a separate "master" unit must be located inside the house and plugged into the wall outlet.

In both Reynolds and MacFayden, a house must be wiring with a special wiring configuration to accommodate specific bus structures and methods of • < * communication described. Reynolds and MacFayden also require some type of interconnection unit located inside the house. The network described by Lappin's article does not use a computer in the meter, an interconnection with the digital network, but rather requires the installation of a special female socket for connection to the network.

Synthesis of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned and other disadvantages of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a utility meter with associated electronics to carry out functions beyond meter reading, including functions such as providing an interconnection between a digital service network and domestic electronics.

It is an object of the invention to provide a digital service network interconnection which is not located inside the box and is not plugged into a wall socket.A.

It is also an object of the invention to provide digital data services to a house without having to rewire the house and without requiring special wiring.

It is an object of the invention to provide conventional meter capabilities in conjunction with associated electronics.

The objects and others mentioned above of the present invention are achieved by the utility meter having a standard electric power meter and the associated electronics of a meter box and having a standard base suitable to match a standard meter box . The associated electronics include a computer that has a network interconnection and a home interconnection. The computer may include a video processor and / or an apparatus for removing disturbances for television services, a modem processor for data services and a voice processor for telephone services. The computer can also include a meter interconnection for remote meter reading. The meter interconnection may also be coupled to a circuit breaker box equipped with solid state switches for load handling. The computer can also include a personal computer (PC) interconnection coupled to the various other processors and interconnections.

The network interconnection may be coupled to a digital service network which communicates, for example, via satellites, wireless communication, fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, or twisted pair telephone lines. The house interconnection can be coupled to the internal wiring of the house including the house's electrical wires, telephone lines and television coaxial cables. Home interconnection can communicate with home electronics through wireless communication by, for example, short-range microwave signals such as those used by cordless telephones. The interconnection network can be directly coupled to the home interconnection and / or coupled through the various other processors or interconnections.

Several additional objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from said description or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained by means of instruments and combinations, particularly in the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated and constitute a part of the description, currently illustrate the preferred example embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. - * Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an electric meter according to the invention, which provides an interconnection between an electric company and a house.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of an electric meter according to the invention, which provides an interconnection between an electric company and a house.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of an electric meter according to the invention, which provides an interconnection between an electric company and a house.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of an electric meter according to the invention.

Figure 4b shows a front view of a fourth embodiment of an electric meter according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an electric meter 110 according to the invention coupled to a standard meter box 114. An electric utility 120 provides electrical service to a house 130 over external electrical power cables 128 suspended by public service posts 124. Alternatively, the electric utility can provide electrical service to house 130 through electric cables buried in the ground.

According to the invention, the electric company 120 provides a digital service network on a communications line 60, which may be, for example, an optical fiber cable, a coaxial fiber cable or a twisted pair cable. The electric meter 110 provides an interconnection between the digital service network and the wire of the internal house 134. The internal house wiring 134 may include, for example, power cables, telephone cables and television coaxial cables . A device 150 can be plugged into the wall socket 138 to access the digital service network. A device 150 can, for example, provide video signals to the television 142.

As discussed previously, the electric meter 110 is owned by electric company 120 and is installed in the standard meter box 114 which is provided by a customer. The electric meter 110 according to the invention includes the addition of a video connection and various switches and electronic computer devices. The electrical meter 110 also continues to measure the energy consumption through standard means. The addition of the computer and the video connection greatly extends the meter capabilities and allows the utility to provide both video and telephone communication for electrical service. The computer in the electric meter 110 according to the invention can also provide remote reading and charge control, an interactive communication, and a home computer at a very low extra cost. The placement of the computer in the electric meter 110 is advantageous because the electric utility can justify the costs of the modified meter to a regulatory agency from the base of remote meter readings and load control. The electric meter 110 according to the invention can be quickly exchanged installed in the standard meter box. The invention therefore allows a regulated public electric company to have an unregulated subsidiary which may be in the telephone, video or multimedia business.

Additional benefits can be realized because many utilities already run coaxial or fiber optic cables to their main switching stations. Typically, utility companies have easements and own utility poles. Therefore, the electric company can easily extend these cables to each house.

The electric utility may also have the option of working with a cable television company to use the pre-existing coaxial lines of the cable companies. For example, the pre-existing coaxial cable can be run directly to the electric meter 110 according to the invention and then supplied to the house. Alternatively, the coaxial cable can be taped or divided using a "T" connector or the like. Any of these configurations are advantageous because the electric meter 110 can be installed and attached to existing coaxial cables quickly without access to the internal wiring of the house. The utility can be in a good position to negotiate with the cable company because it has the alternative of running its own coaxial cable and competing directly, such as the power company in the Lappin article.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of an electric meter 210 according to the invention that provides an interconnection between an electric utility 220 in which it provides a digital service network on a network communication line 260 and a house 230. The electric meter 220 is coupled to the standard meter box 214 and has a computer 270. The computer 270 is connected to the communication line 260 through a network interconnect 272. The computer 270 also includes an interconnect house 274 and an electric power meter 280, both of which are coupled with the interconnection of the network 272. The network interconnect 272 and the house interconnect 274 may comprise signal processing computers.

The electric utility 220 supplies electric power on external power lines 228, which are connected to the standard electrical energy meters 280 and to the internal power lines of the house 232. The domestic interconnection 274 is also coupled to the internal power cables of the house 232 for a communication about them. The domestic interconnection 274 is also optionally coupled to the other internal wiring 236 of the house. The domestic interconnect 274 is directly connected to the internal power cable 232 and can communicate with the devices such as those described in prior art references. The domestic interconnect 274 can also transmit and receive telephone and computer signals on the internal power cables 232 and the network interconnect 272 to receive and transmit these signals occurs the network communication cable 260. This configuration sets the service network digital communication with domestic electronics on the network communication line 260.

The public electric company may, for example, compete with a local telephone company by providing a telephone adapted device to communicate over the internal power line 232 to the interconnection of the house 274 and through the network interconnection 274 to a digital switching service. The electric company can also provide a direct connection to several long distance companies. The electric utility company has the option to contract with local telephone companies and make use of their existing switching systems.

In another example, the network interconnection 172 can function as a computer switch and the communication cable 260 can comprise a fiber optic cable. A computer switch that operates in conjunction with a fiber optic connection to a digital service network can receive several hundred information channels. The domestic interconnect 174 may be in communication with a home electronic device such as a video monitor, and may, in response to a request from the home electronic device, operate to select a desired channel for transmission over the internal power lines 162 and / or other internal wiring 236 to the domestic electronic device. The network interconnection 272 can also operate to remove disturbances from the signals and provide billing information due to the ease of installation of an electric meter according to the invention and to the simplicity of the interconnections, the addition of such fiber optic connection to a digital service network is relatively cheap.

The standard meter box 214 is typically located at a junction of the internal telephone lines, the television coaxial cables and the electrical power cables, all of which belong to the owner of the box. An electric meter 210 according to the invention, being installed the standard meter box 214, puts the electric company 220 in an advantageous position to control the flow of multimedia information. Due to the advantageous location, the invention provides convenient access to the wiring of the inner box. The electric company can also provide the owner of the house with a unique advantage by integrating the various functions described herein into the electric meter according to the invention. Because the electric company owns and can replace the pre-existing electric meter with an electric meter according to the invention, the invention eliminates the need for an installation by the customer. The invention is advantageous even in new construction situations, it requires an additional installation. The invention provides a additional advantage by not requiring a wall socket a___________b dedicated or a special wiring to provide access to the digital service network.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the associated electronics for an electric meter according to the invention with a detailed block diagram of a signal processing computer 370 which provides an interconnection between a power company 320 and a house 330. computer 370 is located on the electric meter (not shown). The electric utility 320 provides digital data services through the wireless network transmission device 361 and over the fiber optic cables 364, the coaxial cables 366 and the twisted pair cables 368. The computer 360 is coupled to the data services digital through the network interconnection 372.

The network interconnect 372 provides a remote wireless transmission device 362 for communicating with the wireless network transmission 361. Such communication may include transmitting and receiving signals over a selected microwave frequency channel. The data transmission on the selected frequency channel may include such techniques as sample ring data transmission, spread spectrum transmission and / or data transmission packet. Alternatively, the wireless transmission means may include infrared, optical, cellular or satellite communications.

The computer 370 provides a video processor 390, a modem processor 392, a voice processor 394, and a meter interconnect 384, all of which are coupled to the network interconnection 372, the box interconnect 374, and the interconnect of personal computer 398 to receive and transmit their respective signals. The computer 370 also provides a 376 battery backup to the power supply to the 370 computer in the event of a power failure. Computer 370 can operate with the occurrence of such an event to notify utility 320 of the power failure.

The video processor 390 is further coupled to the wobbler 396 to provide undisturbed video signals to the home interconnect 370.

The network interconnection is coupled to the interconnection of the personal computer 398. The network interconnection 372 is also directly coupled to the home interconnect 374 to pass signals without further processing. The house interconnect 374 is coupled to the internal wiring of the house including the internal power lines of the house 332, the telephone lines 338, and the television coaxial cables 339. The interconnection of house 374 can also communicate with domestic electronics through wireless communication. For example, wireless telephones communicate over short-range microwave signals. The 374 house interconnect can use a similar short-range wireless communication.

The personal computer interconnection 398 is coupled to the home interconnect 374 to provide personal computer functions to the users in the cas 330. Peripherals of the personal computer which require user access, such as the soft disk impellers, the Audio speakers, ROM personal computer boosters can be provided within the 330 home and communicate with the 398 personal computer interconnection through the 374 home interconnect.

The power company 320 provides electrical power service over the external power cables 328. The external power cables 328 are coupled through the standard electrical power meter 380 to the circuit breaker box 388. The circuit breaker box 388 the electric power service passes to the box on the internal power lines of the box 332. The interconnection of the meter 384 is coupled to a standard electric power meter 380 and also to the circuit breaker box 388.

. ' The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is advantageous with respect to energy administration. For example, the electric company 320 can produce a record of both the use and the energy factor by communicating periodically by the interconnection of the meter 384. In addition, for the reduction in costs for the reading of the meter, the third incorporation can detect if it has been detected. altered or tried to jump the meter. The electric meter according to the invention can also notify the electric company when there is a power failure. Another example is the advantageous billing arrangements. If there was a problem with the customer's payments, the electric company 320 can instruct the computer 370 to notify the customer via, for example, a message on the customer's television.

In relation to load management, the use of bidirectional tristors or other solid state switches in the circuit breaker box 388 capacity to power company 320 to selectively turn power on or off remotely to specific circuits. For example, utility 320 can turn off water heater circuits during excess power demands. In another example, the bidirectional tristors can be used to reduce the voltage if the electric power company has excess energy demands. Bidirectional tristors can also be used to remotely pay for power if there is evidence that the meter has been tampered with, the electric power bills have stopped paying or there is a change in the bill, such as a discount request.

The electric meter according to the invention also provides advantages for the customer's own energy management. The customers can use the electrical measurement according to the invention to control the lights apparatus. This system will allow the customer to enjoy reduced rates by, for example, operating the washing machine at times of lower energy demands. The interaction of television and internal power lines advantageously allows the power to use control of their power with television as a monitor. For example, the electric meter according to the invention can be programmed to give different customers an individual choice of lower energy rates by controlling the times of different charges or higher rates with unrestricted uses of energy. The electric meter according to the invention also advantageously provides each house with a personal computer which can use a television as the monitor. The software program for the personal computer can be provided by the electric company over the digital service network. For example, the electric company can provide a "free" service for school children to use to do their homework. This has the advantage of making children get used to using the program that has been made available by the electric company. The electric meter according to the invention can also use the personal computer to provide access to the internet and for financial transactions. The electric company can also provide programming to make it much easier for the consumer to pay their electric power bills each month.

A regulated public utility company, such as an electric power company, can justify the costs of the electric meter according to the invention because they will reduce the costs to read the meters and provide significant help in energy management. The unregulated part of the electric company can obtain income from electronic communications. Recent legislation has reduced regulation in communications and this opens the field for the electricity company which is already connected to each house. The electric meter according to the invention will allow the power company to compete with both cable and television telephone companies and provide a strong incentive for these companies to work with the power company to supply a digital service network over the lines of existing television and telephone.

Figures 4a and 4b show a side and a front sample respectively, of a fourth embodiment of an electric meter 410 according to the invention where a connection is made to a communication line 460.

The electric meter 410 has a meter enclosure 412 which encloses a standard electric power meter 480 and the associated electronic devices 470. The meter enclosure 412 forms a seal with the meter seal ring 418 to provide protection of the elements. The electric meter 410 is coupled with a standard meter box 414. The external power lines 428 enter the standard meter box 414 from the top and are supplied to a house through power conduit 433 which leaves the standard meter box 414 from the side.

The associated electronic devices 460 are coupled to the communications cable 460 via a cable 465. The electric meter 410 provides a voltage relief 467 for the cable 465. The cable 465 is coupled to a communication line 460 at a connection point. 463. The signals are communicated in the box on an internal cable 436.

According to the fourth embodiment, the communication line 460 comprises, for example, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber cable or a twisted pair telephone line. In the case of a coaxial cable, the connection point 463 can be a simple coaxial "T" connection. The connection point 463 may be otherwise a splice-type connection in which the signals of the communication line 460 are passed directly to the internal cable 433 in addition to being processed by the associated electronics 470 on the cable 465.

For example, communication line 460 can deliver conventional television signals to the home, some of which are encoded. The conventional signals can be delivered directly to the house for reception on a conventional television. Currently, through a "T" connection, the associated electronic devices can process the encoded television signals and deliver decoded television signals on the internal power lines of the house for reception by a remote device plugged into a plug socket outlet. electric wall The remote device can put the decoded signals back onto the conventional television coaxial cable or the conventional audio and video cables for reception on the television. Alternatively, the associated electronics can be changed and overlap the decoded television signal on the internal cable 436 for reception on a conventional television.

The electric power meter according to the invention can provide numerous advantageous applications to the user. For example, the user may request information regarding the use of electric power and the user's account.

The user may use the electric power meter according to the invention to pay the electric power bill and other accounts through the credit card or other payment arrangements.

Another example is access to information. The utility meter according to the invention can provide a personal computer for the user. The personal computer can be interconnected to the user's devices and appliances. The personal computer can have access to several interactive computer services. For example, the user may use the electric power meter according to the invention to have access to the internet and other sources of information. The user can use his domestic television as an exhibitor. The power company can also provide a computer program and games to be used on the personal computer.

Both, the electricity company and the user can use the electric power meter according to the invention advantageously for the administration of the load. The power company may, for example, suspend electrical service to non-essential circuits, such as hot water heaters, during times of peak demand. The user can, for example, arrange to have the dishwasher run during the lower rate hours. The electric company can also use the electric power meter according to the invention for reading the remote meter also to detect if an attempt has been made to damage it by mediating, for example, determining an unusual energy use. The interruption of electrical power and other problems with the distribution system of the electric power company can also be detected by the electric power meter according to the invention.

The electric power meter according to the invention provides an additional advantage of being able to monitor and collect data on the user's television viewing habits. Such information can be collected in the house and communicated to the electric company over the communications network. Such information is useful in determining the size of the audience for several different television programs.

The electric power meter according to the invention can be used for interactive instruction programs in the home. An instruction program can be viewed on the user's television set and the user can, for example, use a remote control device to answer multiple choice questions set by the instruction program.

Other advantages include the power company's ability to provide video signals, such as pay-per-view programs to the user. The signals can be coded at the distribution point and decoded by the electric power meter according to the invention. The power company may also provide a connection to several long distance and local telephone services through the utility meter according to the invention.

A particularly advantageous use of the utility meter according to the invention may include monitoring a personal medical alert device used by a user within the home. Such a device can transmit medical data on a periodic basis and be examined by a physician through the utility meter according to the invention. Alternatively, such a device can be activated by the user to alert emergency medical services through the utility meter according to the invention. A similar advantage can be achieved to monitor the movements of a restricted user in your home, for example, by a court order.

The advantages and additional modifications will easily occur to those with a skill in the art.

For example, an alternate arrangement may include having associated electronics located in a junction box on the power pole or at another external location. Although the above embodiments have been described with reference to the house, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the invention is applicable to other residential and commercial structures.

Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to specific details and representative devices shown and described herein. Therefore, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive general concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (37)

R E I V I ND I CA C I O N S

1. A utility meter interconnection device connected between a public utility company and a utility user structure, said utility meter interconnection comprises: a utility meter to measure the use of utility, said utility meter has a box; Y a computer located in said box and coupled to said utility meter, said computer provides an interconnection between a communications network and a device located internal to said utility user structure.

2. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said utility meter comprises: an electric power meter; a base adapted to match a measuring box and having a meter seal ring; a meter enclosure containing said electric power meter and mounted on the base, said meter enclosure forms a seal with said meter seal ring; Y wherein said computer is located within the meter enclosure.

3. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that said computer is adapted to communicate with said device on one of the power lines located within the utility user structure, a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable, and a wireless transmission medium.

4. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said communication network comprises one of an optical fiber cable, a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable, and a wireless transmission medium.

5. A utility meter interconnect apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said computer determines one of an energy factor, an energy use, and an energy fault and is configured to communicate a respective one of said factor of energy of said use of energy and said power failure to said utility company over said communication network.

6. A utility meter interconnect apparatus as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that said computer includes a backup battery.

7. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said device is operable to select a desired signal from the communication network for transmission to said device.

8. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that said desired signal is encoded on said communication network and said computer is operable to encode said desired signal prior to transmission to said device.

9. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said device is operable to one of transmitting and receiving one of a video signal, a voice signal and a modem signal.

10. A utility meter interconnect apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said computer comprises a personal computer.

11. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that said device comprises a peripheral component operable with said personal computer.

12. A utility meter interconnect apparatus comprising: an electric power meter; a base adapted to correspond with a meter box; a meter enclosure containing said electric power meter and mounted on said base, said meter enclosure forms a seal with said base; Y a computer located within said meter enclosure and coupled to said electrical meter, said computer comprises: a first interconnection to communicate with a communication network; Y a second interconnection to communicate with a device located within a respective user structure of utility, said second interconnection being coupled to said first interconnection.

13. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that said communication network comprises one of an optical fiber cable, a coaxial cable, or a twisted pair cable, and a wireless transmission means .

14. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that said second interconnection is adapted to communicate with said device over one of the wiring located within the utility user's structure and a wireless transmission means .

15. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that said wiring comprises one of power lines, twisted pair wiring, fiber optic cables and coaxial cables.

16. A utility meter interconnect apparatus as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that said user-user structure further comprises a circuit breaker box having a circuit breaker which responds to a signal, said box The circuit breaker is coupled to the power lines within said utility user structure, and wherein said second interconnection is in communication with said circuit breaker box to selectively provide said signal.

17. A utility meter interconnect apparatus as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said circuit breaker comprises a solid state switch.

18. A utility meter interconnect apparatus as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that said circuit breaker operates to turn on, off and reduce a voltage to the power lines in response to said signal.

19. A utility meter interconnect apparatus comprising: an electric power meter; and a computer coupled to said electric power meter, said computer comprises: a network interconnection to communicate with a communication network; a structure interconnection for communication with a device located within a respective utility user structure, said structure interconnection is coupled to said network interconnection; a video processor coupled between said network interconnection and said structure interconnection; a decoder coupled between said video processor and said structure interconnection; a modem processor coupled between said network interconnection and said structure interconnection; a speech processor coupled between said network interconnection and said structure interconnection; a meter interconnection coupled between said network interconnection and said structure interconnection, said meter interconnection is also coupled to said energy meter; Y a personal computer interconnection coupled between said network interconnection and said structure interconnection, said personal computer interconnection is also coupled between each of the video processor, said modem processor, said voice processor, said meter interconnection and said interconnection of structure.

20. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 19, characterized in that said computer further comprises a backup battery.

21. A method for providing an interconnection between a communication network and a device located within a utility user structure, comprising the steps of: provide a utility meter to measure the use of electric power, said utility meter has a box; adapting said utility meter with a computer coupled to said utility meter, said computer is located in said box; Y configuring said computer to provide said interconnection between said communication network and said device located within said utility user structure.

22. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to communicate one of the utility use, the billing information and the payment information that corresponds to said utility user on said communications network.

23. The method as claimed in clause 22, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to display one of the utility use, the billing information, and the payment information on said television located within said structure of utility user.

24. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to provide an interactive access to the digital information services over said communication network.

25. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to provide load management capability to said utility user.

26. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to provide said load management capability to an electric power company that provides utility services to said utility user structure.

27. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to provide an interconnection with peripheral computing devices located within said utility user structure, whereby said computer and said devices Computer peripherals operate like a personal computer.

28. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to provide a program of instructions to said user of utility over said communication network.

29. The method as claimed in 5 clause 28, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to communicate a response of said utility user to said instruction program on said communication network.

30. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to monitor the television observance of said utility user within said utility user structure and to report information 15 related to said observed television on said communications network.

31. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized by comprising the step of 20 configuring said computer to communicate a detection of one of an alteration of said utility meter, an interruption of power in said utility meter, and a problem of distribution of electrical energy over said communications network. 25 - * '-dkU-i_ÉiUÁ --- l-i ___ á.

32. A method for providing an interconnection between a communication network and a device located within a utility user structure, comprising the steps of: provide a utility meter to measure the use of utility; adapt said utility meter with a computer coupled to said utility meter; configuring said computer to provide said interconnection between said communication network and said device located within said utility user's structure; Y configuring said computer to decode a video signal, said video signal being received over said communication network.

33. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the step of configuring said computer to provide access to one of a local telephone service and a long-distance telephone service over said communications network.

34. The method as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of configuring said computer to monitor a first signal of an alert device, process said first signal; Y communicating a second signal on said communications network according to said first signal processing.

35. A meter utility interconnect apparatus comprising: 15 a utility meter; Y a computer coupled to said utility meter, wherein said computer is configured to provide an interconnection between a communication network and a device located within a utility user structure, and wherein said computer is configured to decode a signal of video, said video signal is received over said communication network. 5 x * ¿&

36. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said box includes a meter box.

37. A utility meter interconnection apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said box comprises an enclosure attached to said meter box. - "- * - * t? fl? • R E S U E N A utility meter interconnection device is connected between a utility company and a home. The utility meter interconnect includes a utility meter to measure utility usage and a computer located outside the home. The computer is connected to the utility meter and provides an interconnection between a communications network and a device located inside the home. The computer may be adapted to communicate with the device over the internal wiring of the home.