AU2006207849A1 - Systems, methods and apparatus for metering product - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR METERING PRODUCT Applicant: MOBILESOFT (AUST) PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 NW Tpatents\8iM767 (0509-06) Complete Patent Appi doc 2 ISystems, Methods and Apparatus for Metering Product

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(Ni The present application claims priority from AU 2005904852, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

t) 5 The present invention relates to systems, methods and apparatus for the metering of product. It relates to the collection of metering data, and to the billing of consumers based on the collected data. The metered product may 00oo take any suitable form, and may include, for example, water, electricity, gas and 0 sewerage service products.

IN 10 In order to pay for many utility services, such as water, electricity and Ogas, users will often have a meter that records the quantity of product consumed. Employees of a utility service are dispatched to read customer meters, generally at quarterly time periods, and the customers are then billed accordingly.

The present invention aims to provide novel systems, methods and apparatus for the collection and billing of metered product, which in their various embodiments may provide a number of advantages.

Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides a method of metering product, the method including the steps of providing a metering device for metering product at each of a plurality of customer premises, each metering device including a transmitter for transmitting meter data, providing a mobile meter reading device to each of a plurality of postal delivery staff of a postal service that services the customer premises, the mobile meter reading devices including a receiver for receiving meter data, and providing a data collection centre for collecting meter data, wherein the postal delivery staff collect meter data from the metering devices using the mobile meter reading devices, and wherein the data collection centre receives the collected meter data from the mobile reading devices.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide for simple and effective methods for collecting meter data from a number of remote locations through the provision of a data collection system that leverages the existing resources of a postal service associated with the customer base of a utility company.

IND The present invention may have a number of advantages for both utility 0 0 companies and postal services. For example, the contracting of postal delivery workers to read meters will be significantly less expensive for a utility company than the employment of dedicated meter reading staff. Also, the present V 5 invention enables a postal service to generate a supplemental revenue stream in servicing the utility company. This can be achieved without detracting unduly from the core business of postal deliveries, as the meter readings may take 0 place automatically and may be transparent to the actual postal workers for amuch of the time.

10 The system allows for meter readings to be conducted more frequently 0 than has previously been the case. The system may for example be set up to take meter readings as regularly as mail delivery services are provided, e.g. on a daily basis. They could also be carried out less frequently, e.g. every other delivery, or weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly, as desired. As well as taking meter readings during routine postal deliveries, it would also be possible if necessary to attend premises specifically for the purposes of reading a meter.

The use of more frequent meter readings can have a number of advantages including the ability to bill more frequently. This may reduce the chances of a customer receiving a large unexpected bill, and may also allow a utility company to better manage cash flow. For example, the utility company may receive funds more frequently and may identify bad accounts more quickly, whilst amounts owing are low. The postal delivery service may also increase demand for their primary mail services, due to the need to deliver bills more often. In this latter regard, it would also be possible to provide bills and the like in electronic form, e.g. over the internet or via email. In this case, although no new postal demand will be generated, the postal service will still increase revenue through the meter reading service.

Frequent meter readings may also deter fraud. For example, attempts to circumvent meters or to alter meter readings may be detected through an analysis of a customer's day-to-day usage profile, and may be detected promptly through the more frequent readings.

The system may also allow for extra services, such as end of occupancy readings, to be accommodated in a simple manner. For example, readings may N be taken at the end of a tenancy or after the sale of a house, simply through the 0 0 reading of a meter during the daily routine of a postal worker.

The collected product data may take any suitable form. It may be the amount of metered product consumed and/or the charges incurred in V 5 consumption. It could also take the form of raw metering information, e.g. the 0 number of turns of a metering wheel, which may then be converted into product amount or charges later. The meter data may also include timing information, 0 e.g. a breakdown of when product was used, e.g. to determine peak rate usage Sand the like. The data may be uniquely identified with a customers premises, 1. 10 e.g. by association with a customer or meter identification number or the like.

O Other data may also be transferred. For example, a user may have a pre-payment meter, e.g. a coin-fed or card-operated meter, and may pay for the metered product as they use it. In this case, a coin-fed meter may transmit a "full" signal to indicate that it needs emptying, whilst a card-operated meter may send information on the prepayment card. Although prepayment meters may not require frequent reading due to the ongoing payment for product, it may still be useful to do so, e.g. as an aid to reducing fraud.

Meter status signals may also be transmitted, e.g. to indicate an error condition or, if the meter includes battery-power, to indicate a low battery. A service engineer may then promptly be dispatched to fix the problem, and so ensure that metering is not interrupted and that associated revenue is not lost.

In one preferred form, the data is transferred via radio frequency signals.

Thus, in one preferred embodiment, the metering devices and mobile meter readers include radio frequency transmitters and receivers for communicating with one another. Data could also be transferred in other suitable manners, e.g.

via an infrared transmission or via a physical connection through electrical contacts or the like. The use of radio frequency systems may minimize demand on the postal worker, and may facilitate automatic and transparent collection of data.

The mobile meter readers may be designed for mounting on the person, e.g. as a device on a belt or shoulder holster or attached to or in a postal worker's bag, and they may be hand-held devices.

In one preferred embodiment, the meter readers are configured for mounting on a postal worker's vehicle, e.g. a bicycle, motorcycle, van or the D like. This can minimize any impact of the meter reading system on the postal worker's normal duties, and may facilitate the use of larger transceivers with higher power and associated greater reading ranges.

0 The metering devices may include means for transmitting data between V 5 one another, e.g. to act as routers or retransmission units in a communications network. In this way data may be passed from a metering device to a mobile meter reader via one or more further metering devices. This may allow a meter 0 reader to obtain data from a meter too remote for direct data transfer. This may r'- 0 occur for example where the meters are in an apartment block, office building or

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1O 10 other multiple-occupancy establishment. Such a networking of meters would Oalso allow a meter reader to obtain the necessary metered information from a number of premises, e.g. from a street or a close of houses, by passing only by one of the meters, e.g. by passing the end of the street or close. It may further allow the metering devices to have smaller transceivers, as the transmission range need only be to the next meter or meter relay. The metering devices may run routines to locate metering devices in their vicinity and form communications channels between them.

The metering devices may be configured so as to transfer information through a plurality of other metering devices, so as to allow for multiple routing of information and the re-routing of information where for example one metering device is found to be faulty. The meter communication network may for example be of a packet-switching type, and information may for example be transferred in a similar manner to Internet protocols.

The metering communications system may also include dedicated intermediate devices for receiving data from a number of metering devices and for communicating with a meter reader device. Again, this may be particularly useful in multiple-occupancy establishments.

Some or all of the metering devices and/or intermediate devices may include a store of metering information from other metering devices, which may be updated regularly, so that when queried for metering data by a meter reading device, a metering device can not only supply its own metering data but can also immediately supply metering data of other metering devices, without having to communicate with the other devices. Data may be suitably datestamped to ensure that fully updated information is obtained.

INO The transmission range of the metering devices may vary depending on 0 Sthe environment and on how readings are taken. In one preferred form, the metering devices have a transmission range sufficient to allow for communication with the meter reader of a postal worker who passes by the S 5 premises without the postal worker having to specifically enter the premises or its grounds. The transmission range may be set on installation of the metering device, depending on the outside environment, and different metering devices oO with differently powered transmitters may be provided, so that power consumption can be optimised. For example, meters may be set for a '0 10 transmission range related to the width of a street, so that communication is Opossible with a postal worker passing along the opposite side of the street.

The protocol for reading meter data may take any suitable form, and, in a preferred embodiment is based on polling the metering devices. Thus, a meter reader may send out a signal to a metering device to poll its data. The metering device will wake-up in response to the poll, and transmit the required data.

The transmission protocol may include an authorisation routine to ensure that readings are only taken by approved parties, and communications may also be encrypted for added security.

The metering devices may store meter data until read, and may then delete the data. This, together with the frequency of reading, may allow for savings in memory size, especially where detailed data is recorded, e.g. usage periods, such as peak rates. The data may be stored until a meter reading device confirms that it has received the data. Alternatively, a meter may retain data until a reader authorises or instructs data deletion. This may be at a later date, e.g. after the reader has succeeded in transferring the data to a data collection centre. This will then allow for redundancy of information, so that should problems occur in transferring the data from a meter reader to the data collection centre, the data can be re-read and re-delivered at a later date.

The data may be provided from the mobile meter readers to a data collection centre in a wireless manner, e.g. though a wireless internet or mobile telephone system or a private wireless network. Connection with the data collection centre may be continuous or on-demand, e.g. through a dial-up connection. Data may be passed continuously or by street, suburb or in accordance with some other regional split. Also or alternatively, data may be IND downloaded from the meter readers to a collection unit at one or more central locations, e.g. at a main depot or sub-depot of a postal service. Thus, the meter readers may download their data to a collection unit at a sub-depot, which may Sthen forward the data to an overall data collection centre, e.g. via the Internet or a private LAN or WAN or the like.

The data collection centre may be directly hosted by the utility company whose product is being monitored. Alternatively, it may be hosted by the postal 0service, which may then pass required information to the utility provider. The r'- 0 utility provider may then bill their customers as appropriate.

1 10 In one embodiment, the postal service may be contracted to bill for the Ometered product, and the data collection centre may include a bill processing unit for generating customer bills. The data collection and billing may also be administered by a third party, independent of both the postal services and the utility providers.

The system may provide billing services for a plurality of service providers, such as gas, electricity, water and sewerage. The data collection centre may include a database of customers for a plurality of utility companies, and may record usage and the like based on the meter data received. It may then suitably bill customers and/or provide any other required data, e.g. relating to usage, to the utility company.

The system may produce a multi-service bill for a customer, so that the customer need only make a single payment for a number of metered products.

In this regard, the meter readers may obtain information from a number of separate meters at each customer premises, or may read information from a single multi-meter that meters a number of products or that itself is an interface connected to a number of individual product meters.

The present system may include a monitoring unit for monitoring customer usage and for providing an alert or the like when a particular usage event or profile occurs. Thus, the system may monitor for higher or lower than usual consumption, and may take action if this occurs. For example, consumption above a first threshold or below another threshold may require contact with the customer, e.g. by telephone, to determine any change in circumstance and e.g. whether a change in consumer package is required to place the user on a more appropriate payment plan, e.g. to reduce their outlay.

IND Also, consumption above a higher threshold may require more immediate and

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Sdirect action due to the possibility of a gas or water leak or the like. These monitoring regimes are possible because of the increased frequency of meter readings that are taken, and provide the opportunity for improved customer service, as well as prompt action in safety critical situations. The monitoring unit may also alert of possible fraud, e.g. where metered usage may indicate the by-passing of a meter or tampering with a meter's readings.

00 The monitoring unit may also monitor for absence of a reading. If a Ometer has been missed on one data collection round, then this may be flagged, C 10 to ensure that a reading is taken the next time, e.g. the postal delivery worker Omay specifically attend the meter. If meter readings are constantly missed, then a technician may visit a site to ensure that a metering device is working. Again, the ability to react quickly to potentially malfunctioning devices may ensure that revenues are optimised, with minimal non-metering downtimes where revenue may be lost.

The present invention may allow for the transmission of data to metering devices, as well as the receipt of information from them. This data may for example take the form of updated billing data, e.g. unit charging rates and/or peak hour time periods and the like. This would then allow the metering devices to calculate costs to the consumer, and would allow the metering devices to display charges and current billings to the user. The data may also take the form of an instruction, e.g. to interrupt or limit the supply of product, e.g. to cap it or make it available only at set times. This may be required where for example settlement plans and other assistance for a bad debtor have proven ineffective.

When used with prepayment meters, the system may send payment information, e.g. credit data, to the prepayment metering device or to a prepayment card associated with the metering device or the customer. The customer may then purchase product credits from the utility provider, postal service or other third party authority, and the system will record the purchase and issue the credit data. When the postal worker passes the premises, the meter reading device will pass payment credits to the metering device, which will then update the user's credit as it is recorded on the metering device and/or on a prepayment card associated with the metering device or customer.

IN When collecting data, the meter readers need to know from which meters

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Sthey are receiving the metered readings. This may be achieved by each meter having a unique identification number. It may also be achieved geographically by knowing the location of the meter. Location information may for example be S 5 programmed into the meter on installation, or may be determined by a location indicator in the meter or meter reader, e.g. a GPS signal processor. Noting the location of a reading may also provide confirmation that the correct meter has 00oo been installed at the correct premises.

r"- OThe meters can be used to give location information to the postal delivery O 10 staff, e.g. a meter may have its location downloaded to it, which it can then 0 0 transmit when polled, or the meter reader may contact a customer database and look up a meter's identification number to obtain its location details. The ability to determine location from the metering devices may also be used in the normal operations of a postal service, e.g. in monitoring postal staff locations, e.g. where GPS or the like may not provide sufficiently accurate information.

Knowing a postal worker's location can also allow the postal worker's meter reading device to determine the metering devices that are in the vicinity postal worker's current location. This may for example allow for individual polling of metering devices using unique metering device identifiers in the polling messages, rather than the use of a general poll to all metering devices in an area.

The mobile meter reading devices may include a display for providing information as to the status of the meter readings for an area, and any instructions from the data collection centre. It may also alarm if an action is required with regard to a meter in an area, but where the postal delivery person has moved out of that area as determined by reference to GPS signals or received meter data).

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a system of metering product, the system including: a metering device for metering product at each of a plurality of customer premises, each metering device including a transmitter for transmitting meter data; a mobile meter reading device provided to each of a plurality of postal delivery staff of a postal service that services the customer premises, the mobile meter reading devices including a receiver for receiving meter data; and a data collection centre for collecting meter data; IN wherein the mobile metering reading devices are configured to allow postal Sdelivery staff to collect meter data from the metering devices, and wherein the data collection centre is configured to receive the collected meter data from the mobile reading devices.

S 5 Although the use of a postal delivery service has many advantages and synergises with the metering of product, the data collections systems discussed above may also be implemented without the use of the postal delivery service, 00 and, for example, a utility company itself or some other third party service 0 provider may implement the system and provide for staff to service the metering 10 devices. The utility company or other company providing the service may again Ocharge other service providers for metering their product also. For example a water company could provide meter collection services for an electricity company.

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a method of metering product, the method including the steps of providing a metering device for metering product at each of a plurality of customer premises, each metering device including a transmitter for transmitting meter data, providing a mobile meter reading device to each of a plurality of meter reading staff, the mobile meter reading devices including a receiver for receiving meter data, and providing a data collection centre for collecting meter data, wherein the meter reading staff collect meter data from the metering devices using the mobile meter reading devices, and wherein the data collection centre receives the collected meter data from the mobile reading devices.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention provides a system of monitoring product usage, including a plurality of remote metering devices for metering product at a plurality of customer premises, a plurality of mobile meter reading devices for reading the metering devices, and a data collection centre for receiving meter data, each metering device and meter reading device including a transceiver for enabling communication between the devices, wherein the meter reading devices receive meter data from the metering devices, and wherein the data collection centre receives meter data from the meter reading devices.

The application of the above principles to prepayment meters is also in itself advantageous, and viewed from a still further aspect, the present invention Iprovides a metered product prepayment method including the steps of providing a prepayment metering device at each of a plurality of customer premises, each metering device including a receiver for receiving credit data, providing a mobile communications device to each of a plurality of postal delivery staff of a postal service that services the customer premises, the mobile devices including a transmitter for transmitting credit data to the metering device, and uploading credit data from the mobile devices to the metering devices. The data may be uploaded to the metering device itself or to a prepayment card provided at the 0o metering device. The card may be associated with the metering device and/or with a particular customer. Assuming enough credits on the metering device or 0 card, the metering device will allow for product to be supplied to a customer to an appropriate degree. Customers may pay for product credits in any suitable manner, e.g. over the telephone or the Internet, by direct debit, at a post office, newsagent or the like, and a credit control centre may process payments and issue product credits to the metering devices via the mobile communications devices.

This aspect of the invention also extends to a metered product prepayment system including a prepayment metering device for metering product at each of a plurality of customer premises, each metering device including a receiver for receiving credit data, a mobile communications device provided to each of a plurality of postal delivery staff of a postal service that services the customer premises, the mobile devices including a transmitter for transmitting credit data to the metering device, and a credit control centre for receiving product credit payments by customers and for uploading credit data to metering devices via the mobile communications devices.

Again, such prepayment systems may be put into effect by another service provider rather than a post office, and could also be put into effect by a utility company, who may then also provide the service to other utility companies.

The present invention also extends to metering devices, meter reading devices and other system components for use in the above methods and systems, and extends also to computer programs and protocols for conducting metering and communications between the devices.

12 IND The present invention may be implemented as a retro-fit/up-grade to

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Sexisting billing systems, and for example an existing metering device may be retro-fitted with a suitable reading and transmission system.

It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may V 5 include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and 0 may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below, as appropriate.

00 Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of 0 example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be 1. 10 understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the Ogenerality of the preceding description of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing various collection and billing system possibilities for metering product; and Figure 2 is a block diagram of basic system units for one possible embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, metered product 1 is supplied to various different types of premises 2-5 via a supply network 6, and its consumption is monitored by meter devices 7. The metered product 1 may be for example electricity, gas, or water, and the system may also provide metering for product that is discharged from a premises, e.g. to determine sewerage service charges (either directly from sewerage metering or indirectly through water usage).

The premises may include single and multi-occupant establishments, and may include for example individual domestic households 2, factories 3, housing complexes 4 and apartment and office blocks 5. Each of the premises may have one or more metering devices 7 associated with it.

The present embodiment provides a system and method for collecting metering information and, optionally, for billing consumers accordingly. The system is able to leverage the existing capabilities of a postal delivery service in order to collect meter data in a relatively inexpensive, efficient, automated and timely manner.

The system includes metering devices 7 at the various premises 2-5 that are provided with radio frequency transceivers for communication with a plurality of mobile meter readers 8-10. These mobile meter readers 8-10 are 13 IND provided to the postal delivery staff that service the premises 2-5, and may take

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0 a number of different forms. Some meter readers 8 for example may be designed for carrying on the person, e.g. in the hand, on a belt or strap or in a mail bag, whilst other meter readers 9,10 may be designed for mounting on a V) 5 postal worker's vehicle, e.g. on a bicycle 11 or in a delivery van 12.

The system allows the postal delivery staff to access the meter data recorded by the metering devices 7, as they carry out their normal delivery oO duties, and to download the data to a data collection centre 13 that may also be Shosted by the postal service, e.g. at a main post office 14. The post office .O 10 collection unit 13 may then either process the received meter data and issue a Obill 15 on behalf of a utility provider 16, or it may pass on the meter data to a utility provider 17 so that it may conduct its own billing and issue bills 18.

Alternatively or also, a utility service provider 19 could host its own data collection centre 20 and could be supplied with data directly from the meter readers 8-10, and again could issue its own bills 21. A third party independent of the postal service and utility companies could also host a data collection unit and provide appropriate billing services. In both of these cases, the postal service would be providing a data collection role in the form of data reading and forwarding services, without product billing functions.

The data collection centres 13,20 may include suitable databases of customers, product providers and the like, and may process data to determine billings and the like. Where the data collection centres provide reading services to a number of product providers, they may issue a single multi-service bill, so that e.g. users need only pay a single bill for all of their utilities.

The meter readers 8-10 may automatically poll metering devices 7 as postal workers pass by customers' premises during their routine postal delivery rounds. When a metering device 7 is polled, it will send the meter data stored within it to the meter reader 8-10 for re-transmission to the data collection centre 13. This will generally be transparent to the postal workers, who will be able to provide their postal delivery functions without hindrance.

Transmission of data from the meters readers 8-10 to the data collection centre 13 may occur in a number of different ways. Postal workers may attend the main post office 10 or a sub-office 22 and may download the information from their meter readers 8-10 via a local link, e.g. a wired or wireless 14 N connection. If sent to a sub-office 22, the sub-office may pass on the 0 information to the main post office 14 where the data collection centre 13 is located, e.g. over the Internet or by a private link or the like.

Alternatively or also, the readers 8-10 may transmit the data to the data tV 5 collection centre 13 via a remote wireless link. This could e.g. be via a mobile telephone network (including satellite, GPRS or a G3 or G4 link), the Internet, a private link or some other communications network.

oo Communications may be continuous or on-demand, e.g. through a dialr'- 0 up connection, and data may be transmitted on each individual customer S 10 reading or on a street, suburb or some other regional split basis.

OWhere a utility or other party hosts the data collection centre, e.g. centre the meter readers 8-10 and the sub-post office 22 may forward data directly to that collection centre 20 rather than or in addition to the post office data collection centre 13.

The metering devices 7 may have any suitable transmission strength, and this may vary depending on the environment. The transmission range should be sufficient to allow for communication with the meter reader 8-10 of a postal worker who passes by the premises without the worker having to enter the premises or possibly its grounds. A transmission range could be set for example to ensure that a postal worker passing by a house on the opposite side of the street would be able to read the metering devices 7.

In order to facilitate transmission of data, the metering devices 7 may include an external aerial 23 so that transmission occurs nearer to where a post worker attends a premises, thereby reducing the need for a stronger transmitter.

Also, the metering devices 7 may be configured to form a communications network, such that they can communicate with one another or at least route data transmissions through one another. This then allows a metering device 7 to communicate with a distant reading device 8-10 through a more proximate metering device 7, and perhaps through one or more intermediate metering devices 7. This may again remove the need for powerful transmitters. The metering device networks may be cabled and/or wireless, and example connections are shown in dotted lines within premises 4 and The use of metering devices 7 in a communications network may be especially advantageous in multiple-occupancy premises, such as housing Icomplexes 4 and apartment or office blocks 5, where for example there may be 0a single central post delivery point, and where it might otherwise be difficult to attend a metering device 7.

SSuch communications networks may also include intermediate devices, V 5 e.g. dedicated routers 23, for passing on data transmissions. The metering devices 7 and routers 23 may be configured to allow for multiple routing of information, so that should a network node, e.g. a metering device 7 or router 0 23, fail, data may still be transmitted through a different node. The 0 communications network may for example be a packet -switching network.

1 10 The metering devices 7 and/or intermediate devices 23 may store Ometered data for a number of metering devices 7, which may be updated regularly, so that they may immediately provide information on a number of metering devices 7 when interrogated by a reader 8-10, rather than having to communicate with all of the other metering devices at the time of polling. The meter data may be suitably time-stamped to ensure that up-to-date data is being transferred.

The data communications between the metering devices 7 and the readers 8-10 may use any suitable protocols, and may include suitable authentication and encryption routines.

The data transmitted may relate to the quantity of product consumed and/or corresponding charges incurred. It may include other information, such as a time breakdown of the usage, e.g. usage in relation to peak periods and the like, e.g. a log or schedule of use over time. It could also take the form of raw meter data relating to a measurement device, e.g. the number of rotations of a measuring wheel, and this data may then be converted later into product consumed or charges incurred.

The data could also relate to meter status, e.g. a fault signal. If the metering device 7 is a prepayment meter, the data could indicate that the meter is full and needs emptying, if a coin-fed meter, or, if a card meter, could provide information as to the type of payment card used to operate the meter.

The metering devices 7 may store meter data for as long as desired.

They may also be configured to delete data so as to save on memory, especially where detailed data is stored, e.g. time related usage. The data may be deleted after it has been transmitted and after successful transmission has 16 D been acknowledged or after a reader has confirmed that it has successfully transferred the data to a data collection centre.

The use of the postal delivery workers allows for frequent reading of the metering devices 7, which might otherwise be prohibitively expensive. For S 5 example, readings could be taken as often as postal deliveries occur, e.g. daily, or could be set for weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or the like readings.

This increase in frequency can assist the product provider in cash flow 0 management, as revenue may be received more frequently due to more r- 0 frequent billings. Also, customers may well prefer to receive smaller and more

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1D 10 frequent bills rather than a few larger bills.

SDue to the ability of the system to read metering devices 7 on a frequent (Ni basis, the data collection centres 13, 20 may be configured to monitor the product usage for the premises, e.g. to check for changes in usage patterns or specific events. They may for example alarm when usage is above a threshold that could indicate a leak. They may also notify personnel to usage changes that could indicate a change in circumstance at the customer premises or possible fraud or a failed meter. Service personnel may then take appropriate and prompt action, e.g. contact the customer, e.g. by telephone, or attend the customer's premises to secure the metering device or supply.

The system also allows for simple meter readings at the end of an occupancy, e.g. when a house is sold or a tenant moves out. This can be achieved without the need for the specific non-quarterly meter readings that are at present required. In the present system, a postal worker merely takes a reading on their usual rounds, and a suitable end of occupancy bill is determined at the central control 20 upon notification of the end of the occupancy.

If a metering device 7 fails to be read on a number of consecutive occasions, an alert may be raised, and a specific call may be made to the premises to check on the device.

Data may also be downloaded to the metering devices 7 from the readers 8-10. This may for example relate to changes in software for running the metering devices 7, or could relate to charging data, e.g. peak rate values and times. Such data would then allow the metering devices 7 to display charges and the like to the product users. Signals could also be sent to the IN metering devices 7 to delete data that has been successfully downloaded, and 0signals could also be provided to interrupt or limit the product supply by capping the amount supplied and/or times of supply).

In one embodiment, the metering devices 7 may be prepayment metering devices, and the system may download product credits to the metering devices 7. Thus, a customer may purchase product credits in any suitable manner, e.g. over the telephone, the Internet, at a post office or a newsagent or the like, and the central control 13,20 may receive notification of this and may Sthen download the credits to the metering devices 7 via the reading devices 8e 10 10. The metering devices 7 may have prepayment cards associated with them, Sand the credits may be uploaded to these cards via the metering devices 7.

The cards may be associated with the meters or with the customer personally.

The meter reading devices 8-10 may determine their location, e.g. by GPS, in order to determine the metering devices 7 in their vicinity, so that for example unique individual polls of the metering devices 7 may be made (rather than e.g. a common poll to all metering devices Location data may also be obtained from the metering devices 7. Thus, the metering devices 7 may include location data, e.g. recorded on installation, or the meter reading devices 8-10 may determine a metering device's identification and determine/track the postal worker's location from a look-up of a database of metering device locations, e.g. held at the central control 13,20. The ability to determine location through the metering devices 7 may also be used in the standard postal delivery duties, e.g. to locate the postal worker and to supplement a postal worker navigation system.

The meter reading device 8-10 may include a suitable display or the like for providing information and instructions to the postal workers.

Although the above systems are discussed mainly in relation to radio frequency transmissions, any other suitable transmission system would be possible.

Figure 2 shows in block diagram form an overview of one billing system, in which a product user 100, e.g. the customer of a utility company 200, has a metering unit 300 installed at their premises. The metering unit 300 transmits meter data to a mobile reading device 400, which may be provided to postal delivery workers that service the product user 100, and the mobile reading 18 IN device in turn passes the meter data from a number of such metering units 300 0to a central data processor 500, which may be hosted by the postal service of the product user 100. The cental processor 500 may prepare a bill for the product user 100 or may pass meter data to the utility company 200 for V) 5 issuance of its own bill.

Alterations to the above embodiments may include alternative forms of data transmission, e.g. infrared or physical connections. Also, although preferred, the system need not be implemented through a postal service, but 00 Scould be implemented by a utility company or third party.

S 10 It is to be understood that various alterations, additions and/or Smodifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the present invention, and that, in the light of the above teachings, the present invention may be implemented in software, firmware and/or hardware in a variety of manners as would be understood by the skilled person.

Claims (21)

1. A method of metering product, the method including the steps of providing a metering device for metering product at each of a plurality of V) 5 customer premises, each metering device including a transmitter for transmitting meter data, providing a mobile meter reading device to each of a plurality of postal delivery staff of a postal service that services the customer 00oo premises, the mobile meter reading devices including a receiver for receiving 0 meter data, and providing a data collection centre for collecting meter data, 10 wherein the postal delivery staff collect meter data from the metering devices 0 using the mobile meter reading devices, and wherein the data collection centre receives the collected meter data from the mobile reading devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metered product is a gas, electricity or water product.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the meter data is one or more of amount of product consumed, charges for product consumed, and product usage time data.

4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the metering devices and meter readers communicate by radio frequency signals.

The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the meter reading devices and the data collection centre communicate via a wireless communications network.

6. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metering devices are configured to provide a communication network over which meter data may be transmitted.

7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein meter readings are taken transparently in the course of postal delivery services provided by the postal workers. IN

8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data collection centre is hosted by the postal service.

9. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data tr 5 collection centre processes the meter data and produces bills to the metered premises. oo

10. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data 0collection centre monitors meter data for a predetermined event, and provides an alert when said predetermined event occurs. (Ni

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said predetermined event is one or more of: no product usage, usage below a threshold, usage above a threshold, usage above a threshold indicating a leak, and usage indicating a fraud.

12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein metering device status information is transmitted to said data collection centre.

13. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metering devices retain transmitted data until authorised to delete the data.

14. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the meter reading devices poll the metering devices to transmit the meter data.

15. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the meter reading devices transmit update information to metering devices.

16. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the meter reading devices determine location through communication with the metering devices.

17. A system of metering product, the system including: 21 IND a metering device for metering product at each of a plurality of customer O 0 premises, each metering device including a transmitter for transmitting meter data; a mobile meter reading device provided to each of a plurality of postal S 5 delivery staff of a postal service that services the customer premises, the mobile meter reading devices including a receiver for receiving meter data; and a data collection centre for collecting meter data; 00 wherein the mobile meter reading devices are configured to allow postal 0 delivery staff to collect meter data from the metering devices, and wherein the C 10 data collection centre is configured to receive the collected meter data from the Omobile reading devices. (Ni

18. A method of metering product, the method including the steps of providing a metering device for metering product at each of a plurality of customer premises, each metering device including a transmitter for transmitting meter data, providing a mobile meter reading device to each of a plurality of meter reading staff, the mobile meter reading devices including a receiver for receiving meter data, and providing a data collection centre for collecting meter data, wherein the meter reading staff collect meter data from the metering devices using the mobile meter reading devices, and wherein the data collection centre receives the collected meter data from the mobile reading devices.

19. A system of monitoring product usage, including a plurality of remote metering devices for metering product at a plurality of customer premises, a plurality of mobile meter reading devices for reading the metering devices, and a data collection centre for receiving meter data, each metering device and meter reading device including a transceiver for enabling communication between the devices, wherein the meter reading devices receive meter data from the metering devices, and wherein the data collection centre receives meter data from the meter reading devices. 22 ND

20. A metered product prepayment method including the steps of providing a 0 0prepayment metering device at each of a plurality of customer premises, each metering device including a receiver for receiving credit data, providing a mobile communications device to each of a plurality of postal delivery staff of a postal V) 5 service that services the customer premises, the mobile devices including a transmitter for transmitting credit data to the metering devices, and uploading credit data from the mobile devices to the metering devices. 00oo r-

21. A metered product prepayment system including a prepayment metering (Ni .O 10 device for metering product at each of a plurality of customer premises, each Smetering device including a receiver for receiving credit data, a mobile communications device provided to each of a plurality of postal delivery staff of a postal service that services the customer premises, the mobile devices including a transmitter for transmitting credit data to the metering devices, and a credit control centre for receiving product credit payments by customers and for uploading credit data to metering devices via the mobile communications devices.