OA13007A

OA13007A - System for the control of reticulated services.

Info

Publication number: OA13007A
Application number: OA1200500105A
Authority: OA
Inventors: Donald Michael Taylor
Original assignee: Actarais Measurement And Systems Proprietary Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-10
Filing date: 2003-10-09
Publication date: 2006-10-13
Also published as: AU2003269318A1; NZ539879A; AP2005003285A0; BR0314556A; EP1552315A1; AP2259A; ZA200503729B; WO2004034069A1; AU2003269318B2

Abstract

A system is provided for the supply of a reticulated service (2), typically electricity, but optionally gas or water, in which multiple consumer installations (3) are each connected by way of a point of delivery meter (1) (optionally associated with a prepayment controller (4)) to the reticulated service. The point of delivery meters each have a data retention unit (14) associated therewith that not only maintains consumption data corresponding to consumption passed through the point of delivery meter, but also data selected from one or more of applicable tariff; events such as replacement of point of delivery meter or replacement of prepayment controller; occasions of communication with the data retention unit; locator data in respect of premises, consumer installation, point of delivery meter, or separate prepayment controller; and real-time of events logged by the data retention unit. The data retention unit may also have a microprocessor function providing profiles as outputs. The system includes communications stations, typically mobile stations, that are capable of communicating by short-range communication means, typically wireless, with the data retention unit to extract data maintained therein.

Description

073007

A SYSTEM AND DATA RETENTION UNIT FOR THE CONTROL OFRETICULATED SERYICES OR THE UKE

5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system and data rétention unit for the contrai ofreticulated services or the like and, more particularly, the contrai of a reticulatedservice of a general nature that renders it capable of being metered at a point of 10 delivery to a consumer or récipient of the servicee. The services of particularinterest, whilst not limrting the scope of application of the invention, are those ofwhich the consumer or récipient has the ability to draw aff variable guantities, ondemand. Typical of such services are the supply of eiectricity, water, and gas. 15 Whilet the following description of the invention will be particularly aimed at thecontrai of the supply of eiectricity, this is because that application is of particular andimmédiate concem. However, it will be perfectiy apparent to those eki(led in the artthat contrai of other services that are capable of being metered orotherwisemeasured automatlcally, could be similady exercised. 20

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is generally accppted that a consumer of a reticulated service, such as eiectricity,pay for that service according to some formula or tariff as dictated by the extent of 25 the consumées usage of the service, that is, spart from any free allocation of theservice in respect of predetermined tirne periods, typlcally one month time periods.

In order to exercise contrai over each consumées usage, a meter is installed atthepoint of delivery, in the case of eiectricity, at the point where the consumées 30 electrical installation draws power from the mains electrical supply grld. Suchmeters hâve long being a target for tampering in order to cause the meter to recordconsumption in a lesser amount of the service than has actually been utilized by theconsumer. Typical of such tampering are bridges or bypasses that hâve, inparticular, been applied to electrical supply meters so that only a part of the 013007 2 eiectricity actually consumed is recorded by the meter. Service or installationtechniciens may even be bribed ta install such a bridge or bypass. There arenumercus other tampering techniques that hâve been used in an effort to cause ameter to record less of the reticulated service than has actually been supplied. in 5 addition, meters may also become détective and reflet! an incorrect consumptionThis could be either to the détriment or advantage of the consumer.

The probiem becomes particularly acute in the case of reticulated services, inparticular eiectricity, supplied on a prepaid basis h which a prépayaient controller is 10 aasociated with the point of delivery meter auoh lhe service ie available to aparticular consumer only whilst a crédit is available in the prépayaient controller. Inthe absence of a crédit the point of delivery meter is activated by the prépayaientcontroller to terminale the suppiy of the relevant service, typically by opening anelectrical switch in the case of eiectricity or the dosing of a suppiy valve in the case 15 of water or gas.

Présent practical installations of which applicant is aware often do not hâve anyeffective means of, in the first place, of detecting any change in consumption patternthat may be occasioned by tampering with a point of delivery meter or eveh a 20 prépayaient controller. Also, exietirig contre! système do not enable regular readingof the point of delivery and prépayaient meters to be made.

The only control that is presently exercised by at least some suppliera of particularservices, typically municipalities or other local authorities, is that of anaiyzing 25 payments made by a consumer in an attempt to detect any déviations from anhistoric pattern or typical consumption profile having regard to the démographiecîrcumstances of a particular consumer. This is done in the absence of regularreadings of the point of delivery meter. 30 Once a déviation in payment profile has been detected, an inspecter may be sent tathe relevant consumer's point of delivery meter in order to inspect the same anddétermine whether or not there aie any irregularities in the suppiy instaiation. 013007 3

The prabiem with this method of contrai is that such inspection generally hae to becarried out during normal working hours and thaïe is vary often not anyone at therelevant promises to allow access to the prepayment controiler and. moreparticulaiiy, the point of delivery meter. Oishonest consumera may "ensure" that no S one is available to provide the access required by an inspecter.

These problems become still more acute in the case of high-density living areas andeven more difficult in the case of informai type dwellings when even the address ofthe relevant promises may not be immediately apparent or, thero may indeed be no 10 officiel eddreaa et ail. In the latter case the only form of identity of a partiouiarconsumer installation is a number carried by the point of delivery meter itself whichis inaccessible to an inspecter in the absence of anyone to provide access.

One aftempt that has been made to alleviate the difficulties indicated above may be IS termed automatic mater reading. In such a System every point of delivery metercommunicates readings back to a central station my means of a powerline carriermodem, radio modem, or téléphoné network modem. This solution is extremelycostly to implement; results in a substantial amount of data being communicatsd tothe central station wheroof a large proportion is not useful; and is aiso limïted as to 20 the nature of the data that is communicated to the centrai station.

Another possibility is that of installing split meters whereof the point of delivery meteritself is located in a locked housing outside of the promises and is connected byhardwiring or even powerline carrier modems or the like to a prepayment interface 25 unit located inside the premiees. An inspecter would hâve access to the point ofdelivery meter for inspection purposes but any tampering cannot simply beattributed to the consumer because the point of delivery meter couid be open totampering by third parties. This solution is aiso costly in that it involves considérableinstallation costs in addition to the cost of having two separate units. It aiso does 30 not provide security against vandalism in respect of the point of delivery meter.

Finally, applicant is aware of a rather rudimentary System that has apparently beenapplied in the case of water meters in which a separate unit is associated with awater meter so as to record the révolutions of a component thereof and to transmit 013007

Information as to the "mater reading" and the mater identity by short-rangé wirelesscommunication to a mobile meter reading function. This System dœs not overcomethe diffîculties outiined above other than the ability to read a meter remoteiy withoutany presence being required of the inhabitante of relevant premises. 5

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a contrai System and datarétention unit for the contrat of reticulated services and the like that overcomes, at 10 toast to some extent, one or more of the diffîculties outiined above.

DEFINITIONS

In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, and in the drcumstances that a15 wide veriety of different terme are used in the industry to mean particular items, the following terms will be used herein to hâve the meanings stated beiow;- "consumer installation" is intended to mean any installation at premises of aconsumer that utlllzes or consumes a reticulated service and that is generally 20 connected to the reticulated service through a point of dellvery meter intended tomeasure the extent of use of the reticulated service by the consumer; "premises" is intended to mean any building, enclosure or structure in which a pointof delivery meter is installed; 25 "point of delivery meter'* is intended to mean any measuring device adapted tomeasure the extent of utilization of a reticulated service in a consumer installation; "prepayment controller” is intended to mean any device that is adapted to receive30 and décrément crédit to be applied to a particular point of deBvery meter in order tocause termination of the supply of a reticulated service under conditions in whichinadéquate crédit remains in the prepayment controller. The prepayment controllermay or may not be embodied in a point of delivery meter, or may optionally be housed in the same physical unit as a point of delivery meter; 013007 "identifier'* is intended to mean any unique code that generally assumes the form ofa numeric or alphanumeric string of digits but may assume any other form, such as,unique etectronic data whereby any particular item in relation to which it is used canbe uniquely identified with respect to other similar items; and, "locator data" is intended to mean data such as a meaningful physical address;global positioning System coordinates (GPS coordinates); or other information ordata whereby an item or premises can be physicaily located on the earth’s surface.

SUMMARY OF Tl IE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a System for thesupply of a reticulated service or the like in which multiple consumer installations areeach connected by way of a point of deliveiy mster (optionally associated with aprepayment controller) to a reticulated service, wherein at toast seiected point ofdelivery meters each hâve a data rétention unit associated therewith wherein thedata rétention unit has meinory means adapted to maintain consumption datacorresponding to consumption passed through the point of deliveiy meter optionallyduring one or more predetermined time periods, and wherein each of said datarétention unité ie operatively associated with short-range communications means forcommunicating said data to a communications station positioned extemally ofpremises in which such point of delivery meter is located, the System beingcharacterized in that a data rétention unit operatively aiso retains data associatedwith at least one item seiected from the group consisting of i tariff information actively applicable to the point of delivery meter and anyassociated prepayment controller, such tariff information optionally being oneof a plurality thereof that are selectively applicable according to real-time; ii real-time as to events logged by the data rétention unit; iii information as to a succession of inspections performed by a communicationsstation being logged orrto the data rétention unit; iv information as to the succession of different point of delivery meters or, as maybe appropriate. different separate prepayment controilers that hâve beenassociated with a particular data rétention unit; 013007 v a profile of consumption over a predetarmined number of previous meteredperiods; vi a profile, optionally of a statistical nature, of the connection and disconnectionof a sériés of point of delivery meters and, as may be appropriais, any 5 separate prepayment controllera, with a particular data rétention unît; vii locator data in respect of at ieast one of the promises; consumer installation;point of delivery meter, as may be appropriate, separate prepayment controlierand data rétention unrt; and, viii functionality providing direct bi-directional communication between a point of 10 delivery meter or, as may be appropriate, a prepayment controlier, end an extemal communications station.

Further features of this aspect of the invention provide for the point of delivery meterto hâve associated therewith a prepayment controlier; for the memory means to 15 operatively retain data oorreeponding to at Ieast either an identifier or locator data inrespect of each of said point of delivery meters, prepayment controliers andconsumer installations or promises; for locator data to be either in the foret of aconventions! physical address or in the form of coordinates of the global positioningSystem (GPS) or other équivalent System; for each data rétention unit to be 20 assigned to a particular promises or consumer installation for a lifetime generallyexceeding that of the installation of any particular point of delivery meter orprepayment controlier; for each data rétention unit to hâve associated therewith adata rétention unit identifier that is operatively maintained in said memory means; forthe data rétention unit to operatively record information as to identifiera and 25 occasions of replacement of point of delivery meters and prepayment controliersinstalled from time to time in association with a particular data rétention unit; for thedata rétention unit to operatively record data constituting a record of occasions onwhich inspectors or the like hâve logged on to a particular data rétention unit; andfor the data rétention unit to further operatively record events associated with the 30 suppiy network of the reticulated services such as. for example, in the case of aneiectrical suppiy, interruptions of supplÿ and variations of voltage outside ofpredetarmined limits. 013007

Still further features of the invention provide for the data rétention unit to bave adock embodied therein in which case consumption data may be recorded on a fixedperiodic basis, typically daily, or altematively, in cases that the point of deiiverymeter has its own dock, for the data rétention unit to record consumption data 5 according to auch dock on said periodic basis; for the consumption data to berecorded on an update basis in which case the consumption data is maintained forthe immediately preceding predetermined number of time période, for example theprevious 28 or 30 days; for the data rétention unit to embody a microprocessor thatitself is programmed to analyze the consumption according to particular criteria, 10 auch ec conoumption hiotory or domographic profile, or both; ond for the datarétention unit to operatively retain data as to more than one tariff to be seiectivelyapplied by coopération with an associated prepayment controller, with a sélectionbetween tariffs being based on time of day when the consumption takes place. 15 Yet further features of the invention provide for the externat communications stationto be either a mobile communications station or a fixed communications stationadapted to communicaie with a plurality of data rétention units within apredetermined communications range; for the communications station to be adaptedto communfcate either in real-time with a remote central Processing station, or from 20 time to time to download accumulated data; and for the data rétention unit andcommunications station to be adapted to eooperate in real-time with the centralProcessing station to enabie it to update or instali data in the data rétention unit, inthe point of deiivery meter, or any associated prepayment controller, in thecommunications station itself, or to extract data from any one or more of these. 25

Still further, the data rétention unit may operatively retain numerous other forms ofdata that may be selected from payment history, in particular the identification codesof prepayment tokens or their équivalent that hâve been employed to relation to aparticular prepayment controller or point of deiivery meter; data pertaining to 30 tampering that may hâve been detected by security features associated with a pointof deiivery meter or a prepayment controller, or both; and various other items of datathat may be of statistical interest both as regards the profile of the consumer and thehistory of the consumer installation at least insofar as the point of deiivery meter, the 013007 8 identity of the consumer, the ownerehip of the promises and other items ofinformation may be concemed. it should be noted in particular that, whilst a data rétention unit might physicaiiyoperatc in close association with a point of delivery mater and any associatedprepayment controller, in at least the preferred implémentation of the invention thedata rétention unit is a physicaiiy separate unit insofar as it can be associatedsubstantiaiiy permanently with a particular consumer installation or premises in spiteof the fact that the associated point of delivery meter or prepayment controller mayb© ohanged. Th© data rétention unit i© thorofor© preferably in the form of a plug-inunit from which they point of delivery meter can be removed when it is changed andpiugged into a replacement point of delivery meter associated with the sameconsumer installation. A data rétention unit may therefore hâve the purpose ofaccumulating data over a period of time that exceeds the iifetime of the associationof any particular point of delivery meter or prepayment controller and thereby enablea substantial and optionally statistical profile to be developed both as regards theparticular oonsumer installation or premises and as regards a particulardémographie sector.

The data rétention unit, in the form of suoh a physicaiiy separate unit, also providesadvantages in that the point of delivery meter and prepayment controller can bemade in a rather basic form without a real-time dock and can employ a real-timedock forming part of the data rétention unit for ail purposes to be fulfilled by thesecomponents. Also, a prepayment controller need not hâve any built in tarif? facilityfiince tar'rff based contrai can be exercised by the data rétention unit. it should also be noted that the communications station cannot only interrogate thedata rétention unit itsetf but, preferably, can also communicate directly with datamaintained in the point of delivery meter or prepayment controller by way of the datarétention unit that serves, in this case, simply as a communications link. In thls waydata retained in the data rétention unit can be compared with that maintained in thepoint of delivery meter or prepayment controller iteelf, as may be required. Theexact data retrieved from the data rétention unit memory means and the point ofdelivery meter or prepayment controller wîlt dépend, to a large extent, on 013007 requirements and the capabilities of the point of delivery meter or prepaymentconiraller itself.

As regards the nature of the short-range communications means between the datarétention unit and a communications station, this may be by way <rf short-rangewireless communication of a type that does not require regulatory approval and thatis often termed a non-specific short-range device. However, numerous other formsof communications means can be employed including modems for superimposingsignais on supply poweriines and dedicated hardwired terminais extemal of thepromises that are accessible te on inapeeter whilst the peint of delivery meter lelocated insïde the premises. in the latter instance the extemal terminal could be of aplug-in type or could be of a proximity type that uses electromagnetic coupiing totransfer data from the extemal terminal to a cooperating terminal on thecommunications station.

In the case of a mobile extemal communications station it will also preferablyembody a GPS detector so that the physical location of premises and consumerinstallations can be compared with that communicated from the data rétention unitand the communications station also has the ability to communicate seiectively withany one of a sériés of data rétention units that are within range at any one time.Preferably the communications station has a dieplay that can be employed todisplay a list of identification data from a plurality of data rétention units that arewithin range at any one time and from which list a required data rétention unit canbe selected manually or automaticalty in a predetermined sequence. Of course,such a dispiay could be employed to dieplay any other data or information that maybe required, in particular, any other data retained by the data rétention unit.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a datarétention unit adapted for coopération with a point of delivery meter or prepaymentcontroller, or both, so as to operatively extract at least consumptlon data from themeter and record same for use in a System as defined above. The data rétentionunit may hâve any or ali optional featuras and functions identifiod above. 013007 10

The invention still further pravides a communications station, typically a mobilecommunications station, adapted for use in a System as defined above. Thecommunications station may also hâve any or ail optional features and fonctionsidentified above. 5

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fullyunderstood an expanded description of one implémentation of the invention in anelectridty supply System including prepayment meters foliows with référencé to theaccompanying drawings. 10

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:- 15 20 25 30

Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of one form of systemaccording to this invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of the various components of aparticular embodiment of system according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a front view of a point of delivery meter of the general typeemployed in the system aiustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the circuit of one embodiment of datarétention unit according to the invention; and,

Figure 5 is a hypothetical graph illustrating the manner in which theparticular data rétention unit of this embodiment of the inventioncan detect a tamper condition of a consumer installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is depicted a typicalelectrical power suppiy system in which a point of delivery meter (1) is interposed 013007 11 between an elactrical power supply grid (2) and a consumer electrical installation(3). In this particular application of the invention the point of deiivery meter bas aprepayment controiler (4) associated with it such that electrical power is connectedto the consumées electrical installation oniy whilst a crédit vafue is présent in the 5 prepayment controiler. It will be quite clear that, in other applications of theinvention in which prepayment controllers are not employed, almost ali of thefeatures of the application described below wiil apply other than those that involvethe prepayment controiler. 10 Aa Indioaled in Figure 2, the point of dolivory motcr (1) togothor with ite associated prepayment controiler, is earried by the front part (5) of a meter housing (6) with theassociated isolation switches (7) for controliing the electrical power supply fixed tothe base (8) of the housing. With this arrangement it is an easy matter to replacethe point of deiivery meter or prepayment controiler, or both, as and when 15 necessary.

As is weil-known to those skilled in the art, the prepayment controiler may beprovided with crédit in any suitable manner such as by way of tokens (9) (typically inthe form of a numerlc or alphanumerlc code that Is to be inputted into the 20 prepayment controiler by way of a keypad (10) or other suitable interface) issued byor on behalf of a central management System (11). Such tokens generally sold byway of various vendors located at suitable géographie locations that are convenientto consumera for the purpose of purchasing prepaid electricity. The centralmanagement System embodies a central Processing station (12) that operatively 25 communicates with a mobile communications station (13) described below.

As provided by this invention a data rétention unit (14) is associated with the point ofdeiivery meter (1) and prepayment controiler (4) so as to retain data selectedaccording to circumstances; the degree of sophistication required of the System 30 itseif; and the viable cost of the data rétention unit and associated equipment In aninitial implémentation of the invention the data rétention unit is configured to beenclosed in the housing (6) of the existing point of deiivery meter as illustrated inFigure 2, conveniently by attaching it to the inside of the rear wall of the base (8) ofthe housing that is permanently fixed, typically to a wall. The data rétention unit has 12 a single communications cable (15) and associated plug (16) that is configured teplug, optionally by way of a suitable adapter, directly into a communications port ofthe prépayaient controller or point of deHvery meter. The housing is sealed in sucha way that the data rétention unit is accessible oniy to authorized personnel. 5

In one form of data rétention unit shown in Figure 4, the unit comprises aprogrammable single chip 8-bit microprocessor (17) with integrated flash RAM (18);an integrated real-time clocK (19); and programmable Inputfoutput ports (20). A lowfrequency crystal (21) Is chosen in order that the microprocessor runs at a low 10 epeed, thus œneerving battery powor.

Application control program code is ioaded into the flash RAM by means of anextemai bi-directional programming port (22). Should the battery (23) run out ofpower, then the microprocessor shuts down and the program code is retained in the 15 flash RAM indetinitsly untii the battery ' power is restored. The program codeprovides for realizing the various fonctions described below. The flash RAM alsoprovides the memory means identified above.

The integrated real-time clocR is programmable by the microprocessor and is 20 initialized to the correct date and time settings via the extemai programming port or,aftematively, via the mobile communications station described below. After ioss ofpower the date and time settings hâve to be initialized again. The battery is chargedvia a charging reguiator circuit (24), that receives power from a prépayaient meter orpoint of delivary meter to which it is connected via a prépayaient meter port (25). 25

The data rétention unit is adapted to utilize short range wireiess communication and,to this end, embodies a standard radio transmitter / reœiver I C (26). Thetransmitter is a ποη-specrfic short range device having a range of about 100m anawhereof the operation does not require regulatory authorization. 30

The data rétention unit application software may provide for any required sélectionfrom the following fonctions; 1. Maintain a log, typically a daily log, of consumption to provide a profile history forsay the previous 30 days with those readings older than 30 days being 013007 13 discarded, but preferably statistically proeessed into a formula to yield measuresof mean values and variance from standard déviation. Simply by way ofexample a hypothetical graphical output that shows a tamper condition as aresuft of a decrease in regular peak loads and that may be shown on the display S of the computer of the mobile communications station is shown in Figure 5. 2. Maintain an accumulated total of consumption delivered to the consumerirrespective of replacements of prepayment controllers and point of deliverymeters. 3. Maintain a log of meter installation and remoyal events that records an entry 10 each tirne that a meter is connected to or dieoonnectod from tho dota retontion unit it may record data like date and time; meter serial number; and maycalculais statistical measures like frequency of meter changes, mean values andvariance from standard déviation. 4. Maintain a log of inspecter identifiers and inspection dates during inspection15 visite (occasions on which an extemal communications station has logged onto the data rétention unit) and may caiculate statistical measures like frequency ofinspections, mean values and variance from standard déviation. 5. Maintain a log of tamper events and may caiculate statistical measures such asfrequency of events, mean values and variance from standard déviation. 20 6. Maintain a log of network events such as number of voltage excursions outside of limits, value of excursions, number of supply interruptions and duration. It maycaiculate statistical measures such as frequency of events, mean values andvariance from standard déviation. 7. Maintain a record of tariff parameters such as price and time scheduies, taxes 25 and auxiliaiy charges, it may also caiculate consumption related charges according to the tariff by Processing metered consumption readings from themeter and passing these back te the prepayment controller for déduction fromavailable crédit. 8. Maintain a record of consumer référencé parameters such as network TO installation identifier code, utility company identifier code, installation date, etc 9. Maintain a record of location parameters such as GPS coordinates, installationaddress, GIS référencé, etc 10. Maintain a record of parameters relating to the benchmarks used for statisticalanalysis and détection of déviations from normal patterns. 14 11. Maintain a record of the teehnieal working status of the Data Rétention Unit. 12. Monitorthe working condition of the battery 13. Maintain date and time information by means of the real-time dock function. 14. Maintain a record of parameters relating to the configuration and control of the5 radio transmitter/receiver integrated circuit and the RF communications protocol. 15. Ad as a communications link between a mobile unit and the prepayment meterwithout intervening in the process.

As a minimum, the data rétention unit has a memory that is capable of maintaining 10 at leaet data identrfying the particuiar point of delivery mater and consumerinstallation or premises identifier and data as to the total consumption reflected onthe point of delivery meter. In addition to this any sélection of the items referred toabove can be implemented. 15 The extemal communications station (13) that in this application is a mobile station,comprises a combination of a hand-held computer (27); a communicator unit (28) forcommunicating with frie data rétention units of the type described above; a GPSlocator unit (29), and a GSM modem (30) for enabling communications with thecentral Processing station to take place via the local GSM network. The hand-held 20 computer has a key-board, display and application software to perform the fondionsdescribed hereln. These components may be separate modules that are extemallyconneded together and housed in a eonvenient endosure, or they may beeledronicaily integrated into one circuit and packaged in a single housing. 25 The circuit of the communicator unit is substantiaily identical to that of the datarétention unit apart from the fad that the battery is configured to enable the mobileunit to operate for several days without having to receîve a recharge, and to berecharged by means of a suitable mains powered charger circuit. 30 Finally, the centrai Processing station comprises a substantiaily conventionalcomputer that is provided with a GSM modem (31) to enable it to communicate witha plurality of extemal communications stations (13) from time to time.in use, the data rétention unit is normaily in a sleep mode in order to conservebattery power but is adapted to become active immediately it deteds a wireiess 15 signal from a mobile communications station or any other activity that is to belogged. When it detects a signal from a mobile communications station it firstlychecks if the message is intended for itself by comparing the identifier codesembodied in die received message to its own identifier code. It will, of course,generally be one of many within the range of the communications station. If themessage is not meant for itself, it retums to sleep mode. If it is intended for thatdata rétention unit is it wîll process the message; interact with mobilecommunications station, and then retum to sleep mode at the end of thecommunications session. The real-time dock continues to operate during thepériode that the data rétention unit ie in sleep mode and will pariodically activate itwhen it is time to update its time and date information and to perform certainprogrammed tasks according to the relevant programmée! schedule.

The data rétention unit may also perform other house keeping tasks such asadjusting the RF transmission signal levais and recenser sensitivity levels during acommunications session with a mobile communications station as wili be known tothose skilled kl the art

The besic requirement of the communication between the data rétention unit andexternai communications station is that at least selected data retained in thememory of the data rétention unit can be accessed remotely by the mobilecommunications station without having to gain access to the premises in which thepoint of delivery meter, prepayment controller and assodated data rétention unit arephysically located. Not only that, but the externai communications station also hasthe ability to access data retained in the meter itself by way of the data rétentionunit.

It will be understood that the data rétention unit, being a separate unit rrom me pointof delivery meter in the préférable situation, may accumulate data from successivepoint of delivery meters or prepayment controllers that may be associated with itover a period of time as the data rétention unit is intended to remain associated witha particular consumer installation or premises irrespective of a change in the point ofdelivery meter or prepayment controller. 013007 16

From the point of view of the communications station, it wiil be able to communicatewith a reasonably large number of data rétention units within range and, generally, aKst of data rétention units can be called up and displayed on the display of the hand-held computer to enable a sélection to be made in the event that a particular data 5 rétention unit waa not opecifically requested.

As indicated above the communications station has wireiess communication means(In this case via the GSM network) for communlcatlng with the central processingstation forming part of the central management System so that communication 10 between the mobile communications dation and the central proceccing dation canbe conducted in real-time for the purpose of exchanging data conceming a particularpoint of delivery meter and/or prepayment controllerthat is under examination by aninspecter operating the mobile communications station. Aiso, such communicationcan be empioyed to enable the central processing station to communicate with the 15 data rétention unit; the meter itseif, and/or prepayment controller, or ail of these andta thereby exchange data, and in particular to update or instail new data, evenprogram matériel, in any of the external communications station, data rétention unit;point of delivery meter itseif, and/or prepayment controller. 20 The data rétention unit is more preferably programmed aiso to retain data as to thehistory of tokens utilized in the prepayment controller for acquiring crédit so that thepaymerrt history can be correlated, optionaily in real-time, by way of thecommunications station, with a record that is maintafned at the central Processingstation. This data is aiso accessible to the communications station by way of the 25 communications means. This facility thus aiso enabies the crédit tokens purchasedand recorded in the central processing station to be reconclled with actualconsumption as recorded in the data rétention unit. This data wiil be morecomprehensive and cover a more extended historic period than the data avaiiabiefrom the meter or prepayment controller itseif in instances in which the meter or 30 prepayment controller has been repiaced.

The identification of promises, and this is particulariy helpful in the case of informai setOements, is facilitated utilizing locator data as to the physical location of the relevant promises or consumer installation in which a point of delivery meter is 013007 17 located as well as the physical location of the point of delivery mater or prepaymentcontrolter itself and the data rétention unit itself. Conveniently this locator dataassumes the form of GPS coordinates, typically of the location of, for example, thefront door or other accessway of the premises insofar as the premises areconcemed.

The GPS coordinates, in such a case, are inputted into the data rétention unit at thetime of installation by an installation teclinician utiliang a suitable GPS device fordetermining the relevant coordinates. The présence of the GPS unit in the mobilecommunications station is of course essentiel to mak© use of this data

The microprocessor may also apply security, typically in the form of encryption, tothe data siored within the data rétention unit or to data communicated to the mobilecommunications unit, or both in substantially conventional manner.

Of course, the program material for operating the microprocessor that is storedtogether with the other data in a suitable electronic memory (18) can be updated,supplemented or removed by the central Processing station by way of a mobilecommunications station.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the System outlinedabove without departing from the scope hereof. in particular, as an alternative to amobile communications station, an extemal communications station may be fixedand adapted to communicate with a predetermined number of data rétention unitsthat are within its range or field of operation. Also. many communication meansother than short-range wireless communication may be used for communicating withthe data rétention unit such as those of that empioy a modem superimposing signaison the eiectncai suppiy conductors tnemsetves as well as other nardwirea Systemsincluding a téléphoné wire or even a secure extemal communications Socket, port orelectromagnetic eoupling device positioned remotely from the data rétention unit.

Still further, the sélection of actual items of information to be recorded in the datarétention unit is immaterial to the scope of this invention and may well varyaccording to requirements in each situation.

Claims

013007 18 CLAIMS:

1. A System for the supply of a reticuiated service (2) or the like in which multipleconsumer installations (3) are each connectée! by way of a point of deiiverymeter (1) (optionally associated with a prepayment controller (4)) to areticuiated service, wherein at least solected point of deiivery meters eachhâve a data rétention unit (14) associated therewith wherein the data rétentionunh nas memory means {18} aciapted to maintain consumption datacorresponding to consumption passed through the point of deiivery meteroptionally during ons or moro prodotormincd time periodo, and wherein oaohof said data rétention units is operativeiy associated with short-rangecommunications means (8) for communicating said data to a communicationsstation (13) positioned extemally of premises in which such point of deiiverymeter is located, the System being characterized in that a data rétention unitoperativeiy also retains data associated with at least one item selected fromthe group consisting of i tariff information activeiy applicable to the point of deiivery meter and anyassociated prepayment controller, such tariff information optionally being oneof a plurality applicable according to reaHime; ii real-time as to events logged by the data rétention unit; iii information as to a succession of inspections pertormed by thecommunications station being logged onto the data rétention unit iv information as to the succession of different point of deiivery meters or, as maybe appropriate, different separate prepayment controliers that hâve beenassociated with a particular data rétention unit; v a profile of consumption over a predetermined number of previous meteredpériode; vi a profile, optionally of a staüstlcal nature, of the connection and disconnectionof a sériés of point of deiivery meters and, as may be appropriate, anyseparate prepayment controliers, with a particular data rétention unit; vii locator data in respect of at least one of the premises; consumer installation;point of deiivery meter; as may be appropriate. separate prepayment controlleror data rétention unit; and, 013007 19 viü funcfionality providing direct bi-directional communication between a point ofdelivery meter or, as may be apprapriate, a prépayaient controiler, and anextemal communications station. 5 2. A System as daimed in daim 1 in which the point of delivery méter has associated therewith a prepayment controiler (4).
3. A System as daimed In either one of clalms 1 or 2 In which the memory meansoperatively retains data corresponding to at least either or both of an identifier 10 or loeator data in racpoct of any one or more of caid point of delivery meters. prepayment controllers and consumer installations or premises.
4. A System as daimed in daim 3 in which the loeator data is either in the form ofa conventionai physical address or in the form of coordinates of the global 15 positioning System (GPS) or other équivalant System.
5. A System as daimed in any one of the preceding daims in which each daterétention unit is assigned to a particular premises or consumer installation for alifetime generaliy exceeding that of the installation of any particular point of 20 delivery meter or prepayment controiler.
6. A System as claimed in any one of the preceding daims in which each datarétention unit has associated therewith a data rétention unit identifier that isoperatively maintained in said memory means. 25
7. A System as claimed in any one of Aie preceding daims in which the datarétention unit operatively records events associated with interruptions of supplyand variations outside of predetermined limits or the suppiy netwont or thereticulated services. 30
8. A System as daimed in any one of the preceding daims in which the datarétention unit has a clock embodied therein in which case consumption data isrecorded on a flxed periodic basis. 013007 20
9. A System as claimed in claim 8 in the which for the consumption data isrecorded on an update basis in which case the consumption data ismaintained for the immediately preceding predetermïned number of timeperiods. 5
10. A System as claimed in any one of the preceding daims in which the datarétention unit embodies a microprocessor thart itself is programmed to analyzethe consumption according to particular criteria. 10 11 A eyetem as claimed in any nne of the preceding daims in which the extemal communications station is adapted to communicate selectively with a piuraiityof data rétention units within a predetermined communications range
12. A System as claimed in any one of the preceding daims in which the 15 communications station is adapted to communicate either in raal-time with a remote centrai processing station (12), or from time to time, to downloadaccumulated data or to cooperate in real-time to enable it to update or installdata in the data rétention unit, in the point of delivery meter, or any associatedprepayment controller, in the communications station itself, or to extract data 20 from any one or more of these.
13. A system as daimed in any one of the preceding daims in which the datarétention unit is a physicaliy separate unit insofar as R can be associatedsubstantially permanentiy with a particular consumer installation or promises in 25 spite of the tact that the associated point of delivery meter or prepayment controller may be changed.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13 in which the data rétention unit is In the formof a plug-in unit plugged into a point of delivery meter or prepayment controller. 30
15. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding daims in which thecommunications station can selectively communicate directiy with datamaintained ln the point of delivery meter or prepayment controller by way ofthe data rétention unit that serves, in this case, as a communications link. 013007 21
16. A System as daimed in any one of the preceding daims in which the short-range communications means betwaan the data rétention unit and acommunications station is a short-range wiretess communication. 5 17. A System as daimed in any one af the preceding daims in which the extemal communications station is a mobile extemal communications station andembodies a GPS detector (29) for identifying the physical location of premisesand consumer installations. 10 1fi A System as daimed in any one of the precedino daims in which thecommunications station has a display that can be employed to display a list ofidentifiera from a plurality of data rétention units that are within range at anyone time and from which list a required data rétention unit is seledablemanually or automatically in a predetermined sequence. 15
19. A data rétention unit adapted for coopération with a point of delivery meter orprepayment controller, or both, so as to operate in a System as daimed in anyone of the preceding daims. 20 20. A communications station adapted for coopération with data rétention units of a system as daimed in any one of daims 1 to 18. 25 30