Systems and Methods For Monitoring and Transmitting Utility Status Information Via A Universal Communications Interface

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring utility meter status, and transmitting a status message via an output device in communication with a universal communications interface in the event that the utility meter status meets a predetermined condition. The voltage level of a utility meter is monitored through a voltage input interface. A digital signal representing the voltage level is transmitted to a microprocessor. The microprocessor monitors the digital signal for a predetermined condition. Once a predetermined condition is met, the microprocessor transmits a status message to a universal communications interface connected to at least one output device. The status message is converted to the signal format employed by the output device and the converted status message is passed to the output device. The output device may then transmit the status message to a remote receiver.

1 . A method for transmitting a status message containing the current status of an utility meter, comprising: 
 receiving an input signal from the utility meter;    determining whether the input signal reaches a preset value;    in response to determining that the input signal has reached a preset value, initiating a status message;    determining a type of output device in communication with a universal communications interface;    in response to determining the type of output device in communication with the universal communications interface, formatting the status message to match a signal format associated with the type of output device in communication with a universal communications interface; and    transmitting the status message to an output device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 determining that a second output device exists;    in response to determining that a second output device exists, duplicating the status message as a second status message;    determining the signal format of a second output device;    in response to determining the signal format of the second output device, formatting the second status message to match the second output device signal format; and    transmitting the status message across the second output device.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the output device is a radio frequency transmitter attached to the utility meter.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of, formatting the status message to match a signal format associated with the type of output device in communication with a universal communications interface, is performed by the universal communications interface.  
   
   
       5 . A system for monitoring a utility status, comprising: 
 an utility meter, operative to transmit a utility status; an input interface, operative to receive the utility status from the utility meter;    a microprocessor, operative to monitor the utility status received by the input interface and further operative to generate a status message based on the utility status;    a universal bus, operative to relay the status message from the microprocessor;    a universal communications interface, operative to: 
 receive the status message from the universal bus,  
 determine a type of output device connected to a slot, and  
 format the status message to match a signal format transmittable by an output device; and  
   wherein the slot is operative to receive the output device, and wherein the slot is connected, by a data path, to the universal communications interface.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the input signal is a voltage level.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the input interface is an analog-to-digital converter further operative to convert the voltage level signal to a series of digital packets.  
   
   
       8 . A system for monitoring a utility meter, comprising: 
 an analog-to-digital converter, operative to receive a utility status from the utility meter, the analog-to-digital converter further operative to convert the utility status from an analog waveform to a series of digital packets;    a microprocessor, operative to monitor the utility status received by the input interface and further operative to generate a status message based on the utility status;    a universal bus, operative to relay the status message from the microprocessor;    a universal communications interface, operative to receive the status message from the universal bus, further operative to determine the signal format of an output device upon receipt of the output device by a slot, and further operative to convert the status message from an original format to a format transmittable by an output device; and    wherein the slot is operative to receive the output device, and wherein the slot is connected, by a data path, to the universal communications interface.