Utility metering system incorporating a transaction authorisation system

Abstract

A transaction authorisation system comprises a user interface unit 30 capable of accepting a transaction authorisation and a utility meter 10 provided at a location having an associated location identifier unique to the location, wherein the utility meter 10 is arranged to communicate with the user interface unit 10, to obtain a transaction authorisation, and to transmit an authorisation request based on the transaction authorisation and location identifier to obtain authorisation of the transaction.

1 . A pre-payment energy supply system including a pre-payment utility meter, and a digital cellular transceiver provided at a location to be supplied with energy,
 the pre-payment utility meter having an associated location identifier unique to the location and a memory for storing pre-payment credits,   the pre-payment utility meter being arranged to communicate with a remote communication unit via the transceiver,   the remote communication unit having a database of the unique identifiers and transceiver numbers, wherein a payment for crediting to a meter is directed as a signal to the remote communication unit and includes the unique identifier,   the remote communication unit being arranged to determine the transceiver number from the unique identifier, to communicate with the pre-payment utility meter via the transceiver, and to add appropriate pre-payment credits to the memory.   
     
     
         2 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 24 , in which the user interface unit includes a keyboard, wherein the user interface unit is arranged to accept a code entered via the keyboard to form at least a part of a transaction authorization. 
     
     
         15 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 24 , in which the utility meter includes a memory for storing a user's banking data, wherein the user interface unit is arranged to accept an input from the user authorizing use of at least part of the banking data, to form at least a part of a transaction authorization. 
     
     
         16 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 24 , in which the user interface unit includes a display, wherein the user interface unit is arranged to display on request utility usage data from the utility meter. 
     
     
         17 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 24 , in which the user interface device is remote from the utility meter. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier is embedded in the pre-payment utility meter. 
     
     
         22 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 1 , further comprising an identification card associated with the utility meter and carrying the unique identifier for identifying the meter during crediting transactions. 
     
     
         23 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 1 , in which the transceiver and the utility meter communicate with each other via RF signals. 
     
     
         24 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface unit arranged to communicate with the utility meter via RF signals. 
     
     
         25 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 24 , in which the user interface unit includes a card reader device, wherein the card reader device is arranged to read data from a card to be charged for the transaction, the user interface unit being responsive to process the data from the card and the unique identifier to form at least a part of a transaction authorization. 
     
     
         26 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote communication unit is separate to a utility supplier that supplies the energy. 
     
     
         27 . The pre-payment energy supply system of  claim 26 , wherein the remote configuration unit is configured to receive payment for a plurality of pre-payment utility meters, at least a subset of the plurality of pre-payment utility meters being supplied with energy by different utility suppliers. 
     
     
         28 . A pre-payment energy supply method in a pre-payment energy supply system comprising a remote communication unit, and a pre-payment utility meter and a digital cellular transceiver provided at a location to be supplied with energy, the utility meter having an associated location identifier unique to the location and a memory for storing pre-payment credits, the method comprising the steps of:
 accepting at the remote communication unit a payment for pre-payment credits including the unique identifier for the utility meter to be credited; and   communicating pre-payment credits to the utility meter via the transceiver using the unique identifier.