WO2007090225A1

WO2007090225A1 - Versatile utility gateway

Info

Publication number: WO2007090225A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/000094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ron Johan; James Warde Barlow
Original assignee: Uhs Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-06
Filing date: 2007-01-31
Publication date: 2007-08-16

Abstract

A versatile utility gateway including customer premises apparatus having: a communications gateway 1007, 1012 adapted to interface at least one internal communication network 1010, 1008, 1009, 1014 with an external communication network; a utility meter 1001 connected to the communication gateway so that the meter reading can be communicated to the utility supplier via the external communication network.

Description

Versatile Utility Gateway

Technical field

[001] This invention relates to remote meter reading systems used by utility companies such as electricity, gas and water providers that wish to remotely determine customer usage over a given period for billing purposes.

Background art

[002] Traditionally utilities such as electricity companies have measured consumption using a metering device located at or near the customer's premises. These devices, still commonly used, indicate usage on a mechanical or electronic display. These meters have to be read by a meter-reader who records the meter reading obtained visually or electronically, the latter via a direct electrical connection or a short-range wireless link to the meter. The usage over the metering period is calculated by the utility company's computer system by subtracting the reading obtained at the end of the previous metering interval from the new reading.

[003] The abovementioned metering method suffers from the following limitations.

[004] It can only measure the aggregated usage for the metering period.

There are no means available to influence customer behaviour by providing facilities such as instantaneous usage and cost indication or via the implementation of time-of- day tariff structures to encourage more responsible energy usage.

[005] The infrequent nature of the meter readings means that the utility company is unable to obtain usage profile which would support accurate forecasting of short-term energy usage.

[006] Readings obtained by visual means need to be entered manually into a computerised billing system with the resultant risk of data-entry errors.

[007] The utility company is unable to remotely control the customer's connection to the supply grid. As a result to connect or disconnect a customer's electricity supply requires a technician to visit the customer's premise at some cost to the utility company. [008] The utility company is unable to control the load on the electricity grid by remotely disconnecting some customer facilities to reduce load when required, or connecting other customer facilities, such as hot-water systems in order to increase load as and when required.

[009] The utility company cannot implement prepaid schemes which rely on remotely controlled supply connection and disconnection.

[010] Various improvements- have been made to the traditional utility meter, as discussed below.

[011] The incorporation of a cellular or PSTN capability into the meter allows the meter to be interrogated remotely via a phone call over the cellular network or the PSTN and can potentially overcome many of the deficiencies noted in the traditional metering systems. The two main drawbacks with this implementation are the cost of telephone calls and the complexity of managing a system that continuously dials up a large number of meters for interrogation. As a result this implementation has experienced limited adoption.

[012] The incorporation of digital cellular IP capability into the meter, such as

GSM-GPRS, CDMA-IxRTT and 3G into the meter allows the meter to be read at any time while avoiding the cost of a phone call. The two drawbacks for this implementation are the initial cost of the cellular IP transceiver and the ongoing cost of the associated cellular IP service. As a result, these systems are deployed only at sites with significant electricity usage.

[013] In addition, with the widespread availability of computers in customer premises, there has been an increasing desire by customers to use the electricity wiring in their premises to interconnect the computers in a local area network (LAN) thereby avoiding the need to run separate cabling to implement the LAN.

[014] Customers using the mains wiring in this way have often encountered difficulties achieving reliable transmission due to interference from electrical devices outside the premises, which have been exacerbated by difficulties associated with the increasingly common usage of multi-phase AC wiring in the premises requiring the data signals to be coupled into multiple phases.

[015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to mitigate one or more of the aforementioned problems with the existing metering and premises AC wiring schemes or support one or more of the advantages mentioned.

Summary Of The Invention

[016] The invention provides a customer premises apparatus including:

a communications gateway adapted to interface at least one internal communication network with an external communication network;

a utility meter connected to the gateway to enable the utility meter output to be transmitted over the external communication network.

[017] The utility meter can be connected to the gateway via a utility meter communication interface.

[018]

[019] The utility meter communication interface can connect the utility meter to the gateway via an internal communication network.

[020] The utility meter can be connected to the gateway via a communication interface.

[021] The utility meter communication interface can communicate with the internal network using the internal network protocol.

[022] The internal communication network can utilize the internal power lines to carry communication signals.

[023] The customer premises apparatus can be in the form of a customer terminal including an electronic power meter and a communications gateway, in which the gateway provides an interface between the in-house power lines and a communication network, wherein the power meter output is transmitted via the gateway.

[024] The customer premises apparatus can also include load switching means responsive to instructions received from the communications network via the gateway, the load switching means being connected to switch one or more loads at the customer premises.

[025] According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system including:-

one or more Agency Terminals;

one or more Customer Terminals, each Customer Terminal being associated with at least one of the Agency Terminals;

a data network linking the Customer Terminal and the Agency Terminal;

wherein;

the or each Agency Terminal is in communication with each corresponding associated Customer Terminal across the data network.

[026] Accordingly, this system can be interposed by the electrical utility company at the customer premises to provide remote reading of electricity usage and customer access to the broadband IP network.

[027] Each Customer Terminal can communicate with its associated Agency

Terminal or Terminals using a predetermined communication protocol.

[028] Preferably, the communication protocol used is the TCP/IP protocol suite.

[029] In a further embodiment, the data network is a broadband network.

[030] Preferably, the Customer Terminal is linked to the network via an ADSL link.

[031] Alternatively, the Customer Terminal is linked to the network via a wireless link.

[032] Preferably, the wireless link is a WiMax or equivalent network link.

[033] The Customer Terminal can be linked to the network via a cable modem.

[034] The Customer Terminal can be linked to the network via Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) system.

[035] The Customer Terminal can include a single or multi-phase mains metering functional block adapted to measure the customer's electrical power usage and to send measurements obtained to the Agency Terminal using the network communication protocol.

[036] The Agency Terminal can be connected to a main frame computer used by the electrical utility to calculate customer billing information.

[037] Links to the broadband network from the Customer Terminal can be via cable-modem, wide-area wireless networks such as WiMax or third generation mobile networks (3G), DSL technology for example ADSL, Frame Relay or ATM links utilising point to point radio (such as microwave systems), fibre-optic systems or Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems.

[038] Links to the broadband network from the Agency Terminal can be via cable-modem, LMDS, cellular telephone system such as GPRS or IxRTT, DSL technology , Frame Relay or ATM links utilising point to point radio (such as microwave systems) or fibre-optic systems.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

[039] The invention will now be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

[040] Figure 1 illustrates the known common electricity wiring arrangement in residential and business premises;

[041] Figure 2 illustrates the embodiment of the invention used to provide remote power usage monitoring and control;

[042] Figure 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention when using xDSL (including ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ and VDSL2) as the broadband access technology;

[043] Figure 4 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention when using xDSL (including ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ and VDSL2) as the broadband access technology when it is found to be impractical to wire the xDSL bearing telephone line to the Customer Terminal;

[044] Figure 5 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention when the customer's connection to the broadband network is provided via CATV Cable; [045] Figure 6 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention when using (CATV) Cable as the broadband access technology when it is found to be impractical to wire the Cable to the Customer Terminal;

[046] Figure 7 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention when the customer's connection to the broadband network is provided via a wide-area wireless network such as WiMax;

[047] Figure 8 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention when the customer's connection to the broadband network is provided via the mains electricity grid or Power Lines (BPL);

[048] Figure 9 illustrates a more generic embodiment of the invention in the customer premises;

[049] Figure 10 is the preferred embodiment of a Customer Terminal when using xDSL (including ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ and VDSL2) as the broadband access technology as shown in Figure 3;

[050] Figure 1 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the Customer

Terminal used when the customer's broadband access is via the CATV Cable network as shown in the embodiment of Figure 5;

[051] Figure 12 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the Customer

Terminal used when the customer's broadband access is via a wide-area wireless network such as WiMax as shown in the embodiment of Figure 7;

[052] Figure 13 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the Customer

Terminal used when the customer's broadband access is provided via the mains electricity grid or Power Lines (BPL) as shown in the embodiment of Figure 8;

[053] , Figure 14 illustrates a combined splitter/combiner and terminating impedance suitable for use with in a customer terminal embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[054] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[055] Figure 1 illustrates the known common electricity wiring arrangement in residential and business premises. The electricity supply grid (101) is connected into the premises (103) of the electricity consumer (referred to from here on as the customer) via electricity lead-in cables (102) which carry single or multiple phases of alternating current (AC), generally the frequency of the AC ranges between 50 Hz to 60 Hz and the line to neutral Voltage generally ranges between 110 Volts to 240 Volts (RMS).

[056] The electrical current then flows through a known power meter (104) used by the electricity supplier (the utility company) to measure the power used by the customer for billing purposes.

[057] Inside the customer premises (103) the electrical current flows through a fuse or circuit-breaker (105) and then through the internal power cabling (106) to power-points (111) used to connect the various electrical devices used by the customer via known electrical plugs (108). Similar arrangements are utilized for electrical circuits used for lighting, air conditioners, heaters, water-heaters etc. In this example computers (107) equipped with wireless local and wide-area connections such as WiFi (109) are shown connected to the AC mains (106). Depending on the customer's electricity requirements there may be additional power meter units similar to 104 used to measure specific power circuits such as used for air conditioning units or off-peak water heaters.

[058] The invention involves replacing the known power meter (104) with a

Customer Terminal described below that includes the power meter and the customer's broadband network termination and provides the customer with broadband access using the cabling existing in the customer premises and provides both the customer and the utility with remote power usage monitoring and control over the broadband network. It is advantageous to provide a system which integrates the utility metering function with a low-pass filtering function to filter out noise from the electrical grid entering and affecting the premises data transmissions and the data transmissions escaping to the grid presenting a security issue, with a phase cross-coupling facility that allows the LAN data signals to be coupled to all the electrical wiring in the premises as well as incorporating a broadband gateway function which allows the cost of the remote metering facility to be made insignificant and which supports new facilities such as the remote power connection and disconnection.

[059] Figure 2 illustrates the embodiment of the invention used to provide broadband access, remote power usage monitoring and control. [060] In the preferred embodiment, the Customer Terminal (901 ) replaces the customer's meter unit. It is connected both to the electrical mains supply (902) and to a Wide Area Data network (906). The Customer Terminal (901) communicates via the Wide Area Data network (906) with the Agency Terminal (907) located at the office of the electricity supplier (917). The Agency Terminal (907) communicates with a computer such as a Main Frame computer (908) used by the electricity supplier for billing. The supplier computer can also be used for control, such as receiving and forwarding commands to the Customer Terminals (901) to disconnect various electrical loads.

[061] In the preferred embodiment, the Customer Terminal (901) performs a number of functions.

[062] The Customer Terminal (901 ) is the customer's electricity gateway and power meter. The AC mains (902) from the electricity grid enter the customer premises (916) and connects through the Customer Terminal (901) to the electrical appliances on the customer premises (920) via a fuse box. The power used by the electrical appliances is measured and the customer's ongoing electrical power usage is transmitted over the Customer Terminal's (901) broadband connection (905) and the associated Wide-Area Data network (906) to the electrical utility's (917) Agency Terminal (907) and hence to the known Main Frame computer (908) used to aggregate the customer's power usage and generate the billing data. The Wide Area Data network delivers the data packets containing the meter reading data to the relevant electricity utility company (917) connected to the Wide Area Data network via its own data connection (914), which may be xDSL, Frame Relay etc. Multiple electricity companies can this way be connected to multiple customers, with groups of customers associated with each electricity company.

[063] In the preferred embodiment, the supplier's computer (908) is connected to an Agency Terminal (907), whose functions include: translation of the data from the Customer Terminal (901) into a format acceptable by the supplier's computer (908), management of the Customer Terminal (901), including remote configuration and software down-load and association with relevant electricity company. The data connection (915) between the Agency Terminal (907) and the known Main Frame computer (908) may include serial or Ethernet. In an alternative embodiment, the Agency Terminal (907) function may be incorporated within the Main Frame computer (908). [064] The Customer Terminal (901 ) is the customer's broadband access gateway (901), allowing computers (912) on the customer's local area network - LAN (913) to connect to the internet (911) via the customer's preferred access medium (905) which maybe one of xDSL, CATV Cable or wireless.

[065] Using the Wide Area Data network, the customer can also access additional advanced services such as Video-on Demand and security.

[066] This implementation offers many advantages including:

Low cost remote metering;

Cost-effective implementation of automatic load-shedding and load connection to the electricity grid, allowing the grid to shed non-critical loads during heavy demand by dispatching the commands via the broadband network to disconnect specified electrical loads;

Supporting the implementation of pre-paid electricity schemes and remote service re- connections;

Simplified in-premises cabling by enhancing the ability of the in-premises mains wiring to carry high-speed data by implementing signal filtering and impedance matching in the Customer Terminal (901) at the grid connection point which reduces the affect of the high-frequency noise and the variable characteristic impedance of the electrical grid on the data transmission performance of the in-premises mains wiring.

[067] The preferred embodiment of the Wide Area Data network is via multi- session PPPoE where each PPPoE session terminates on a separate network to deliver a specific service. For example, remote meter reading and control is carried out over a unique PPPoE virtual connection that carries the traffic between the Customer Terminal (901) and the Agency Terminal (907). Other embodiments may include sending the remote meter reading and control traffic in a highly encrypted form (for example using 3DES), over the internet or even using an IP "tunnel". An IP tunnel carries existing IP packets inside IP packets destined for the tunnel endpoints. When a packet reaches either endpoint, the tunnel's IP header and any additional tunnel headers are stripped off, and the original IP packet is injected into the IP stack of the tunnel endpoint. The encapsulation is done by adding an outer IP header before the original IP header. Between them are any other headers for the path, such as security headers specific to the tunnel configuration. IP tunnelling is described in RFC 1853. IP tunnelling can be used in conjunction with IPSec (IP security) to create a VPN.

[068] Figure 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention when using xDSL (including ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ and VDSL2) as the broadband access technology.

[069] In this embodiment the Customer Terminal (304) implements both the electricity meter functions and those of the xDSL modem in the customer premises. The xDSL signal from the telecommunications network (201) is delivered over the copper access network (202) to the customer premises (103). The signal terminates on the Customer Terminal (304) via telephone cable (203).

[070] Known xDSL in-line filters (204) can be used to prevent the xDSL signal from the Customer Terminal (304) interfering with the operation of the customer's telephone.

[071] The Customer Terminal (304) converts the broadband data carried by the xDSL signal into a form suitable for communication to the customer's computers (107) over the in-premises local area network (LAN) which may be implemented using known schemes such as WiFi (205), mains (106) or even direct wiring using Cat5 cabling.

[072] Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention when using xDSL

(including ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ and VDSL) as the broadband access technology when it is found to be impractical to wire the xDSL bearing telephone line to the Customer Terminal (404).

[073] In this embodiment a known xDSL modem (206) is used as a bridging device to provide the Customer Terminal (404) connectivity to the broadband network (201). The known xDSL modem (206) communicates with the Customer Terminal (404) over the local area network using known technologies including mains wiring (106), WiFi (205) or Ethernet.

[074] Figure 10 is an embodiment of a Customer Terminal when using xDSL as the broadband access technology as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4.

[075] The Customer Terminal interface to the electricity mains supply is via single or multi-phase cabling. The Electricity Meter functional block (1001) is used to measure the electrical power consumed (or generated) by the customer. In the case where the utility meter 1001 has an output compatible with the network processor 1007, the readings from the Electricity Meter functional block (1001) are obtained by the Network Processor block (1007) via line 1020 for processing and transmission to the Agency Terminal (907) via the Wide Area Data network (906) using the xDSL modem functional block (1012). In cases where the utility meter output is not adapted to one of the inputs of the network processor 1007, an interface circuit, such as 1120 shown in Figure 11 , can be interposed between the utility meter 1001 and the network processor 1007 to convert the utility meter output to a form suitable for the processor.

[076] The Electricity LP (low pass) Filter functional block (1002) is used to filter out high frequency noise signals from the electricity supply grid connected to the Customer Terminal, to provide a known high frequency signal termination, or characteristic impedance to equipment on the customer's premises that use the in- premises AC mains cabling for high-speed data communications and to prevent the high frequency data signals escaping to the grid and presenting a security risk.

[077] The Power functional block (1006) is used to extract power from the AC mains to supply the various circuitry used on the Customer Terminal.

[078] The Phase Cross Coupler (1003) is used in multi-phase AC environment to ensure that the high-frequency signals used for high-speed communications over the in-premises AC mains are transmitted on all the phases of the AC power used in the customer's premises.

[079] The Mains Modulator/Demodulator functional block (1010) is used by the Network Processor functional block (1007) for bi-directional communications over the internal AC mains with other devices thereby implementing a local area network (LAN). The purpose of the communication also includes monitoring and control of devices connected to the AC mains, or, as shown in Figure 4, to communicate with the broadband gateway unit (206). The Network Processor communicates with the Mains Modulator/Demodulator over line 1021.

[080] The signal splitter/combiner (1004) couples the modulated data signal between the Mains Modulator/Demodulator functional block (1010) and the customer's AC mains in-premises wiring. [081] The signal splitter/combiner (1004) includes impedance matching circuitry as illustrated in Figure 14.

[082] The splitter/combiner includes a pair of amplifiers 1404, 1406 which respectively feed into and away from point 1420 to deliver data signals to and receive signals from the mains modulator/demodulator 1010. This arrangement enables data signals to be exchanged between the external communication network and the internal communication network, and specifically enables the utility meter output signals to be transmitted to the external network.

[083] Coupling transformer 1410 couples point 1420 to the AC mains via isolation capacitors 1407 and 1409 which form a high-pass filter.

[084] Terminals 1411 , 1413 connect to the meter via low pass filter 1002 in

Figure 10. Terminals 1415, 1417 connect to the internal power lines via the Phase Cross Coupler (1003), the inductors 1403, 1405 blocking the higher frequency data signals on the internal power lines from passing to the external mains.

[085] Terminal 1416 connects signals from point 1420 to mains modulator

1010 via amplifier 1406. Generally terminal 1418 connects to the circuit ground.

[086] An impedance matching circuit is shown as impedance 1408.

[087] The Mains Control functional block (1005) is controlled by the Network

Processor functional block (1007) via line 1021 and is used to remotely control the connection of the customer's AC mains supply to the electricity grid.

[088] The Local Display functional block (1011 ) is used to locally display the meter reading and status of the Customer Terminal. The reading is retained in nonvolatile memory associated with the Network Processor (1007). The Network Processor communicates with the Local Display over line 1021.

[089] The xDSL Modem functional block (1012) is used to provide the interface to the Wide Area Data network (906) over which the Customer Terminal connects to the Agency Terminal (907), and to provide the customer with connectivity to the internet and other high-speed data services.

[090] The Network Processor functional block (1007) controls and manages the operation of the Customer Terminal. When used as a broadband gateway unit it implements router and firewall functionality for traffic between the Wide Area Data network (906) and the customer's local area network (LAN) interface implemented as one or more known standards via various functional blocks, including Ethernet (1008), WiFi/BlueTooth (1009) or HomePNA (1014). The Network Processor functional block (1007) also aggregates information from the Electricity Meter functional block (1001 ) and sends it to the Agency Terminal (907) over the Wide Area Data network (906). It also supports management functions such as software download etc. Included in the Network Processor functional block (1007) is memory (volatile and non-volatile), watchdog timers etc.

[091] The following functional blocks can be used to provide the customer's computers connected over the LAN with connectivity to the internet and other highspeed IP services when the Customer Terminal is used as a broadband gateway device, or to communicate using an existing broadband gateway device (206) on the customer's premises with the Agency Terminal (907) over the Wide Area Data network (906):

The Ethernet functional block (1008);

The WiFi/BlueTooth functional block (1009);

The HomePNA functional block (1014).

[092] When the HomePNA functional block (1014) is used to implement the

LAN for the customer's computers, the Filter functional block (1013) is used to filter out the unwanted signals generated by the embedded xDSL modem (1012). This filter can also be used should the customer wish to avoid using inline xDSL filters (204).

[093] Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the customer's connection to the broadband network (301) is provided via CATV Cable (302).

[094] In this embodiment the Customer Terminal (504) contains the Cable

Modem functional block.

[095] Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of the Customer Terminal adapted for use when the customer's broadband access is via the CATV Cable network as shown in the embodiment of Figure 5. [096] The embodiment shown in Figure 11 is similar to that shown in Figure

10 with the Cable Modem functional block (1112) replacing the xDSL modem functional block (1012).

[097] Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention adapted for use when using Cable as the broadband access technology when it is found to be impractical to wire the Cable to the Customer Terminal (604).

[098] In this embodiment the known Cable modem (306) is used as a bridging device to provide the Customer Terminal (604) connectivity to the broadband network (301). The known Cable modem (306) communicates with the Customer Terminal over the local area network using known technologies including mains wiring (106), WiFi (205) or Ethernet.

[099] Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention adapted for use when the customer's connection to the broadband network (401) is provided via a wide- area wireless network such as WϊMax.

[0100] In this embodiment the Customer Terminal (704) contains the WiMax

Modem functional block, and item 205 represents the antennas for both WiFi and WiMax.

[0101] Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment of the Customer Terminal adapted for use when the customer's broadband access is via a wide-area wireless network such as WiMax as shown in the embodiment of Figure 7.

[0102] The embodiment shown in Figure 12 is similar to that shown in Figure

10 with the WiMax functional block (1213) replacing the xDSL modem functional block (1012).

[0103] Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention adapted for use when the customer's connection to the broadband network (601) is provided via the mains electricity grid or Power Lines - BPL (101 ).

[0104] In this embodiment the Customer Terminal (804) contains the Power- line Modem functional block.

[0105] Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of the Customer Terminal adapted for use when the customer's broadband access is provided via the mains electricity grid or Power Lines as shown in the embodiment of Figure 8.

[0106] The embodiment shown in Figure 13 is similar to that shown in Figure

10 with the Power Line Modem functional block (1313) replacing the xDSL modem functional block (1012).

[0107] Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention.

[0108] In this embodiment the customer has an existing connection to the broadband network (601) using a standard broadband modem (602) with known Ethernet (603) or WiFi local area networking interfaces.

[0109] With this embodiment, the customer may connect a bridging device

(909) to the standard broadband modem (602) via the known Ethernet (603) or WiFi local area networking interface. The bridging device (909) communicates with the Customer Terminal (904) using known local area network connections such as the mains wiring (106), WiFi or even Ethernet.

[0110] The Customer Terminal (904) communicates with the Agency Terminal via the existing broadband connection (602).

[0111] The present invention reduces the cost of provisioning remote metering systems by sharing the cost of the installation and communication of the remote metering system with the provision of broadband services.

[0112] An additional advantage of the invention described herein is that it can be adapted to eliminate noise from the electricity grid affecting the customers' mains wiring, thereby improving the performance of the mains wiring for data transmission inside the customer premises.

[0113] A further advantage is that this invention can be adapted to utilize the close coupling of multi-phase AC wiring used in customer premises thereby improving data transmission.

[0114] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its

"open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of". A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear. [0115] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[0116] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:-

1. A customer premises apparatus including:

a utility meter connected to the gateway;

whereby the utility meter output can be transmitted over the external communication network.

2. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , including a communication link connecting the utility meter to the gateway.

3. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including a utility meter communication interface connecting the utility meter to the gateway.

4. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the utility meter communication interface connects the utility meter to the gateway via an internal communication network.

5. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the utility meter communication interface communicates with the internal network using the internal network protocol.

6. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal communication network utilizes the internal power lines to carry communication signals.

7. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a low-pass filter between the in-house power lines and the external power lines.

8. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including load switching means responsive to instructions received from the communications network via the gateway, the load switching means being connected to switch one or more loads at the customer premises.

9. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the customer premises apparatus is in the form of a customer terminal including an electronic power meter and a communications gateway.

10. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the gateway provides an interface between the in-house power lines and an external communication network, wherein the power meter output is transmitted to the external communication network via the gateway.

11. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the utility meter produces a digital output.

12. Customer premises apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 1 1 , including an interface to convert the utility meter output to the gateway protocol.

13. A utility monitoring system including:-

one or more agency terminals;

one or more customer premises apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, each customer premises apparatus being associated with at least one of the agency terminals;

an external communication network linking the customer premises apparatus and the associated agency terminal;

whereby;

the or each agency terminal is able to communicate with each corresponding associated customer premises apparatus across the data network.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each customer premises apparatus is able to communicate with its associated agency terminal or terminals using a predetermined communication protocol.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the communication protocol is the TCP/IP protocol suite.

16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the external communication network is a data network.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the external communication network is a broadband network.

18. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the customer premises apparatus is linked to the network via an ADSL link.

19. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the customer premises apparatus is linked to the network via a wireless link.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the wireless link is a WiMax or equivalent network link.

21. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the customer premises apparatus is linked to the network via a cable modem.

22. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 21 , wherein the customer premises apparatus includes a single or multi-phase mains metering functional block adapted to measure the customer's electrical power usage and to send measurements obtained to the agency terminal.

23. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein the agency terminal is connected to a main frame computer used by the electrical utility to calculate customer billing information.

24. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 23, wherein link to the broadband network from the customer premises apparatus is via one or more of cable-modem, wide-area wireless networks, xDSL technology, Frame Relay or ATM links utilising point to point radio, fibre-optic systems, or other suitable communication means.

25. A system as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 23, wherein links to the broadband network from the agency terminal are via one or more of cable-modem, LMDS, cellular telephone system, DSL technology , Frame Relay or ATM links utilising point to point radio, fibre-optic systems or other suitable communication means.

26. A customer premises apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

27. A utility metering system substantially as herein described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.