Abstract: A system for monitoring operation of an electric vehicle charging station is provided. The system includes a battery charger configured to couple to a device for supplying current to the device, a current sensor coupled to the battery charger for measuring current supplied from the battery charger to the device, the current sensor configured to generate a measured current profile based on the measured current supplied to the device, and a processor coupled to the current sensor. The processor is configured to receive the measured current profile transmitted from the current sensor, and compare the measured current profile to at least one known current profile to monitor operation of the charging station.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is provided. The system includes an AMI network configured to communicate by transmitting data via a plurality of physical communication media that include at least a first physical communication medium and a second physical communication medium, and a plurality of meters. Each of the plurality of meters are configured to select a physical communication medium from the first physical communication medium and the second physical communication medium based at least in part on an operational state of the first physical communication medium and an operational state of the second physical communication medium, and communicate with the AMI network via the selected physical communication medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein use biometric information for authorizing charging an electric vehicle's (EV's) batteries using one of a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) that are operably connected with a master station. In one aspect, a method of authorizing charging an EV's batteries using an EVCS is described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein use biometric information for authorizing charging an electric vehicle's (EV's) batteries using an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS). In one aspect, a method of authorizing charging an EV's batteries using an EVCS is described. This embodiment of a method comprises storing, in a database, biometric identity information for one or more individuals; receiving, from a biometric information input device associated with an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS), input biometric identity information for a user; searching the database, using a processor, for biometric identity information for the one or more individuals that substantially match the input biometric identity information for the user; and authorizing the user to charge an electric vehicle's (EV's) batteries using the EVCS if the input biometric identity information for the user substantially matches biometric identity information for at least one of the one or more individuals in the database.

Abstract: An advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) enabled device, program product and communication system. An AMI enabled device is described that includes a power failure detection system that constructs a power loss message in response to a detected loss of power and a communication system for transmitting messages over a network. The communications system includes: a prioritization system for prioritizing the power loss message as a high priority message, and a queuing system that ensures that the power loss message is transmitted ahead of all low priority messages.

Abstract: An electronic utility meter including a metering circuit; a switch operatively coupled to the metering circuit for switching the metering circuit between different states; a cover enclosing the metering circuit and switch; a sensor enclosed within the cover coupled to the switch, the sensor configured to change a state of the switch in response to a user interaction with the cover.

Abstract: Systems and devices are disclosed for enabling communication by and between meters and networks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a network interface controller configured to be directly coupled to a meter socket and provide a communication path between a utility meter and at least one network, the network interface controller including: a computing device; and at least one communications interface coupled to the computing device, the at least one communications interface configured to be physically located within a meter socket housing.

Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for enabling energy conservation in a home. Occupancy by an entity of the home may be detected and used by a utility meter associated with the home to control and/or adjust operation of energy consuming devices based, at least in part, on the occupancy state of the home. Occupancy detection is based on signals received from devices generally associated with those entities that may from time to time occupy the home. In selected embodiments, detection of a Bluetooth or RFID device associated with a home occupant including items such as key chains, work ID cards, Bluetooth enable equipment such as cell phones and audio equipment or infrared signals from presence detectors may be used to provide indications of home occupancy.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for reducing network congestion in a smart utility meter system are provided. The systems, methods, and apparatuses may include providing, for a utility meter, a first communications interface for communicating with a first network; providing, for the utility meter, a second communications interface for communicating with a second network different from the first network; receiving or generating, by the utility meter, information having a destination; selecting either the first communications interface or the second communications interface; and delivering the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses may be provided for determining power usage within a meter. The systems, methods, and apparatuses may include providing, for a utility meter, at least one communications interface for communicating with a home area network (HAN); receiving or transmitting, via the at least one communications interface of the utility meter, information having a source or destination associated with the home area network (HAN); determining, by the utility meter, that the information is attributable to activity chargeable to a customer associated with the home area network (HAN); and updating, by the utility meter, a customer usage amount based upon the determination that the information is attributable to the activity chargeable to the customer.

Abstract: Systems for supporting communication between networks are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a meter processing communication system includes: a utility meter; and a central processor integrated with the utility meter, the central processor including a single communications stack, the single communications stack and central processor being configured to process communications between a plurality of different networks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses may be provided for utility meters or other devices with communications prioritization. The methods and apparatuses may include receiving first information addressed to or from a first network device of the one or more network devices; determining that the first network device is either (i) battery-powered or associated with a limited power source, or (ii) associated with wireless communications; and based upon the determination that the first home device is either (i) battery-powered or associated with a limited power source, or (ii) associated with wireless communications, identifying the first information as higher priority. The identification of the first information as higher priority may result in the utility meter or other device processing of the first information ahead of one or more second information designated as lower priority.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses may be provided for managing peak loads for a customer location. The methods and apparatuses may include receiving an allocation request from at least a first home device of the one or more home devices, the allocation request requesting a power allocation amount by the first home device; determining a current remaining power budget amount of a total power budget amount; determining an extent to which the allocation request can be satisfied based at least in part upon a comparison of the requested power allocation amount by the current remaining power budget amount; and delivering a response to the first home device, the response indicating the extent to which the first home device is permitted to access the requested power allocation.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems for configuring a wireless-enabled device over an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided comprising receiving, from a first device via a first network, information about one or more wireless access points accessible by the first device. The method further comprises receiving, from a second device via a second network, configuration information for the first device for configuring the first device to connect to a wireless network through one of the one or more wireless access points; and configuring the first device using the configuration information. In one aspect, configuring the first device includes sending at least a portion of the configuration information to the first device via the first network.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for adaptive communications with utility meters based on atmospheric conditions. The systems and methods may include obtaining weather information associated with a location of a utility meter; determining, based upon the weather information, whether the utility meter location is associated with weather that affects communications performance; and modifying an acceptable communications error rate associated with the utility meter or the communications interface of the utility meter from a first value to a second value upon determining that the utility meter location is associated with weather that affects communications performance. One or more of the foregoing operations may be performed by a utility meter or a utility server computer associated with the utility meter.

Abstract: Systems for sending utility meter alerts in response to a predetermined threshold condition being met at the utility meter are disclosed. In one embodiment, the utility meter has a communications stack embedded therein, and the communications stack is configured to send an alert through a network in response to a predetermined threshold being met. In another embodiment, a server is communicatively connected to a utility meter, and the server is configured to send an alert through a network in response to a predetermined threshold being met at the utility meter. In either embodiment, the alert can comprise an email, a Short Message Service (SMS), a voice alert, or an instant message. Examples of predetermined threshold conditions that could trigger an alert include total energy consumption, peak energy consumption or total currency, e.g., dollars, spent at the location of the utility meter for a set consumption period.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for identifying, invalid nodes within a mesh network are provided. A routing table may he maintained by a utility meter. The routing table may include information associated with one or more devices in communication with the utility meter via a mesh network. A change in the routing table may be identified by the utility meter, and an alert message associated with the identified change may be generated by the utility meter. The generated alert may then be output by the utility meter for communication to a central controller configured to process the alert message to identify an invalid node within the mesh network.

Abstract: In some embodiments, images for the video conference may be white balanced and/or exposure controlled. White balancing may include dividing an image's pixels into multiple ranges according to their luminance and chrominance values. In some embodiments, blue and red analog gains may be modified to bring red and blue accumulations closer to green accumulations. In some embodiments, luminance values for an image may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing exposure. The decision whether to increase or decrease the exposure may be made by looking at statistics for luminance values of skin colored regions if there are sufficient skin colored regions on the image. Otherwise, luminance values for the entire image may be analyzed to determine whether to increase or decrease exposure.

Abstract: A distributed processing system including one or more modems connected to a server through a network, such as a cable network or other similar network for transporting data and/or voice. The processing applied to information to be transported to a public network, such as the Internet, is performed by the server rather than the modem. Voice services are provided to telephone equipment connected to a modem by digitizing the voice signals and forwarding the signals as packets to the server. The application of a network stack to the voice packets is performed by the server prior to sending the packets over the public network. Likewise, voice packets received from the public network include network stack formatting. The server removes this formatting prior to sending the voice packets to the modem. This significantly reduces the complexity and cost of the modems.

Abstract: Methods of providing added security for communications between a server and a particular client modem on a shared communication media. The methods provide for passing communications containing scrambled keys to be used to form scrambling seeds for scrambling subsequent messages. In a preferred embodiment, both the server and the client modem generate and pass keys to be used for the communications between the server and that client modem to achieve a dynamic dual key scrambling system.