Abstract: A system for resource monitoring and engagement, the system comprising: a server, coupled to an internet, comprising: a meter reading processor, configured to communicate with a resource monitor that is disposed within radio range of resource meters that transmit radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and current readings, where the resource monitor: determines whether the radio signals are of a fixed frequency or frequency hopping transmission protocol by scanning each of a plurality of channels for a time period and counting hits of desired meter identifiers within the each of the plurality of channels; decodes the radio signals according to a determined transmission protocol to obtain corresponding meter identifiers and readings; and transmits the corresponding meter identifiers and readings over the internet, and where the meter reading processor creates and updates a corresponding plurality of records in a resource database that indicate resource consumption of corresponding facilities; and an eng

Abstract: A system for resource monitoring and engagement, the system comprising: a resource monitor, disposed within radio range of resource meters that transmit radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and readings, the resource monitor configured to: determine whether the radio signals are of a fixed frequency or frequency hopping transmission protocol by scanning each of a plurality of channels for a time period and counting hits of desired meter identifiers within the each of the plurality of channels; decode the radio signals according to a determined transmission protocol to obtain corresponding meter identifiers and readings; and transmit the corresponding meter identifiers and readings over an Internet; and a server, configured to: receive the corresponding meter identifiers and readings; employ the meter identifiers and readings to detect an unusual pattern of resource consumption; and send an alert that corresponds to the unusual pattern of resource consumption.

Abstract: A system for alert of energy resource outages includes: a resource monitor, disposed within radio range of resource meters that each transmit corresponding radio signals indicative of corresponding meter identifiers and current readings, configured to: determine whether the corresponding radio signals are fixed frequency or frequency hopping by scanning frequency channels for a time period and counting hits of desired meter identifiers; decode each of the one or more of the corresponding radio signals of the resource meters according to determined protocol to obtain one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings; and transmit the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings; and a server, configured to: receive the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings; employ the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings to detect an outage; and transmit an alert that corresponds to the outage.

Abstract: A system for alert of energy resource outages includes: a resource monitor, disposed within radio range of resource meters that each transmit corresponding radio signals indicative of corresponding meter identifiers and current readings, configured to: determine whether the corresponding radio signals are fixed frequency or frequency hopping by scanning frequency channels for a time period and counting hits of desired meter identifiers; decode each of the one or more of the corresponding radio signals of the resource meters according to determined protocol to obtain one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings; and transmit the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings; and a server, configured to: receive the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings; employ the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings to detect an outage; and transmit an alert that corresponds to the outage.

Abstract: A system for resource monitoring and engagement, the system comprising: a server, coupled to an internet, comprising: a meter reading processor, configured to communicate with a resource monitor that is disposed within radio range of resource meters that transmit radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and current readings, where the resource monitor: determines whether the radio signals are of a fixed frequency or frequency hopping transmission protocol by scanning each of a plurality of channels for a time period and counting hits of desired meter identifiers within the each of the plurality of channels; decodes the radio signals according to a determined transmission protocol to obtain corresponding meter identifiers and readings; and transmits the corresponding meter identifiers and readings over the internet, and where the meter reading processor creates and updates a corresponding plurality of records in a resource database that indicate resource consumption of corresponding facilities; and an eng

Abstract: A system for resource monitoring and engagement, the system comprising: a resource monitor, disposed within radio range of resource meters that transmit radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and readings, the resource monitor configured to: determine whether the radio signals are of a fixed frequency or frequency hopping transmission protocol by scanning each of a plurality of channels for a time period and counting hits of desired meter identifiers within the each of the plurality of channels; decode the radio signals according to a determined transmission protocol to obtain corresponding meter identifiers and readings; and transmit the corresponding meter identifiers and readings over an Internet; and a server, configured to: receive the corresponding meter identifiers and readings; employ the meter identifiers and readings to detect an unusual pattern of resource consumption; and send an alert that corresponds to the unusual pattern of resource consumption.

Abstract: A system that detects energy resource outages includes: resource monitors, each disposed within radio range of resource meters that transmit corresponding radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and current readings, where the resource monitors are configured to receive and decode the radio signals to obtain one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors transmits the one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings over the internet cloud; and a resource server, operatively coupled to the resource monitors via the internet cloud, configured to receive the one or more meter identifiers and current readings from the resource monitors, and configured to employ the current readings to detect an outage within a geographic area, and configured to send alerts to a resource provider that correspond to the outage.

Abstract: A system for resource monitoring includes: resource monitors, each disposed within radio range of corresponding resource meters that transmit corresponding radio signals indicative of corresponding meter identifiers and current readings, where the each of the resource monitors receive and decode one or more of the corresponding radio signals to obtain one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors transmit the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings over the internet cloud; and a resource server, operatively coupled to the resource monitors via the internet cloud, configured to receive the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings from the each of the resource monitors, and configured to employ the corresponding current readings to detect unusual patterns of resource consumption, and configured to send alerts corresponding to the unusual patterns of resource consumption.

Abstract: A system for resource monitoring includes: a resource server that monitors use of a resource, the server including: a meter reading processor, that communicates with resource monitors disposed within radio range of resource meters, where the resource meters transmit radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors receives and decodes one or more of the radio signals to obtain one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors transmits the one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings over the internet cloud, and where the meter reading processor updates corresponding records in a resource database that indicate resource consumption of corresponding facilities; and an engagement processor, that causes alerts to be transmitted to client devices based on analyses of resource consumption that notify users of the unusual patterns of consumption.

Abstract: A resource monitor for monitoring consumption of a resource includes: a commissioning processor, configured to pair with a client device via a Bluetooth link, and configured to receive WIFI network credentials from the client device, and configured to transmit the credentials to commission the resource monitor onto the WIFI network, and configured to initiate communications with a resource server over the internet cloud; and a meter reading processor, that receives meter identifiers from the resource server via the internet cloud for resource meters within radio range, and that tunes a meter receiver to narrowband frequency channels to detect and decode radio signals transmitted by resource meters to extract the meter identifiers along with corresponding meter readings, and that periodically transmits the meter identifiers along with the corresponding meter readings to the resource server over the internet cloud.

Abstract: A system for resource monitoring includes: a resource server that monitors use of a resource, the server including: a meter reading processor, that communicates with resource monitors disposed within radio range of resource meters, where the resource meters transmit radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors receives and decodes one or more of the radio signals to obtain one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors transmits the one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings over the internet cloud, and where the meter reading processor updates corresponding records in a resource database that indicate resource consumption of corresponding facilities; and an engagement processor, that causes alerts to be transmitted to client devices based on analyses of resource consumption that notify users of the unusual patterns of consumption.

Abstract: A system that detects energy resource outages includes: resource monitors, each disposed within radio range of resource meters that transmit corresponding radio signals indicative of meter identifiers and current readings, where the resource monitors are configured to receive and decode the radio signals to obtain one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors transmits the one or more of the meter identifiers and current readings over the internet cloud; and a resource server, operatively coupled to the resource monitors via the internet cloud, configured to receive the one or more meter identifiers and current readings from the resource monitors, and configured to employ the current readings to detect an outage within a geographic area, and configured to send alerts to a resource provider that correspond to the outage.

Abstract: A system for resource monitoring includes: resource monitors, each disposed within radio range of corresponding resource meters that transmit corresponding radio signals indicative of corresponding meter identifiers and current readings, where the each of the resource monitors receive and decode one or more of the corresponding radio signals to obtain one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings, and where the each of the resource monitors transmit the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings over the internet cloud; and a resource server, operatively coupled to the resource monitors via the internet cloud, configured to receive the one or more of the corresponding meter identifiers and current readings from the each of the resource monitors, and configured to employ the corresponding current readings to detect unusual patterns of resource consumption, and configured to send alerts corresponding to the unusual patterns of resource consumption.

Abstract: A resource monitor for monitoring consumption of a resource includes: a commissioning processor, configured to pair with a client device via a Bluetooth link, and configured to receive WIFI network credentials from the client device, and configured to transmit the credentials to commission the resource monitor onto the WIFI network, and configured to initiate communications with a resource server over the internet cloud; and a meter reading processor, that receives meter identifiers from the resource server via the internet cloud for resource meters within radio range, and that tunes a meter receiver to narrowband frequency channels to detect and decode radio signals transmitted by resource meters to extract the meter identifiers along with corresponding meter readings, and that periodically transmits the meter identifiers along with the corresponding meter readings to the resource server over the internet cloud.

Abstract: Cup holder mechanisms are provided for vehicles that include, in one example, an upper region, a base region, and a middle region. The upper region includes an outer ring configured to receive a beverage by at least partially surrounding a perimeter of the beverage. The base region includes a base support element configured to support a bottom of the beverage. The middle region connects the upper region and the base region. The cup holder mechanism is configured to be movable, by an actuator based on input provided by an occupant of the vehicle, between: a closed position, in which the cup holder mechanism is stowed in a recess within a housing; and an open position, in which the cup holder mechanism is opened outside the housing to receive the beverage. The upper region, the base region, and the middle region are formed as a single unitary piece.

Abstract: Cup holder mechanisms are provided for vehicles that include, in one example, an upper region, a base region, and a middle region. The upper region includes an outer ring configured to receive a beverage by at least partially surrounding a perimeter of the beverage. The base region includes a base support element configured to support a bottom of the beverage. The middle region connects the upper region and the base region. The cup holder mechanism is configured to be movable, by an actuator based on input provided by an occupant of the vehicle, between: a closed position, in which the cup holder mechanism is stowed in a recess within a housing; and an open position, in which the cup holder mechanism is opened outside the housing to receive the beverage. The upper region, the base region, and the middle region are formed as a single unitary piece.