Abstract: A method and apparatus for executing a command in a number of electrical metering devices of a power distribution system provides each metering device with a command having a predetermined execution time and subsequently executes the command in each of the metering devices once the present time value equals or exceeds the predetermined execution time. Each electrical metering device includes a clock for providing the present time value as well as a memory device for receiving and storing the command. Each electrical metering device also includes at least one controller or microprocessor for monitoring or comparing the present time value with the predetermined execution time of the stored command and for executing the stored command once the present time value is at least as large as the predetermined execution time. A command may thus be provided to each electrical metering device of a power distribution system at various prior arbitrary times.

Abstract: A method of processing binary characters received by an electrical energy meter includes the step of generating a clock signal internal to the meter so that asynchronously received serial data can be processed, even though a synchronization clock signal does not accompany the serial data. The method includes the steps of detecting receipt of a first of a string of binary input characters at a serial input/output port of the meter, and then sampling the detected first character by generating a respective first clock signal which is phase-synchronized with a least significant bit of the first character. These steps are then repeated in sequence for each subsequently received character in the string. The sampled characters can be temporarily stored in meter hardware such as a register and written to memory such as programmable read-only or random-access memory.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for sharing passwords includes an electronic meter comprising a metering unit, a register unit, an optical port, and a communications unit. An external reading device, such as a handheld reading device or a personal computer, is coupled to the communication board via the optical port. The method and apparatus for sharing passwords provides that both the meter register and the communications unit have the same security code. In addition, the communications unit is able to distinguish between a security code for the communications unit and a security code for the meter register, and the communications unit will not interfere with communications between the external reading device and the meter register.

Abstract: An energy meter capable of converting from one mode of operation to another mode of operation is described. In the one embodiment, the present apparatus measures energy consumption, and converts operation from a first mode to a second mode.