Safety utility reconnect

摘要

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing safe reconnection of remotely disconnectible gas meters. In accordance with the present subject matter, a gas metering device is provided with a remotely controllable valve and has associated therewith indicia uniquely identifying the meter. A gas company representative or other authorized person must be physically present to read the meter associated data, enter corresponding data into a handheld device, and transmit a signal from such handheld device to the meter to initiate reclosure. In such manner, physical presence of a gas company representative is required at the time of reconnection to provide other services and functionality such as equipment inspection and/or pilot relighting as required for safety considerations.

主权项

1. An advanced meter reading system for transmitting between user locations and a centralized data collection facility data and commands related to utility usage and utility supply connections, said system comprising:
a plurality of utility metrology means and associated endpoint devices, situated at respective locations of utility consumption, for bidirectional communications for transmitting utility consumption data associated with a respective location and for receiving commands thereto; at least one remotely controllable disconnect/reconnect valve means, associated with at least one of said utility metrology means and its associated endpoint device, for disconnecting the flow of a utility supply commodity associated with said at least one utility metrology means at its respective location in response to a disconnect signal transmitted to said disconnect/reconnect means, and for selectively reconnecting such utility supply only in response to a uniquely coded reconnect signal transmitted directly thereto; a main communications network for bidirectional communications with said endpoint devices; a head end processor for bidirectional communications with said main communications network, such that utility consumption data and disconnect signal commands, respectively, are communicated to and from said head end processor via said main communications network; and an RF communication mobile device in direct RF communication with an endpoint device, for controllably receiving utility consumption data and for selectively sending to such endpoint device, without use of said main communications network, reconnect signal commands incorporating a uniquely coded reconnect signal embedded therein; wherein said uniquely coded reconnect signal includes onsite indicia uniquely associated onsite with a respective location at which utility supply is to be reconnected, so that control of sending reconnect signal commands to a given respective location is restricted to an authorized operator of the mobile device having access to onsite indicia at such given respective location.