Jennifer A King

US Patent:

7376631, May 20, 2008

Filed:

May 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/138830

Inventors:

Jennifer E. King - Boulder CO, US
Robert R. Peterson - Rockledge FL, US
Jon F. Richter - Austin TX, US
Ian P. Spivey - Cambridge MA, US
Tyron Jerrod Stading - Austin TX, US
Rhys Ulerich - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G01R 11/56

US Classification:

705412

Abstract:

Energy consumption meters are associated with owners who hold accounts with a power supplier. The meters are assigned meter identifiers and identifiers for their respective owners. Such a meter may be a parent meter having associated submeters. In response to being plugged into a power source from the power supplier, such a meter reports its owner identifier and meter identifier to the supplier. Also, in response to being plugged into a power source supplied by one of the parent meters, a meter communicates with the parent meter. This establishes that the parent meter is associated with the submeter. The submeter measures energy delivered reports this to the power supplier. Also, the indicated association of the submeter to the parent meter is reported to the power supplier. The receipt of this information enables the power supplier to debit and credit owner accounts in a manner permitting temporary associations of meters.

Address:

4434 Davenport Way, Denver, CO 80239

Phone:

3039538635

VIN:

1D7HA16K08J186259

Make:

DODGE

Model:

RAM 1500

Year:

2008

Address:

1208 E Kennedy Blvd UNIT 1123, Tampa, FL 33602

VIN:

JM1BK32F271714626

Make:

MAZDA

Model:

MAZDA3

Year:

2007

Address:

PO Box 24540, Chicago, IL 60624

VIN:

1D8HB48P77F559303

Make:

DODGE

Model:

DURANGO

Year:

2007