A smart metering device being part of an advanced metering infrastructure is provided. The smart metering device might comprise one or more sub devices such as: metering devices, actuator devices, sensor devices etc. The smart metering device includes a valve arranged to limit the delivery of a utility to the consumer. Moreover the smart metering devices includes a communication device including a transmitter and a receiver for wireless communication with a collector, utilizing a listen after talk mechanism to perform a two-way communication to the head end system through a collector. The presented invention is especially beneficial for battery supplied smart metering devices. The advanced metering infrastructure will provide a given service level for communication between the meter and the head end system. The service level will be changed dynamically in order to meet the adequate service level at all times.

The present invention provides a method for obtaining information from a utility meter, the method comprising steps of directing emitted radiation on to a rotating element of the utility meter, receiving incident radiation, the incident radiation comprising reflected radiation from a reflective surface of the rotating element, the reflective surface having a marker, determining an instant value of intensity of the incident radiation, determining a reference value from earlier ones of the determined values of the intensity of the incident radiation and detecting passing of the marker, as a function of the reference value and the instant value.

A smart reading device for a water meter and a controlling method thereof are provided. The smart reading device includes a fixing component, a casing, an image capturing component, an image analyzing component, and a transmitting component. The fixing component is used to be fixed onto the water meter. The casing is disposed on the fixing component. The image capturing component is disposed in the casing for capturing a numerical display area of the water meter so as to obtain a water consumption image. The water consumption image is analyzed by the image analyzing component or a relay device to obtain a water consumption value. The transmitting component is used for transmitting the water consumption value or the water consumption image to the relay device.

A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property. The monitoring system further include an electrical circuit that is located electrically between a power source and an electrical device and that is configured to pass electrical power from the power source to the electrical device or prevent electrical power from passing from the power source to the electrical device. The monitoring system further includes a monitor control unit that is configured to receive the sensor data, analyze the sensor data, and based on analyzing the sensor data, switch the electrical circuit to passing electrical power or to preventing electrical power from passing.

Techniques determine if an appliance having a fixed-rate of gas-consumption is degrading over time. In one example, a flowrate of gas at a service site is obtained. The flowrate of gas is disaggregated to obtain a flowrate of gas corresponding to an appliance having a generally fixed-rate of gas-consumption. The flowrate of gas of the appliance is compared to historical gas consumption by the appliance. Based at least in part on the comparing, it may be determined that performance of the appliance has changed over time. For example, the gas consumption of a hot water tank may increase due to mineral build-up in the bottom of the tank. Responsive to the determined degradation of the appliance, warnings may be sent, repairs may be made, and/or appliance(s) may be replaced.

Disclosed is a monitoring device of water meter, comprising a body, a sensor, a camera module, a communication module and a microcontroller unit. The sensor, the camera module, the communication module and the microcontroller unit are disposed in the body. The sensor is used to obtain pointer rotation times information. The camera module is used to obtain reading image information. The microcontroller unit transmits the received pointer rotation times information and the reading image information to a communication module of another monitoring device of water meter and/or a server via the communication module. The monitoring device of water meter of the present invention has functions of pointer rotational detection and number display wheel image capturing, degree of water consumption is further calculated by means of the above two functions which are complementary to each other.

A high frequency data recorder (“HFDR”) can include a first set of contacts, on a first side of the HFDR, that are pluggable into a first meter receptacle of a meter box, wherein the first meter receptacle provides a connection to a power supply and a connection to a load. The HFDR also includes a second set of contacts, on a second side of the HFDR, that form a second meter receptacle. The second meter receptacle provides another connection to the power supply and another connection to the load. The HFDR can further include a processor that accesses a non-transitory machine readable memory that stores instruction that when executed cause the processor to passively measures current downstream from the meter box. The HFDR still further includes a wireless transceiver that wirelessly transmits data characterizing the measured current.

In one aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving consumption data comprising readings from one or more utility meters associated with a property comprising one or more devices, the one or more devices comprising one or more devices of interest; determining, in the received consumption data, one or more positive consumption variations indicative of switching on of one or more of the devices and/or one or more negative consumption variations indicative of switching off of one or more of the devices; identifying one or more events associated with the one or more devices, based on the determined variations, by matching one or more positive variations with one or more negative variations; grouping the identified one or more events into one or more blocks, each block corresponding to an occurrence of usage of a device of the property; classifying the one or more blocks into one or more predetermined clusters, the one or more predetermined clusters comprising a respective predetermined cluster associated with each device of interest of the property; and determining an occurrence and/or an absence of usage of the one or more devices of interest of the property, based on the classification into the one or more predetermined clusters.

In one aspect, there is described a method having: receiving energy consumption data from one or more electricity and/or gas meters associated with a property having one or more devices having larger devices and/or smaller devices; receiving context information data about the property; retrospectively determining, in the received energy consumption data, one or more variations indicative of consumption of the devices; identifying one or more events associated with the devices, based on the determined variations; classifying the identified events into predetermined sub-categories associated with the devices, based on the energy consumption data and the context information data; and associating a proportion of the received energy consumption data to respective predetermined categories associated with the devices, based on the classification in the sub-categories.

A high-resolution index (HRI) detector module for use with a meter including an HRI wheel therein having a modulator thereon is provided. The HRI detector module includes a plurality of capacitive sensors positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB). The plurality of capacitive sensors is configured to detect a change in capacitance caused by the modulator of the HRI wheel when the modulator enters into an electric field generated by the plurality of capacitive sensors. Related systems are also provided.