초록 ▼

Conventional AMR and DA/DSM systems typically suffer from a lack of extensibility due to the monolithic nature of the master station software. In contrast, this patent describes a system that is comprised of small modules connected using a component object model. This system allows straightforward e

Conventional AMR and DA/DSM systems typically suffer from a lack of extensibility due to the monolithic nature of the master station software. In contrast, this patent describes a system that is comprised of small modules connected using a component object model. This system allows straightforward extension in the areas of applications, communications, metering devices, and databases without requiring recompilation or relinking of the system. Furthermore, this system allows commercial applications such as spreadsheets, word processors, statistical packages, report generators, et cetera to be integrated directly with this system, and allows extension and customization of the system using such packages. Such a flexible open architecture is very attractive to utilities in that it allows easy extension by the utility or other third party developers without the involvement of the original authors of the system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A modular object-based architecture for master station software for use in the utility industry comprising:(a) an applications interface for communicating with user defined computer applications, said applications interface using an object-oriented interface to communicate with such user defined

1. A modular object-based architecture for master station software for use in the utility industry comprising:(a) an applications interface for communicating with user defined computer applications, said applications interface using an object-oriented interface to communicate with such user defined computer applications; (b) a device interface for communicating with hardware devices used in the utility industry selected from the group consisting of data acquisition devices being adapted to acquire utility related data, electricity meters, water meters, and gas meters, said device interface using said object-oriented interface to communicate with said hardware devices; (c) a network interface for communicating with network modules used in the utility industry selected from the group consisting of meter interface units, handheld meter reading and programming terminals, power line communications devices, telephone inbound devices of the type used to receive calls from a utility's central computer at a customer's location to report utility meter data to the utility's central computer, radio frequency devices, and concentrator devices to provide access to data which has been collected by said network modules, said network interface using said object-oriented interface to communicate with said network modules; (d) means for accessing, through said network interface, a database which is able to store and retain data; and (e) interface means for providing communications between said applications interface, said device interface, and said network interface, said interface means using said object-oriented interface to provide such communications.