Utility monitoring device, system and method
A monitoring device, system and method are provided for in-home/on-premises monitoring of usage of utilities, such as electricity and other services. The monitoring device receives information from a smart meter, and displays usage through a display, illuminating an area using a color indicative of the current cost of consumption, and varying the illuminated area at a rate indicative of a rate of consumption or other metric, the varying of the illuminated area simulating movement in the display. The display provides a consumer with “at a glance” visual information on current usage. Optionally a digital display screen provides detailed alphanumeric and graphical information, through a number of selectable display modes. One or more devices may be networked, and interface directly or indirectly with a transceiver of a smart metering system, or a retrofit transceiver for a conventional meter. Monitoring of other utilities and services may alternatively or additionally be provided.
1. A monitoring device for monitoring usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and contemporaneously displaying at least two usage metrics on a portable computing device, comprising:
a receiver for receiving information relating to at least a first of said at least two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity; and
a transmitter for transmitting said usage metrics by way of a wireless communications system to the portable computing device having a local display and a processor programmed to receive said at least two usage metrics and cause said local display to display a varying illuminated area whose colour and area variation are each indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.
2. A monitoring device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a display having a display area;
a light source for selectively illuminating at least part of the display area with light of a selected one of a plurality of colours and varying the illuminated area; and
a controller responsive to the receiver for controlling the light source to select the illumination colour and to vary the illuminated area, the colour selection and area variation each being indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.
3. A monitoring device for monitoring usage a commodity supplied by a utility in communication with a controllable light source comprising:
a receiver for receiving information relating to at least a first of two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity; and
a controller responsive to the receiver for remotely controlling a light source comprising an array of lights to select the illumination colour and to vary the illuminated area, the colour selection and area variation each being indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.
4. A software program executed on a portable computing device wirelessly coupled with a monitoring device, said monitoring device comprising:
a receiver coupled to the monitoring device for receiving information relating to at least a first of two usage metrics gathered by said monitoring device, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity; and
a transmitter for transmitting said usage information to the portable computing device by way of a wireless communications system; and
said portable computing device having a local display and a processor for receiving said usage information and in dependence upon said usage information causing said local display to display a varying illuminated area whose colour and area variation are each indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.
5. The portable computing device and monitoring device of claim 4 wherein said monitoring device further comprises:
a display having a display area;
a light source for selectively illuminating at least part of the display area with light of a selected one of a plurality of colours and varying the illuminated area; and
a controller responsive to the receiver for controlling the light source to select the illumination colour and to vary the illuminated area, the colour selection and area variation each being indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.
6. A machine-readable medium carrying non-transitory software which, when loaded into a portable computing device, having a display and internal processor, programs the portable computing device to receive usage information from an in-building monitoring device for in-building monitoring of usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and contemporaneously
displaying at least two usage metrics, and
communicating usage information by way of a wireless communications system to the portable computing device, and said usage information causing the local display to display a varying illuminated area whose colour and area variation are each indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics the displays on screen.
7. A method for monitoring usage of a commodity supplied by a utility and contemporaneously displaying in-building at least two usage metrics, comprising:
receiving information relating to at least a first of said at least two usage metrics, said first usage metric relating to present consumption rate or aggregate consumption of the commodity; and
selectively illuminating at least part of a display area with light of a selected one of a plurality of colours and varying the illuminated area in a manner indicative of a respective one of the at least two usage metrics.