Granted Patent B2

US 12,602,982 · App. 18/634,648 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Inventors: James Lee Kann (Mica, WA); Katrina Polk (Ponte Vedra, FL); Janet Penz (Lakeview, MN)

Assignee: Itron, Inc.

G08B21/16G01M3/224G08B27/005G08B27/006

Abstract

Claims (69)

1 . A method, comprising:

defining a group of gas meters of a gas-delivery system, wherein the group of gas meters comprises a plurality of gas meters, and wherein the defining is based at least in part on a topology of the gas-delivery system;

measuring gas pressure at each gas meter of the group of gas meters;

determining, based on the measuring, that gas pressure measurements at gas meters of the group of gas meters exceed threshold values, wherein the threshold values are respectively associated with each gas meter within the group of gas meters, and wherein a number of gas pressure measurements exceeding respectively associated threshold values is greater than a further threshold value; and

responsive to the further threshold value being exceeded:

sending a shutoff command to the group of gas meters; or

closing valves of the group of gas meters.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas pressure measurements comprise:

rates of gas pressure increase at one or more gas meters of the group of gas meters.

3 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising:

increasing a rate of the gas pressure measurements at a gas meter in the group of gas meters responsive to the gas meter measuring a gas pressure over a threshold value.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each gas meter in the group of gas meters is connected to a same gas main.

5 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising:

sending, responsive to the further threshold value being exceeded, a message indicating an over pressure event.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topology is based on elements comprising:

a listing of gas meters;

gas mains to which gas meters in the listing of gas meters are connected; and

at least one state of gas meters in the listing of gas meters.

7 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising:

accessing a database comprising topological relationships of the gas meters of the group of gas meters; and

changing an entry in the database to indicate that a valve of a gas meter is closed.

8 . A gas meter, comprising:

a gas pressure sensor;

a radio;

a processor; and

memory, having defined thereon statements, which when executed by the processor perform actions comprising:

defining a group of gas meters of a gas-delivery system, wherein the group of gas meters comprises a plurality of gas meters, and wherein the defining is based at least in part on a topology of the gas-delivery system;

measuring gas pressure at each gas meter of the group of gas meters;

determining, based on the measuring, that gas pressure measurements at gas meters of the group of gas meters exceed threshold values, wherein the threshold values are respectively associated with each gas meter within the group of gas meters, and wherein a number of gas pressure measurements exceeding respectively associated threshold values is greater than a further threshold value; and

responsive to the further threshold value being exceeded:

sending a shutoff command to the group of gas meters; or

closing valves of the group of gas meters.

9 . The gas meter of claim 8 , wherein the statements are additionally configured to perform actions comprising:

determining that a gas pressure measurement at a gas meter of the group of gas meters exceeded a threshold value;

determining that gas pressure measurements at other gas meters of the group of gas meters did not exceed threshold values, wherein the threshold values are respectively associated with each of the gas meters within the group of gas meters, and wherein the number of measurements exceeding respectively associated threshold values is less than the further threshold value; and

reporting, responsive to the further threshold value not being exceeded, an over-pressure event affecting the gas meter of the group of gas meters.

10 . The gas meter as recited in claim 8 , wherein the statements are additionally configured to perform actions comprising:

sending, by operation of the radio, an indication of an over-pressure event.

11 . The gas meter as recited in claim 8 , wherein:

the gas meter additionally comprises a gas valve; and

the actions additionally comprise closing the gas valve based at least in part on an over-pressure event.

12 . The gas meter as recited in claim 8 , additionally comprising a database, the database comprising:

a listing of gas meters;

devices to which gas meters in the listing of gas meters are connected; and

one or more states of one or more of the devices.

13 . The gas meter as recited in claim 8 , wherein the statements are additionally configured to perform actions comprising:

accessing a database comprising topological relationships of the gas meters of the group of gas meters; and

changing an entry in the database to indicate that a valve of the gas meter is closed.

14 . The gas meter as recited in claim 8 , wherein the statements are additionally configured to perform actions comprising:

sending, responsive to an over-pressure event, the shutdown command to gas meters of the group of gas meters; and

closing valves at gas meters of the group of gas meters.

15 . The gas meter as recited in claim 8 , wherein the gas pressure measurements comprise:

rates of gas pressure increase at one or more gas meters of the group of gas meters.

16 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure a computing device to perform acts comprising:

defining a group of gas meters of a gas-delivery system, wherein the group of gas meters comprises a plurality of gas meters, and wherein the defining is based at least in part on a topology of the gas-delivery system;

measuring gas pressure at each gas meter of the group of gas meters;

determining, based on the measuring, that gas pressure measurements at gas meters of the group of gas meters exceed threshold values, wherein the threshold values are respectively associated with each gas meter within the group of gas meters, and wherein a number of gas pressure measurements exceeding respectively associated threshold values is greater than a further threshold value; and

responsive to the further threshold value being exceeded:

sending a shutoff command to the group of gas meters; or

closing valves of the group of gas meters.

17 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 , wherein the gas pressure measurements comprise:

rates of gas pressure increase at one or more gas meters of the group of gas meters.

18 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 , wherein the acts additionally comprise:

increasing a rate of the gas pressure measurements at a gas meter in the group of gas meters responsive to the gas meter measuring a gas pressure over a threshold value.

19 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 , wherein the acts additionally comprise:

sending, responsive to the further threshold value being exceeded, a message indicating an over pressure event.

20 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 , wherein the acts additionally comprise:

accessing a database comprising topological relationships of the gas meters of the group of gas meters; and

changing an entry in the database to indicate that a valve of a gas meter is closed.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (127)