The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 20, 1999
David Moon Yee, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Robert Henry Bickley, Paradise Valley, AZ (US);
Philip John Zucarelli, Glendale, AZ (US);
Theodore Woolley Keller, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A pre-payment energy metering system uses two-way smart card communications. Secure power line carrier communications are provided at the consumer locations communication between a customer terminal and the utility meter. Two-way secure communication of data is provided through the use of a smart card or memory card which conveys data from the utility service provider to the customer's terminal and also conveys information from the customer's terminal back to the utility. The pre-payment power system of the present invention allows consumers to pay for electricity prior to consumption through the use of the smart card which is loaded with funds at a fully automatic point-of-sale (POS) terminal or at the utility service providers staffed customer service center. Back office software interfaces between the POS terminals and customer service centers, and utility service providers customer information systems.