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.

Date of Patent:
May. 20, 2014

Filed:

Oct. 05, 2011
Applicant:

Ryan Marc Lafrance, Atlanta, GA (US);

Inventor:

Ryan Marc LaFrance, Atlanta, GA (US);

Assignee:

General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G08B 21/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting tampering associated with a utility meter. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method. The method can include detecting either a rate of change or change in magnitude of a magnetic field associated with a utility meter; based at least in part on the rate of change or the magnitude of the magnetic field, determining that a magnetic event has occurred; upon or after occurrence of the magnetic event, receiving additional utility meter information; based at least in part on the magnetic event and additional utility meter information, determining that meter tampering has occurred; and generating an event indication for transmission to a utility service or for subsequent review by the utility service.


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