Interface apparatus for existing utility monitoring units where the apparatus appears on a smart wireless monitoring system network as a virtual smart meter.

摘要

A utility resource interface apparatus 10 comprising: an interface unit 12 to which receives a physical connector for connection of the apparatus to a utility resource monitoring unit 20; a processor 14 to act upon data relative to a metered utility resource to provide utility consumption data; and a transceiver 16 to communicate consumption data with a wireless utility resource monitoring system network thus facilitating communication of consumption data between the monitoring unit and the wireless monitoring system. Preferably the physical connector receives a cable connector which may be a serial data cable connector. The processor may periodically sample data. The processor may continuously record data. The apparatus may further comprise a data receiving interface to receive at least one of operational and system data relative to the apparatus and associated monitoring unit. The apparatus may have tamper detection 40. The apparatus may integrate with a utility resource home area network (HAN). Also another embodiment where the interface apparatus comprises a utility monitoring unit with a cabled connection arrangement.