Power line carrier (PLC) methods where data is transferred through the mains electricity cabling is well known, as are methods of reading meters using PLC data transfer.

A prepayment meter is supplied to measure the amount of a commodity or service, such as electricity, gas or water, that is provided to the consumer by a public utility company. In-built programs within the meter are used to convert the amount of commodity or service purchased or used by the customer to a monetary value. The prepayment meter also features a countdown register and solenoid or switch. It is these elements which define the prepayment meter, as they enable the meter to make the'decision'to switch of the meter therefore cut off the customer's supply.

Customers who are deemed not to be capable or trusted with paying their bills in the usual way of the bill being issued and paid after the commodity has been used, are provided with a prepayment meter. They are required to keep the prepayment meter in sufficient advance funds to cover the amount of the utility used by them. The prepayment meter has the ability to disconnect the customer from supply (i. e.- by switching off) until sufficient advance funds are credited to the meter.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a radio-controlled device with a power line carrier connection.

It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a method for controlling or transmitting payment to devices via prepayment meter using radio signals.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a radio controlled power line carrier device.

Preferably the device comprises a radio transceiver and a power line carrier transceiver.

Preferably the device is a utility meter.

Typically the device is an electricity meter.

Optionally the device is radio-controlled prepayment meter.

Preferably the device further comprises a controller means.

Preferably, the radio-controlled prepayment meter comprises a meter, a radio transceiver, controller means, a power line carrier transceiver, and a countdown. register.

Alternatively, the radio-controlled prepayment meter comprises a meter, an interface to a radio transceiver, controller means, a power line carrier transceiver, and a countdown register.

Preferably the interface to a radio transceiver is an acoustic coupler.

Alternatively the interface to the radio transceiver is a secondary radio link.

Alternatively the interface to the radio transceiver is an infrared link.

Preferably, the controller means is adapted to communicate via the interface to a radio transceiver.

Optionally, the radio transceiver utilises GSM signals (Global System for Mobile Communications).

The meter may be sealed.

Optionally, the countdown register is situated at a separate site to the meter.

Preferably, the countdown register counts down power or money units.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of wirelessly transmitting data, comprising the steps of : wirelessly transmitting data to a device; receiving data at the device; transmitting data using a power line carrier method from the device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a pre-paid metered control of a of a controlled device, comprising the steps of : wirelessly transmitting credit to a prepayment meter; receiving credit at the prepayment meter; transmitting control signals using a power line carrier method from the meter to the controlled device ; and the controlled device being controlled responsive to the control signals.

Optionally, the wireless transmission is achieved using GSM signals (Global System for Mobile Communications).

In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention, an example will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 illustrates a device according to the present invention in its environment; Figure 2 illustrates the operation of a prepayment meter system, utilising communication via radio signals; Figure 3 illustrates the use of a prepayment meter (and variations thereon) for a number of functions not normally associated with metering; Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment with an acoustic coupler in a pre-payment meter and an external radio.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a radio controlled power line carrier electricity meter 10 is shown. The device comprises a radio transceiver 12 and a power line carrier transceiver 13. The meter has mains power inputs 14 and mains output 15. The sealed meter also contains a controller 16, such as a microprocessor, and a countdown register 18 for storing and decrementing the amount of remaining power, money, time or other credit available to a consumer.

In use, a transmitter 20 wirelessly transmits 22 data to the meter which further transmits data through the mains out to a mains socket 24.

The meter may provide a pre-paid metered control of a of a controlled device, such as a TV set top box 26 by the transmitter wirelessly transmitting credit to the prepayment meter and the meter transmitting control signals using a power line carrier method from the meter to the controlled device and the controlled device being controlled responsive to the control signals.

Referring to Figure 2, an electronic point of sale terminal 7 communicates via public switch telephone network (PSTN) with payment agent/EPOS terminal operator 8. Customer management site 9 can both implement call transfers and provide data for the utility provider 10.

The customer management site 9 accepts data from payment agent 8, which identifies the customer, and the monetary value which must be transferred to the prepayment meter 1.

The monetary value is first encrypted, and then transferred to the prepayment meter 1 via the GSM gateway/GSM system 11. The preferred method of the transfer of this data will be short message service (SMS) standard, although other data transfer mechanisms will be implemented and supported. The prepayment meter 1 also has the ability to decrypt the monetary value purchase via EPOS terminal 7, and transfer it to the credit or countdown register 6 in the prepayment meter 1. The meter then controls the usage of appliances attached to

the ring mains using the countdown register for decision making.

As an example, should a customer need to transfer credit/power to their meter, the following steps are taken : 1. First visit the location where the EPOS terminal is located.

2. Pass to the operator a credit/debit card or money.

3. Indicate the amount of money which is required to be transferred.

4. If money is used, a method of identity will be required to be handed to the operator. This is normally a magnetic stripe card with encoded customer details.

5. The required card is inserted in the EPOS terminal which auto-dials the correct location.

6. Prepayment agent receives this call and verifies customer is real and who is the commodity vendor (utility) associated with the transaction.

7. On completion of the verification process, the EPOS terminal is informed the transaction is OK.

8. The EPOS terminal prints a receipt, or transfers the monetary value to the card as required.

9. The monetary value of transaction is removed from the EPOS owners bank account and transferred to the commodity vendors bank account, minus commissions. This will not be done in real time.

10. Prepayment agent transfers transaction details to the customer management system.

11. Details are checked against database records for cross correlation to a GSM telephone number.

12. The monetary value is encrypted to a numerical string.

13. The numerical string is transferred to the GSM meter using an appropriate technique : probably SMS.

14. The meter decrypts the data and recovers the monetary value. The meter then stores it in the meters countdown register.

15. Transaction details are made available to the commodity vendor.

16. The meter controls the controlled device attached to the mains, responsive to the amount of remaining credit, and updates the countdown register based on usage of the controlled device.

The above systems use standard techniques to verify each step of the above process to detect and correct errors.

Referring to Figure 3, the infrastructure surrounding prepayment meter 1 can also be used for a number of functions which are currently not normally associated with payment through a meter. Specifically, services such as lighting, interactive television services, and home or personal alarm gateways can be supported by the infrastructure surrounding prepayment meter 1. In this alternative embodiment, the PLC controller is external to the radio controlled meter, being connected by an IEC1107 optical interface.

Referring to the alternative embodiment of Figure 4, a radio controlled power line carrier electricity meter 10 is shown with a radio transceiver 12 that is a cellular/mobile phone. The device comprises a power line carrier transceiver 13. The meter has mains power inputs

14 and mains output 15. The sealed meter also contains a controller 16, such as a microprocessor, and a countdown register 18 for storing and decrementing the amount of remaining power, money, time or other credit available to a consumer. The interface between the radio controlled power line carrier electricity meter and the radio in this embodiment is acoustic, using the speaker/microphone pair 27 of the mobile phone and an acoustic coupler 28 as part of the radio controlled power line carrier electricity meter. Alternatively the interface to the radio is a secondary radio link (e. g. Bluetooth^) or an infrared link. The controller means is adapted to communicate via the interface to the mobile/cellular telephone that contains its own acoustic coupler.

The operation of a payment system using an acoustic coupler to connect a mobile phone to a point of sale terminal is described in International Patent Application W00233669.

In use, a transmitter 20 wirelessly transmits 22 data to the meter which further transmits data through the mains out to a mains socket 24.

The meter may provide a pre-paid metered control of a of a controlled device, such as a TV set top box 26 by the transmitter wirelessly transmitting credit to the prepayment meter and the meter transmitting control signals using a power line carrier method from the meter to the controlled device and the controlled device being controlled responsive to the control signals.

Further modifications and improvements may be added without departing from the scope of the invention herein described.