1. A method for displaying a representation of the configuration of a utility distribution system or a utility collection system or a utility distribution and collection system, herein referred to as a distribution andor collection system, wherein the distribution andor collection system includes an electric power distribution system, a gas distribution system, a telephone communication system, a communication system, a water distribution system, a water collection system, a sewage collection system, or a trash collection system, the distribution andor collection system having a central source element and plural distribution elements and having distribution connection elements with and among the central source element and the plural distribution elements for serving plural customers, and the operating status thereof, the method comprising:
receiving an access request from a user and if the access request is validated, then:
determining a level of access for the user, wherein the user includes a customer or a worker or a manager or supervisor, and wherein the level of access of a customer is limited to the distribution elements and the distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system utilized in providing distribution to or collection from that customer or in providing both distribution to and collection from that customer;
obtaining a representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system;
limiting the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system in accordance with the determined level of access;
providing the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system for display on a display, wherein the display for a customer is limited to the distribution elements and distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system that serve that customer in accordance with the customer level of access;
storing information relating to the elements of the distribution andor collection system and to the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system in a relational database;
obtaining from the relational database information representing the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system;
modifying the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system in accordance with the database information to represent the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system; and
providing the modified representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system for display on a display, wherein the display for a customer is limited to the distribution elements and distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system that serve that customer in accordance with the customer level of access,
whereby a customer obtains data relating to only that portion of the distribution elements and distribution connection elements and status of the distribution andor collection system that are utilized to provide service to that customer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system is conformed to locations of the elements thereof on a map corresponding to a geographic area served by the distribution andor collection system, and wherein the representation of the distribution andor collection system includes one or more representations of a geographic location, a geographic feature or a political boundary, or a combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving an information request from the user;
determining whether the information request is authorized for the level of access of the user; and
if the information request is authorized, then retrieving the information requested from the database of information representing the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system that is limited in accordance with the customer level of access.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving an information request from the user;
retrieving the information requested from the database of information representing the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system; and
modifying the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system to emphasize the retrieved information.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the modifying the representation to emphasize the retrieved information includes:
dimming the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system other than for the retrieved information; or
highlighting the retrieved information in the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system; or
highlighting the retrieved information in the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system and dimming the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system other than for the retrieved information.
6. A system for displaying a representation of the configuration of a utility distribution system or a utility collection system or a utility distribution and collection system, herein referred to as a distribution andor collection system, wherein the distribution andor collection system includes an electric power distribution system, a gas distribution system, a telephone communication system, a communication system, a water distribution system, a water collection system, a sewage collection system, or a trash collection system, the distribution andor collection system having a central source element and plural distribution elements and having distribution connection elements with and among the central source element and the plural distribution elements for serving plural customers, and the operating status thereof, comprising:
a computer for receiving and validating an access request from a user;
a storage device storing a representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system;
the storage device further storing information relating to the elements of the distribution andor collection system and to the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system in a relational database;
wherein the computer determines a level of access for the user, wherein the user includes a customer or a worker or a manager or supervisor, and wherein the level of access of a customer is limited to the distribution elements and the distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system utilized in providing distribution to or collection from that customer or in providing both distribution to and collection from that customer;
wherein the computer generates from the stored representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system a displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system that is transformed in accordance with the database information to represent the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system;
wherein the computer limits the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system for a customer to the distribution elements and distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system that serve that customer in accordance with the customer level of access; and
a communication port for transmitting the transformed displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system to a display, wherein the display for a customer is limited to the distribution elements and distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system that serve that customer in accordance with the customer level of access,
whereby a customer obtains data relating to only that portion of the distribution elements and distribution connection elements and status of the distribution andor collection system that are utilized to provide service to that customer.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system is conformed to locations of the elements thereof on a map corresponding to a geographic area served by the distribution andor collection system, and wherein the displayable representation of the distribution andor collection system includes one or more representations of a geographic location, a geographic feature or a political boundary, or a combination thereof.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein the computer:
receives an information request from the user;
determines whether the information request is authorized for the level of access of the user; and
if the information request is authorized, then the computer retrieves the information requested from the database of information representing the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system that is limited in accordance with the customer level of access.
9. The system of claim 6 wherein the computer:
receives an information request from the user;
retrieves the information requested from the database of information representing the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system; and
modifies the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system to emphasize the retrieved information.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer emphasizes the retrieved information by:
dimming the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system other than for the retrieved information; or
highlighting the retrieved information in the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system; or
highlighting the retrieved information in the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system and dimming the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system other than for the retrieved information.
11. The system of claim 6 further comprising:
an input device for inputting information relating to the distribution andor collection system or relating to elements and conditions thereof or relating to a search inquiry, or relating to a combination thereof; or
a display for displaying the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system; or
an input device for inputting information relating to the distribution andor collection system or relating to elements and conditions thereof or relating to a search inquiry, or relating to a combination thereof and a display for displaying the displayable representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer instructions for displaying a representation of the configuration of a utility distribution system or a utility collection system or a utility distribution and collection system, herein referred to as a distribution andor collection system, wherein the distribution andor collection system includes an electric power distribution system, a gas distribution system, a telephone communication system, a communication system, a water distribution system, a water collection system, a sewage collection system, or a trash collection system, the distribution andor collection system having a central source element and plural distribution elements and having distribution connection elements with and among the central source element and the plural distribution elements for serving plural customers, and the operating status thereof, comprising:
causing a computer to receive an access request from a user and if the access request is validated, then:
causing the computer to determine a level of access for the user, wherein the user includes a customer or a worker or a manager or supervisor, and wherein the level of access of a customer is limited to distribution elements and the distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system utilized in providing distribution to or collection from that customer or in providing both distribution to and collection from that customer;
causing the computer to obtain a representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system;
causing the computer to limit the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system in accordance with the determined level of access;
causing the computer to provide the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system for display on a display, wherein the computer limits the display for a customer to the distribution elements and distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system that serve that customer in accordance with the customer level of access;
causing the computer to store information relating to the elements of the distribution andor collection system and to the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system in a relational database;
causing the computer to obtain from the relational database information representing the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system;
causing the computer to modify the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system in accordance with the database information to represent the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system; and
causing the computer to provide the modified representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system for display on a display, wherein the computer limits the display for a customer to the distribution elements and distribution connection elements of the distribution andor collection system that serve that customer in accordance with the customer level of access,
whereby the computer provides to a customer data relating to only that portion of the distribution elements and distribution connection elements and status of the distribution andor collection system that are utilized to provide service to that customer.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system is conformed to locations of the elements thereof on a map corresponding to a geographic area served by the distribution andor collection system, and wherein the representation of the distribution andor collection system includes one or more representations of a geographic location, a geographic feature or a political boundary, or a combination thereof.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 further comprising:
causing the computer to receive an information request from the user;
causing the computer to retrieve the information requested from the database of information representing the operating state of the elements of the distribution andor collection system; and
causing the computer to modify the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system to emphasize the retrieved information.
15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the causing the computer to modify the representation to emphasize the retrieved information includes:
causing the computer to dim the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system other than for the retrieved information; or
causing the computer to highlight the retrieved information in the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system; or
causing the computer to highlight the retrieved information in the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system and to dim the representation of the elements and configuration of the distribution andor collection system other than for the retrieved information.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus to measure temperature, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
at least one printed circuit board mounted in the housing;
a non-contact-thermometer operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board, the non-contact-thermometer having an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor being operable to receive infrared energy via a pathway to the infrared sensor;
a lens positioned over the pathway to the infrared sensor, the lens having only right-angled edges, the lens being square in geometry, that is transverse to the pathway to the infrared sensor, wherein the pathway intersects the lens,
a reflector that is positioned at a 45 degree angle to the infrared sensor, the lens having a longitudinal axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the infrared sensor, and the reflector being positioned at a 45 degree angle to the lens;
a waveguide in the housing between the lens and the at least one printed circuit board, the waveguide having geometry of a funnel, the funnel having a larger diameter at an opening of the waveguide than at an interior of the waveguide;
a display device operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board;
a button operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board; and
a battery operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a contact-thermometer operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board, yielding a sensed temperature.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device further comprises:
not more than one display device.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery further comprises:
not more than one battery.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one printed circuit board further comprises:
not more than one printed circuit board, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises no other circuit board other than the one printed circuit board.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one printed circuit board further comprises:
a first printed circuit board; and
a second printed circuit board.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device further comprises:
a liquid-crystal display device.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one printed circuit board further comprises:
a microprocessor.
9. The apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the non-contact-thermometer yields a sensed temperature; and
wherein the display device activates pixels in at least two colors, the colors being in accordance with the sensed temperature.
10. An apparatus to measure temperature, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
at least one printed circuit board mounted in the housing;
a non-contact-thermometer operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board, the non-contact-thermometer having an electromagnetic sensor, the electromagnetic sensor being operable to receive electromagnetic energy via a pathway to the electromagnetic sensor, wherein the pathway has a geometry of a funnel, the funnel having a larger diameter at an opening of the pathway than at an interior of the pathway;
a lens positioned over the opening of the pathway to the electromagnetic sensor, the lens having at least one right-angled edge;
a display device operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board; and
a button operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lens further comprises:
the lens having only right-angled edges.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lens further comprises:
the lens being square in geometry
13. The apparatus of claim 10,
wherein the lens is positioned transverse to the pathway to the electromagnetic sensor, and
wherein the pathway intersects the lens.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a reflector that is positioned at a 45 degree angle to the electromagnetic sensor, the lens having a longitudinal axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the electromagnetic sensor, and the reflector being positioned at a 45 degree angle to the lens.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electromagnetic sensor further comprises:
an infrared temperature sensor.
16. The apparatus of claim 10,
wherein the non-contact-thermometer yields sensed temperature; and
wherein the display device activates pixels in at least two colors, the colors being in accordance with the sensed temperature.
17. An apparatus to measure temperature, the apparatus comprising:
at least one printed circuit board;
a non-contact-thermometer operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board, the non-contact-thermometer having an electromagnetic sensor, the electromagnetic sensor being operable to receive electromagnetic energy via a waveguide electromagnetic sensor;
the waveguide having a geometry of a square funnel, the square funnel having four planer adjacent surfaces and having a larger diameter at an opening of the waveguide than at an interior of the waveguide, the four planar adjacent surfaces reflecting electromagnetic energy to the electromagnetic sensor that is about an energy level of the electromagnetic sensor outside the waveguide;
a display device operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board;
a button operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board;
a battery operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board;
a contact-thermometer operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board, yielding a sensed temperature;
a color display device operably coupled to the at least one printed circuit board, wherein the color display device activates pixels in at least two colors, the colors being in accordance with the sensed temperature.
18. The apparatus of claim 17,
wherein the color display device further comprises not more than one color display device, and
wherein the battery further comprises not more than one battery,
wherein the at least one printed circuit board further comprises not more than one printed circuit board, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises no other circuit board other than the one printed circuit board.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the non-contact-thermometer further comprises:
an infrared temperature sensor.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the waveguide further comprises:
the waveguide having only right-angled edges.