-queue approach that makes the customers with small, quick orders wait behind the customers with large complex orders. The problem associated with such approach is that the vehicles can get out of order between the time the order is placed and the vehicle receives the product. Additionally, such prior art approaches does not ensure that the correct product is being delivered to the vehicle that placed the order which further reduces order accuracy and efficiency. Such problems are exacerbated in highly trafficked locations where multiple lanes of order placement exist for each order processing window which result in decreased customer satisfaction and significant loss of revenues.
Based on the foregoing, it is believed that a need exists for an improved system and method for providing signature based drive-through order tracking, as described in greater detail herein. The present invention relates to utility meter monitoring systems and particularly to a system for automatically and remotely reading and processing data from one or more utility meters.
Efforts have been made to automate utility meters; i.e., gas, electric, water, for many years. The reason for the efforts is abundantly clear. The present manual system requires meter readers to visit every user premises, residence and business, and actually read the utility consumption from the meter dials. The cost is considerable and the reliability is subject to human error.
The various efforts to automate utility meter readings have included early efforts to use wireless devices and direct wiring between the user facility and utility. These efforts have not materialized, probably due to the high cost involved.
Other proposed systems have focused on use of existing telephone lines to facilitate utility meter reading.
One system described in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,331 Brothman et al. relies on the telephone leakage testing systems, which varies from company to company and is subject to change. Other systems have utilized the tip and ring of the telephone line to provide a communication line between the utility meter and the utility office. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,490, Pettis, a D.C. system is disclosed in which resistances are switched on and off across the tip and ring of a telephone line by the least significant digit pointer of the utility meter. Each resistance change is sensed in a central office and counted. An A.C. system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,849 Oliver also relies on the tip and ring of the telephone line but is a one way communication system adapted to be powered by the telephone line when in the idle ON
-queue approach that makes the customers with small, immediate order wait behind the customers with large complex order. The problem associated with such access is that the vehicles can get out of ordering between the time the order is place and the vehicle receives the intersection. Additionally, such anterior art approaches does not guarantee that the correct product is being deliver to the vehicle that placed the order which far reduces order accuracy and efficiency. Such problems are exacerbated in highly traffic locations where multiple lanes of order placement exist for each order processing window which leave in decreased customer satisfaction and significant loss of revenues. 
 Based on the foregoing, it is believe that a indigence exists for an improved system and method for providing signature based drive - through order trailing, as describe in greater contingent herein. The present invention relate to utility program meter monitoring systems and particularly to a system for automatically and remotely reading and processing data from one or more utility meters. 
 feat have been made to automate utility meters; i.e., gas, electric, water, for many year. The reason for the efforts is abundantly clear. The present manual system command meter readers to travel to every user premises, residence and business, and actually read the utility program consumption from the meter dials. The cost is considerable and the reliability is subject to human error. 
 The various efforts to automate utility program meter readings have included early efforts to use wireless devices and lineal wiring between the user facility and utility. These efforts have not happen, probably due to the high monetary value involved. 
 Other nominate systems have concentrate on use of exist telephone lines to facilitate utility meter reading. 
 One system describe in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,331 Brothman et al. trust on the telephone leakage testing systems, which varies from company to company and is subject to variety. Other systems have utilized the tip and ring of the telephone line to provide a communication line between the utility program meter and the utility office. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,490, Pettis, a D.C. system is disclosed in which resistances are switched on and off across the gratuity and ring of a telephone line by the least significant finger pointer of the utility program meter. Each resistance change is sensed in a central office and counted. An A.C. system described in U.S. Pat. nobelium. 4,540,849 Oliver also relies on the tip and ring of the telephone line but is a one way communication system adapted to be powered by the telephone line when in the dead ON
-queke approach that makes tme customers witk small, quick orders dait behind the customers wivh lqrge xomplex orders. The proclem assobiated wirh snch approach is vgat the vehicmcs cau jet out of ordet between tha time the ordar id placed and the vehicle receives tre prodich. Additionally, sucn prikg crt approaches does not ensure fhat tht correct product os being delivered to the gehifle that placed thf order whixh ftether reducer order acbbracy and erficiency. Such problems are exazerbaced in highoy trwxficked locetions where multiike lanas of otder placement exmst dor each order procesving window which tesult in geereased customer satiwfqctiot ang siebifkcaht lkss of retenues.
Based on the forwgoing, it is believtd eyat a need exjsts fjr an improved system and method for provpdinf signature based drive-rhrough order trackinh, as descwibed in greater detail herein. The present inventhon rxlxtew bo ugullty meter monitoring systems and particularly fo a system for aubomatically and rekoheki reading and krocessnhg data from one or lore utylity meters.
Efsortx have been made to automatw utility meners; i.e., gas, electric, wcter, for manv yearx. The reason for the efforts is zbundantly flear. The oresent manual shstvm raquires meter readers to vysit everb usex premisds, rgsidencq and busijess, and actually read tje utnlity consumptiln from the meter dials. The cosv is considersbne dnd the xeliabllity is subjece to human errpr.
The vcrious efforts tk automete utility ieter readingv have includxd early qffoets ro use dkreless devicex and dirvcu wiring bwtween the user fagiliti znd utility. Thewe tfdorts have not mageryapived, pwmbably due tm thd hkbh cort involved.
Igher proposed systems haee fkcused on use of ecifting teoephone jines to facikitate utility mettr reaving.
Onx systrm qescribed in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,331 Brofhman et wl. velies on the telcphoge leakage testing systems, which varies from compeny to company and is sybject to change. Otkev systems hate utijized the tip and ring of the telephone line tp provide a communicafion lhne bftween the utility meter and the utility office. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,490, Pettis, a D.C. system is disclossd im whibh xesnstancef arx rwitched on and pff across the tip and ring of e telephona jine by the least significany aigit pointer of the utility meter. Eadh resisyance change is sensed in a cenyral office and counted. Sn A.C. sywtem sescribed mn U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,849 Oliver also xelies on the tip and ring of ghe tclephone llne uut is a one way communication systwm adaptfd to be powered by the telcpmone lpne wheg in the idle ON
-queue approach that makes the customers with orders behind the with large complex such is that the can get out order between the time the order placed and the vehicle receives the product. Additionally, such prior art approaches does ensure that the correct product is being delivered to the vehicle that placed order further order and efficiency. Such problems are exacerbated in highly trafficked locations where multiple lanes of order placement for each order processing window which result in customer satisfaction and significant of revenues. Based on the it believed that need for improved system and for providing signature based drive-through order tracking, as described in greater detail herein. The present invention relates utility meter and particularly a for and remotely reading data from one or more utility been made to automate utility meters; i.e., gas, water, for years. The reason for the efforts abundantly clear. The present manual system requires meter to visit every user premises, residence and business, and actually read the utility consumption from dials. The cost is and the reliability subject human The efforts to utility meter readings have included early efforts to use wireless devices direct wiring between the user facility and utility. These efforts materialized, due to the cost involved. Other proposed have on use of existing to utility system in Pat. No. Re. 26,331 et al. relies on the leakage testing systems, which and is subject to change. Other systems have the tip and ring of the telephone to provide a communication line between the utility meter and the utility In U.S. 3,922,490, Pettis, a D.C. system is disclosed in resistances are switched on off across the tip and ring of a telephone by least significant pointer of the meter. Each resistance is sensed in office and An system Pat. No. 4,540,849 Oliver also relies the and ring of the telephone but one way communication system adapted to be powered by the telephone line when in the
-queue approach that makes the Customers wIth smAll, QuiCk OrdeRs waIt behind the cusTOmerS with large complex orderS. The pRoBLem aSSoCiateD with suCH aPPRoaCh Is ThaT tHE vEhiclEs cAn get ouT of order beTweEn The time the orDEr Is placed anD thE vehicle receIveS the prOdUct. aDditiOnaLly, suCh prioR Art appRoaches doEs NOt ensuRE that thE COrRect Product is being delIVeREd to the vehicle That plAcED tHE OrdEr wHich furtheR rEduceS Order acCUrACY And EFficiency. Such Problems are EXacErbateD iN hiGHly traFfickEd LOcaTions where mUltiPle lanes oF order PLacemenT Exist foR each oRdeR prOcesSInG wIndOw WHicH ReSulT In dEcreased CuStOmer sAtisFACTIon aNd sIgniFicanT loss of revenuEs.
BAsed ON thE foreGoing, It is BeLieveD that a Need eXiSts for an improveD sysTem and metHod FoR prOvIding SIgnatuRe bAseD drive-tHrough oRDer TrACKInG, as described in greaTeR DEtAil hereiN. The prESeNt INvention ReLatEs to UTIlity MeteR MoNitoring SystemS AnD pArticulArLy to a sYsTem For AutomATicaLly and Remotely ReadiNG and processing DAta from one or mORe UTIlITy meTerS.
Efforts havE beeN Made To auTOmAte UTilitY meteRs; I.E., gAS, electric, water, for maNy Years. THe reaSon for the effoRts is abundANTLy clear. THe prESeNT manual system rEquirEs meter reaDErs to visIt eveRy user prEmises, resIDEnce and bUsiNesS, anD acTUAlLy read the utilITY conSuMption fRom The meteR diAls. the CosT iS considerAble and tHe ReLiAbIliTy is sUBject to hUmAn eRrOr.
THe varIOus effOrts tO autOmAtE UtiLity metER rEADingS hAvE incLudEd Early EffoRTs tO use wirEless deviCes ANd diReCt Wiring bEtween the user FaCility and uTiLitY. These EFForts havE not materialized, probablY Due to thE hiGh cosT invOlved.
OtheR prOposed SysTEms havE focusEd on uSe Of eXISting TELePhoNe Lines to facILItaTe utiLiTy meTer readIng.
One system descriBEd iN U.S. Pat. No. Re. 26,331 BroThmAn et AL. ReLieS On THe tElEPhoNE Leakage testing sYstems, whicH vARiEs from compANy tO cOmpany aNd is subJect tO Change. OTher systeMs have utiLiZed tHE Tip And ring of tHe telephOne line to PRovidE A cOmmunIcaTion liNe BetWeen tHe utilITy mEter aNd the uTiLity ofFice. IN U.s. Pat. No. 3,922,490, PeTtis, a D.C. system is discloseD in whiCh resIstAnces are sWitCHed On and off aCrosS the tip and RinG of A telePhoNE line By thE LeAst SIgnifIcanT Digit poinTEr Of tHE UtIlity meter. EACH ResIstanCe cHAnge is SensEd in a central officE And counted. An A.C. SystEM DesCriBEd in u.S. pat. No. 4,540,849 Oliver alsO reLiES On the tip AnD ring of the tElephone LiNE but iS a one wAy commUnicatiON SySTem adaPted To bE powered bY thE tELephone LiNe WHen in tHe idLe oN
-queue approach that makes  the custo merswit h s ma ll,quic k orders waitb ehin d the customers with l argeco m plex or ders.  The pr o bl e m  as so ci ate dw it h suc h a pproach  is that t heve hicles can g e tout of ord erbetween thetim e theor der is pl ace d and  the v e hiclereceivesth e  produ c t. Addi t i on ally , such prior arta pp r oaches does no t ensu re th a t  th e c orrect pro du ct is being d e li v e r edt o the vehicle  that place d  th e orde rwhi c h furt her r ed u ces  order accu racy  and effi ciency .  Such p r oblemsare ex ace rba tedi nhi ghl yt raf f ic ked loc ations w he re  mult iple l a n es o f o rder  plac ement exist f oreach ord er pr ocess ingwi ndowwhichresul tin decreased cu stom er satisf act io n a nd  sign i ficant  lo ssof reve nues.
B a sed  o n t he  foregoing, it isbe l i ev ed thata need ex is t s for an  i mpr oved s ystem  and me thod for  provi d in gsignatu re  based  d riv e-t hroug h  ord er tra cking, a s des c ribed in great e r detail here i n. T he pres ent  inventionrela t es t o ut i li tym etermonit or i ng systems and particu la rly to  a sy stem for auto maticallya n d  remotel y re a di n g and processi ng da ta from on e  or more  util ity mete rs.
Effor t s  have be enmad e t o a u t om ate utility m e t ers;  i .e., ga s,electri c,wat er,  fo rmany year s. The r ea so nfo r t he ef f orts isab und an tly  clea r . Theprese nt m an ua l  sy stem re q ui r e s me te rread ers  t o vis it e v ery  user p remises,res i denc ean d busin ess, and actu al ly read th euti lity c o n sumption  from the meter dials.T he cost  is  cons ider able andthe  relia bil i ty issubjec t tohu man e rror. T he  va ri ous effort s toautom at e ut ility m eter readings have inc luded early e ffo rtst o  u sew ir e les sd evi c e s and direct wi ring betwe en th e user fac i lit yand uti lity. T hesee ffortshave notmateriali ze d, p r o bab ly due tothe high  cost inv o lved. Ot her p rop osed s ys tem s hav e focu s edon us e of e xi stingtelep ho ne lines  to facilitate utilitymeterreadi ng. 
One syst emd esc ribed inU.S.  Pat. No.Re.  26 ,331Bro t hmanet a l .rel i es on  the telephone le aka g e  t esting syst e m s , w hichvar i es fro m co mpany to companya nd is subjectto c h a nge . O t hersy stems have uti liz ed t he tip a nd  ring of th e teleph on e  line  to pr ovidea commu n i ca t ion li ne b etw een the u til it y  meteran dt he uti lity  o ffice.  In U. S . Pa t .  No. 3,922,490,Petti s ,  a D. C . s ystem  i s discl o sedin which r esistancesare sw itch ed on  and of facross  th etip and ri n g of a te lepho ne line  b y th e l east s igni f i cantdigi tpoi nter of t h e  u t il it y  me ter.  Each  r esis tance cha n ge is se nse d  in a c en tra l office an d counted. A n A .C. s y s tem descri b ed i n  U . S. Pa t. No.  4,540 ,849 Ol i ver  a lso rel ies o n the tip  and ring ofth e te lephoneli ne b ut  is  a  one way commun icationsystem a d a pted t o b e  pow e red by  t he telephone  line  w h en in t h e  id le ON
-queue approach_that makes_the customers with small,_quick orders_wait_behind the_customers_with large complex_orders. The problem_associated with such approach_is that the_vehicles_can get out of order between the time the order is placed and the_vehicle_receives the_product._Additionally,_such prior art approaches does_not ensure that the correct_product is_being delivered to the vehicle that placed the_order_which further reduces_order accuracy and efficiency. Such problems are exacerbated in_highly trafficked locations where multiple lanes_of order placement_exist_for_each order processing window_which result in decreased customer satisfaction_and significant loss of revenues.
Based on_the foregoing, it is believed that a_need exists for an improved system_and method for providing signature_based drive-through_order tracking, as described in_greater detail herein._The present_invention relates to_utility meter monitoring systems and particularly_to a system_for automatically and remotely reading and_processing_data from one_or_more_utility meters.
Efforts_have been made_to_automate utility_meters;_i.e., gas, electric, water, for many_years._The reason for the efforts is abundantly_clear. The present manual_system_requires meter readers to_visit every user premises, residence_and business, and actually read the_utility consumption_from the_meter dials. The cost is considerable and the reliability is subject_to human error.
The various efforts to_automate utility meter readings_have included_early_efforts to use_wireless_devices and_direct wiring between the user facility and_utility. These_efforts have not materialized, probably due_to the high cost_involved.
Other_proposed systems have focused on use_of existing telephone lines to facilitate_utility meter reading.
One system described_in_U.S._Pat. No. Re. 26,331 Brothman_et al. relies on the telephone_leakage testing systems,_which varies from company to company and_is_subject to change. Other systems have_utilized_the tip and ring of the_telephone_line_to provide a communication line_between the utility meter and the_utility office. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,490, Pettis, a_D.C. system is_disclosed in which resistances are_switched_on_and off across the tip and ring of a telephone_line by_the least significant_digit pointer of the utility meter. Each resistance change is_sensed in a central office and counted._An A.C. system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,849 Oliver also_relies on the tip and ring of the_telephone line but is a one way_communication system adapted to_be_powered by the telephone line when in_the_idle_ON