A meter at each user's house has a bar-coded user number shown thereon, and has a display section for displaying a reading. A data input terminal unit has a bar code reader for reading the user number and a keyboard for manually inputting a present reading. A data recording controller has a meter reading...http://www.google.ca/patents/US5278551?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5278551 - Meter reading system
