Method and apparatus for monitoring the provision of a utility
First Claim
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1. A method of remotely monitoring the provision of at least one utility at one or more locations in substantially real-time, the utility being provided via a TV transmission line, the method comprising the steps of:
- remotely interrogating at least one control device via the TV transmission line at at least one of the locations, the or each control device having a unique address; and
the or each interrogated control device, via the TV transmission line, responding with a return signal which can be processed to obtain substantially real-time information concerning the current usage of the or each utility at the or each location.
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Abstract
A method of remotely monitoring the provision of a utility at a plurality of locations. The method comprises the steps of remotely interrogating control devices at their locations with each of the devices having a unique address. Each of the interrogated devices responds with a return signal which can be processed to obtain information concerning the usage of the utility at each of the locations.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of remotely monitoring the provision of at least one utility at one or more locations in substantially real-time, the utility being provided via a TV transmission line, the method comprising the steps of:
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remotely interrogating at least one control device via the TV transmission line at at least one of the locations, the or each control device having a unique address; and
the or each interrogated control device, via the TV transmission line, responding with a return signal which can be processed to obtain substantially real-time information concerning the current usage of the or each utility at the or each location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. The method as claimed in comprising the additional step of externally programming the control-device by a programmer associated with the provider of the or each utility.
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12. A control device including an electronic circuit and being operatively coupled via a TV transmission line to at least one utility provided by the TV transmission line, the circuit having a unique address and comprising:
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a receiving circuit being adapted to be remotely interrogated; and
a transmitting circuit being coupled to the receiving circuit and being adapted, on interrogation of the receiving circuit, to respond with a return signal which can be processed to obtain substantially real-time information concerning the current usage of the or each utility.
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Specification