Utility meter reading system using telephone line
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for reading utility meters, comprising:
- remote terminal means connected to the meters and operative to store the meter readings therein;
central terminal means communicating with the remote terminal means by a telephone line;
the central terminal means being operative to transmit an interrogation signal to the remote terminal means;
the remote terminal means being further operative to transmit the meter readings to the central terminal means in response to the interrogation signal;
the remote terminal means comprising a plurality of remote terminals, each remote terminal being connected to a different plurality of meters, the frequency of the interrogation signal being different for each remote terminal; and
each remote terminal being in a normal status prior to receipt of the interrogation signal and being operative to reset itself to the normal status at a predetermined time after receipt of the interrogation signal at it own frequency and in response to the interrogation signal at a frequency for another remote terminal.
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Abstract
A plurality of remote terminals are each connected to different pluralities of gas or electric meters or the like which are close together such as in an apartment building complex. The remote terminals communicate with a central terminal over a single public telephone line. The central terminal transmits an interrogation signal to the remote terminals over the telephone line, which then transmit the meter readings over the telephone line to the central terminal for recording.
13 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for reading utility meters, comprising:
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remote terminal means connected to the meters and operative to store the meter readings therein; central terminal means communicating with the remote terminal means by a telephone line; the central terminal means being operative to transmit an interrogation signal to the remote terminal means; the remote terminal means being further operative to transmit the meter readings to the central terminal means in response to the interrogation signal; the remote terminal means comprising a plurality of remote terminals, each remote terminal being connected to a different plurality of meters, the frequency of the interrogation signal being different for each remote terminal; and each remote terminal being in a normal status prior to receipt of the interrogation signal and being operative to reset itself to the normal status at a predetermined time after receipt of the interrogation signal at it own frequency and in response to the interrogation signal at a frequency for another remote terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification