Data recording method and apparatus

• US 4,352,164 A
• Filed: 09/24/1979
• Issued: 09/28/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Utility Services Corporation Limited (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Utility Services Corporation Limited (DXC Technology Company)
• Inventors: Sherwood, John H., Reed, Alan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, David Y.
• Application Number:
  US06/078,439
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/401, 360/4, 360/6, 179/2 AM
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/00 Arrangements for measuring or indicating electric quantities not covered by groups G01R19/00 - G01R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0232 Manual direct entries, e.g. key to main memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A method and apparatus for recording utility meter readings is disclosed. The apparatus includes a solid state memory an internal clock and an input/output unit which, among other things, causes meter location and identification information to be written into memory, and data representing the respective meter readings and the time of each reading to be read out of the memory unit into a central processing unit. A keyboard is utilized to introduce meter readings into the memory and to control the addressing of the memory as each of a plurality of meters is located, identified and the data displayed thereon entered into memory. A visual display unit displays the location of the meter to be read, the meter identification and the meter reading entered via the keyboard. A comparator circuit within the recorder compares the meter reading with expected predetermined maximum and minimum limits for the meter reading and generates an indicator signal to the display when the meter reading does not fall within the predetermined bounds. The meter is portable, is powered by batteries and is programmable to provide the location and identification of a plurality of meters as desired.

Claims

1. A portable electronic recording apparatus for recording the data displayed on each of a plurality of designated utility meters, wherein said meters are positioned at a plurality of different locations and each of said meters has a unique identification number, the recording apparatus comprising:

a solid state memory means for storing meter location, meter identification and meter data therein;

first means for writing into selected locations of said memory, in sequence, the meter location information of each of a plurality of meters and the meter identification of each of said plurality of meters;

a temporary memory for temporarily storing said meter data as said meter data is keyed into said recording apparatus;

a keyboard means for introducing said meter data for each of said meters into said temporary memory;

comparator means for comparing said temporarily stored meter data with at least one preselected limit;

second means for writing said meter data into an address meter data storage location in said solid state memory means if said meter data is within at least one predetermined limit;

means for generating time data related to the time said meter data are written into said solid state memory means;

means for writing said time data into said solid state memory means;

selective means in said keyboard means for erasing the meter data in said temporary memory location if said meter data is outside said at least one preselected limit;

a display means for visually displaying in sequence for each meter, the meter location, the meter identification and the meter data keyed into said memory means;

means for addressing said memory means for coupling the information in the address memory location to said display means; and

means for advancing said addressing means after said meter location information is displayed to the memory location of at least one meter identification number corresponding to said location, said addressing means being responsive to said advancing means to address a meter data storage location after said meter identification number has been displayed, said addressing means being responsive to said advancing means for addressing the next meter location after said meter data has been stored in said addressed memory location.

2. The recording apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for displaying a comparision failed signal on said display means when said meter data is outside said preselected limit.

3. The recording apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for selectively addressing the memory location containing the meter location information of a previous or next meter.

4. A recording apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means including said display means for visually indicating when said recorder is displaying meter location, meter identification or meter data information.

5. The recording apparatus of claim 1 further comprising selective means in said keyboard means for writing said meter data into said meter data memory location.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said display means comprises means for indicating when said meter data is outside said preselected limit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said keyboard means comprises means for selectively advancing said memory address means to a previous meter location address or to a next meter address location.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for storing meter condition information in said meter data memory location.

9. In a portable electronic recording apparatus a method of recording the data displayed on each of a plurality of designated utility meters wherein said meters are positioned at a plurality of different locations and each of said meters has a unique identification number, the method comprising the steps of:

writing into selected locations of a solid state memory, in sequence, the meter location information of each of a plurality of meters and the meter identification of each of said plurality of meters;

introducing said meter data of each of said meters into said memory by a keyboard;

temporarily storing said meter data as said data is keyed into said recording apparatus;

comparing said meter data with at least one preselected limit;

writing said meter data into a meter data storage location when said meter data is within said at least one preselected limit;

generating time data related to the time of writing the meter data into a storage location;

writing into a memory storage location the time data related to the time of writing the meter data;

selectively erasing the meter data temporarily stored if said meter data is outside said at least one preselected limit;

visually displaying in sequence for each meter the meter location, the meter identification and the meter data keyed into said memory means;

addressing said memory means to couple the information in the addressed memory location to said display means;

advancing said addressing means after said meter location information is displayed to the memory location of at least one meter identification number corresponding to said location;

advancing said addressing means to a meter data storage location after said meter identification number has been displayed; and

advancing said addressing means to the next meter location, storage location, after said meter data has been stored in said memory address location.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of selectively addressing the memory location containing the meter location information of a previous or a next meter.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of selectively clearing said temporary memory location of said meter data if said meter data falls outside said at least one preselected limit.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of visually indicating whether said meter location, meter identification or said meter data information is being displayed.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of selectively writing said meter data into said meter data memory location when said meter data is outside one preselected limit.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of indicating when said meter data is outside said preselected limit.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of selectively advancing said memory address means to a previous meter location address or to a next meter address location.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of storing meter condition information in said meter data memory location.