Utility usage data and event data acquisition system

• US 4,504,831 A
• Filed: 10/09/1981
• Issued: 03/12/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Systems and Support Incorporated
• Inventors: Jahr, Ronald S., Cowell, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/310,054
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.11, 340/310 A, 340/870.19, 364/483, 179/2 AM
• US Class Current: 340/870.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A utility usage data and event data acquisition system effective to acquire input serial data messages representing the amount of consumed utility services and/or binary event data from one or several external sources having differing drive signal requirements, the system also being effective to reformat the input data and append an identification code and an error detection code to the acquired data, and thereafter transmit messages comprising the identification code, the acquired data, the error detection code and other control information to a central location through the agency of coaxial cables, public switched telephone networks or other transmission facilities utilizing data terminals which accept serial binary messages at logic level voltages. Data message transmission is initiated either at random times by an algorithm within the control program of a microprocessor incorporated in the system or from an externally applied command signal.

Claims

1. A utility usage data and event data acquisition system comprising, in combination, data acquisition means for automatically acquiring input serial data from a plurality of external sources having differing drive signal requirements, said data acquisition means including means for reformatting said acquired data and appending a code to said acquired data, means for transmitting a composite serial data message comprising said acquired data and said code to a central location, means for initiating the transmission of said composite serial data messages, a primary power supply, means for connecting said power supply to said data acquisition means, and means for initiating transmission of a composite data message upon interruption of power to said data acquisition means.

2. A utility usage data and event data acquisition system comprising, in combination, data acquisition means for automatically acquiring input serial data from a plurality of external sources having differing drive signal requirements, said data acquisition means including means for reformatting said acquired data and appending a code to said acquired data, means for transmitting a composite serial data message comprising said acquired data and said code to a central location, means for initiating the transmission of said composite serial data messages, means for couping said composite serial data message to a radio frequency transmitter, a coaxial cable, means connecting said radio frequency transmitter to said coaxial cable, means including a radio frequency receiver connecting said coaxial cable to said central location, a primary power supply for said radio frequency transmitter, means including a timing circuit controlling the duration of the supply of primary power to said radio frequency transmitter from said power supply, said data acquisition means including means for monitoring the duration of said radio frequency transmitter primary supply power, and means for continuously transmitting said composite serial data message by said data acquisition means when the duration of said primary power supply to said radio frequency transmitter exceeds a predetermined time.

3. A utility usage data and event data acquisition system comprising, in combination, data acquisition means including a microprosessor, said data acquisition means including a plurality of inputs for automatically acquiring input serial binary data from a plurality of external sources having differing drive signal requirements, said data acquisition means also including means for reformatting said acquired data and appending at least one code to said acquired data, means for transmitting a composite serial data message comprising said acquired data and said code to a central location, means for initiating the transmission of said composite serial data messages, a primary power supply, means for connecting said power supply to said data acquisition means, and means for initiating transmission of a composite data message upon interruption of power to said data acquisition means.

4. A utility usage data and event data acquisition system comprising, in combination, data acquisition means including a microprocessor, said data acquisition means including a plurality of inputs for automatically acquiring input serial binary data from a plurality of external sources having differing drive signal requirements, said data acquisition means also including means for refomatting said acquired data and appending at least one code to said acquired data, means for transmitting a composite serial data message comprising said acquired data and said code to a central location, means for initiating the transmission of said composite serial data messages, a radio frequency transmitter, means for coupling said data acquisition means to said radio frequency transmitter, a coaxial cable, means connecting said radio frequency transmitter to said coaxial cable, means including a radio frequency receiver connecting said coaxial cable to said central location, a primary power supply for said radio frequency transmitter, means including a timing circuit controlling the duration of the supply of primary power to said radio frequency transmitter from said power supply, said data acquisition means including means for monitoring the duration of said radio frequency transmitter primary supply power, and means for continuously transmitting said composite serial data message by said data acquisition means when the duration of said primary power supply to said radio frequency transmitter exceeds a predetermined time.