Meter interface unit for utility meter reading system
First Claim
1. An interface device connectable in parallel with a telephone subset and to a source of utility usage information associated with the location of the telephone subset for sending utility usage information over a telephone line comprising:
- converting means coupled to at least one utility monitoring device and to the telephone line for converting utility usage information from at least one utility monitoring device into alternating current representations and for sending the alternating current representation over the telephone line;
means coupled to the telephone line for detecting a preselected interrogation signal from the telephone line;
means for detecting an OFF-HOOK condition on the telephone line;
said last means responsive to an OFF-HOOK condition for disabling said interface device from responding to interrogation signals;
each of said means being powered by ON-HOOK current on said telephone line when in an idle line condition;
said interface device being operationally responsive to interrogation signals only of a voltage higher than the OFF-HOOK voltage at the telephone subset.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A meter interface unit for interconnecting utility meter reading apparatus to a telephone line to allow the automatic reading of utility usage at the telephone central office in response to an interrogation signal from the telephone central office. The meter interface unit converts meter reading signals to alternating signals for transmission to the telephone central office when a subscriber'"'"'s telephone is on-hook. The unit also encodes a subscriber or customer identification signal which is transmitted with utility usage data to eliminate the need of any manual reading of the utility meter at the customer'"'"'s premises. The meter interface unit is powered over the telephone line.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An interface device connectable in parallel with a telephone subset and to a source of utility usage information associated with the location of the telephone subset for sending utility usage information over a telephone line comprising:
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converting means coupled to at least one utility monitoring device and to the telephone line for converting utility usage information from at least one utility monitoring device into alternating current representations and for sending the alternating current representation over the telephone line; means coupled to the telephone line for detecting a preselected interrogation signal from the telephone line; means for detecting an OFF-HOOK condition on the telephone line; said last means responsive to an OFF-HOOK condition for disabling said interface device from responding to interrogation signals; each of said means being powered by ON-HOOK current on said telephone line when in an idle line condition; said interface device being operationally responsive to interrogation signals only of a voltage higher than the OFF-HOOK voltage at the telephone subset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of sending utility usage information from at least one utility monitoring device over a telephone line comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the telephone line when in an ON-HOOK condition for a preselected speech frequency interrogation signal; detecting a preselected interrogation signal from the telephone line; sensing the utility usage information from at least one utility monitoring device; converting the sensed utility usage information into alternating current representations; sending the alternating current representations over the telephone line; and enabling the sensing, converting and sending steps responsive to the detection of the preselected interrogation signal from the power supplied over the ON-HOOK condition telephone line totally by powering each of said steps solely by idle line ON-HOOK current on the telephone line. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A meter interface unit for transmitting utility usage information via telephone lines for processing at said central office from a customer'"'"'s location to a central office including a central office battery normally connected to said telephone lines when said lines are in an idle condition comprising:
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means coupled to a utility usage meter for detecting utility usage; means for converting the quantity of utility usage into a series of encoded pulses; means for encoding the identification of the customer'"'"'s location as a series of encoded pulses; and
means responsive to an interrogation signal received over the telephone lines for enabling the transmission of the customer identification and utility usage information to the central office;said detecting means, said converting means and said encoding means all powered over said telephone line with said telephone line by the central office battery when said telephone line is in an idle ON-HOOK condition. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification