Utility usage data and event data acquisition system
First Claim
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 formats, 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, and means for initiating the transmission of said composite serial data messages.
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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.
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Citations
38 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 formats, 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, and means for initiating the transmission of said composite serial data messages.
- 20. 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 formats, 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, and means for initiating the transmission of said composite serial data messages.
Specification