Telemetry terminal
First Claim
1. A utility management terminal for providing information and control in relation to a consumer'"'"'s demand on an utility supply, the terminal comprising processor means, transmitter means connected to the consumer'"'"'s telephone line to transmit information to the telephone line, the terminal has one or more metering means each adapted to produce a meter signal indicative of the consumption measured by its respective meter, storage means to store the meter signals, transponder means responsive to a first command signal received over the telephone line to cause one or more of the meter signals stored in the storage means to be transmitted to the telephone line, one or more utility control devices controlled by utility control logic means included in the processor means to execute a load shedding routine to switch ON or OFF as appropriate all or at least one of the utility control devices either in response to a second command signal received over the telephone line or under control of a time of day program stored in the processor means, wherein the processor means includes electronic clock means and is arranged to execute the time of day program to control the utility control devices in response to the detection of a failure of the telephone line or where the terminal is not connected to a phone line.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telemetry terminal for controlling and metering consumption of electricity, water, etc., at a consumer'"'"'s premises having a programmable processor. The programmable processor includes a receiver to receive instructions over the phone line to operate switching controls and a transmitter to transmit readings stored in the processor from meters to a central control station over the phone line. The processor also has a switching control routine in the event of an interruption to the phone line.
73 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A utility management terminal for providing information and control in relation to a consumer'"'"'s demand on an utility supply, the terminal comprising processor means, transmitter means connected to the consumer'"'"'s telephone line to transmit information to the telephone line, the terminal has one or more metering means each adapted to produce a meter signal indicative of the consumption measured by its respective meter, storage means to store the meter signals, transponder means responsive to a first command signal received over the telephone line to cause one or more of the meter signals stored in the storage means to be transmitted to the telephone line, one or more utility control devices controlled by utility control logic means included in the processor means to execute a load shedding routine to switch ON or OFF as appropriate all or at least one of the utility control devices either in response to a second command signal received over the telephone line or under control of a time of day program stored in the processor means, wherein the processor means includes electronic clock means and is arranged to execute the time of day program to control the utility control devices in response to the detection of a failure of the telephone line or where the terminal is not connected to a phone line.
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2. A utility management terminal comprising processor means, transmitter means connected to a consumer'"'"'s telephone line to transmit information and wherein the processor is arranged to execute a time of day program to control utility control devices in response to a detection of a failure of the telephone line by line fault detector means or where the terminal is not connected to a phone line.
Specification