Telemetry access arrangement
First Claim
1. A method of accessing a customer premises device from data accessing device via a telecommunications switching system, said telecommunications switching system comprising a voice band signal switching network for switchably interconnecting multiplicities of inlets and multiplicities of outlets, said inlets for connection to interoffice telecommunications trunks, said outlets for connection to analog customer lines, the method comprising:
- determining that a class of service for an inlet connected to said data accessing device is a class of service requiring transmission of a distinctive burst of signal for alerting connected customer premises equipment (CPE);
establishing a connection from said inlet to an outlet of said voice band signal switching network for connecting said data accessing device to an analog customer line connected to CPE of said customer;
alerting CPE of said customer of a requested customer premises device access with said distinctive burst of signal; and
transmitting, after the step of alerting, signals over said connection for accessing said customer premises device over said analog line from said data accessing device.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for accessing customer meters and for controlling customer devices over a telephone line. A connection using only a single distinctive brief burst of power ringing or tone is established over a customer line between a central office and customer station equipment to alert both the customer and the customer premises equipment (CPE) or a short burst of tone to alert the CPE. The connection is between a data accessing device such as a meter reading controller and a customer premises device such as a meter interface unit. Signals are exchanged over the connection between these two units without alerting the customer via a ringing signal and without changing the supervisory state of the customer'"'"'s station equipment from on-hook. The connection can also be used for controlling devices such as air conditioning units, in order, for example, to avoid overloads in a power distribution system. The voice switching network of the central office is used for making the connection between the meter control unit and the meter interface unit. Advantageously, this arrangement can allow a large number of utility meters and controlling devices to be accessed remotely using existing telephone plant. The short distinctive burst of power ringing or tone alert may be used to alert the customer premises equipment (CPE), the customer telephone, or both.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of accessing a customer premises device from data accessing device via a telecommunications switching system, said telecommunications switching system comprising a voice band signal switching network for switchably interconnecting multiplicities of inlets and multiplicities of outlets, said inlets for connection to interoffice telecommunications trunks, said outlets for connection to analog customer lines, the method comprising:
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determining that a class of service for an inlet connected to said data accessing device is a class of service requiring transmission of a distinctive burst of signal for alerting connected customer premises equipment (CPE); establishing a connection from said inlet to an outlet of said voice band signal switching network for connecting said data accessing device to an analog customer line connected to CPE of said customer; alerting CPE of said customer of a requested customer premises device access with said distinctive burst of signal; and transmitting, after the step of alerting, signals over said connection for accessing said customer premises device over said analog line from said data accessing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification