Unit for the bidirectional detection and transmission of data via modern communication networks

• US 6,510,213 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PSG Fertigungs- und Prozessautomations GmbH
• Original Assignee: PSG Fertigungs- und Prozessautomations GmbH
• Inventors: Monschau, Herrn Werner, Schnabel, Arrigo, Lorenz, Herrn Ottmar
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, WING F
• Application Number:
  US09/623,552
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 379/106.01, 379/106.03, 379/92.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/102.01, 340/870-1-8
• US Class Current: 379/106.03
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/39 Scanning a visible indication of the measured value and reproducing this indication at the remote place, e.g. on the screen of a cathode ray tube mechanical adjustment G01D5/264
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1333 adapted for special tariff measuring
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the automatic recording and two-way transmission of data, having a first interface (2) for the translation unit (4) for processing the data, the first interface (2) being a system which has bus capability and to which one or more terminals (5) can be connected, and the second interface (3) being an interface for the ISDN telephone network (6), for the cable television network or for satellite transmission.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for the automatic recording and two-way transmission of data, having a first interface (2) for the data input, a second interface (3) for the data output and a translation unit (4) for processing the data,

wherein the first interface (2) is a system which has bus capability and to which one or more terminals (5) can be connected,

wherein the second interface (3) is an interface for the ISDN telephone network (6) or for the cable television network or for satellite transmission, and

wherein the translation unit (4) consists of a plurality of programmable processors (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) which are connected and programmed such that the conversion unit (4) is able to detect a data request via the second interface (3) and is able to send a data inquiry to the system (2) having bus capability in order to forward it to the or to each terminal (5), and is able to read a data response from the or from each terminal (5) via the system (2) having bus capability, to process it and to forward (3) it to the second interface.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data response contains the date, the time of day and an identification for the or for each terminal (5).

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein different terminals (5) can be read at different times.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein reading can be used to perform a function test on the terminals (5).