Device for responding to state request on an open phone line
First Claim
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1. A state detection and response apparatus, comprising:
- a communication interface for communicating via a communication link;
a state detection unit for determining a state of a device coupled to the state detection and response apparatus;
a tone detection unit for identifying a predetermined sequence of tones received via the communication interface;
a logic unit coupled to the tone detection unit and the state detection unit for analyzing the state of the device and the predetermined sequence of tones; and
a tone generation unit coupled to the logic unit for transmitting, via the communication interface, at least one tone of a plurality of tones, each tone corresponding to a particular analysis produced by the logic unit.
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Abstract
Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting a state of a device such as a meter or appliance and transmitting to a remote location a particular tone or tones corresponding to the detected state. The transmission is initiated either by a predetermined series of tones from the remote location to the apparatus or by changing conditions within the device. The claimed subject matter enables a service provider to detect a service outage, the scope of the outage and the resumption of service.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A state detection and response apparatus, comprising:
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a communication interface for communicating via a communication link;
a state detection unit for determining a state of a device coupled to the state detection and response apparatus;
a tone detection unit for identifying a predetermined sequence of tones received via the communication interface;
a logic unit coupled to the tone detection unit and the state detection unit for analyzing the state of the device and the predetermined sequence of tones; and
a tone generation unit coupled to the logic unit for transmitting, via the communication interface, at least one tone of a plurality of tones, each tone corresponding to a particular analysis produced by the logic unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical meter, comprising;
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a electrical service usage meter; and
a state detection and response apparatus, the state detection and response apparatus comprising;
a communication interface for communicating via a communication link;
a state detection unit for determining a state of the electrical meter;
a tone detection unit for identifying a predetermined sequence of tones received via the communication interface;
a logic unit coupled to the tone detection unit and the state detection unit for analyzing the state of the electrical meter and the predetermined sequence of tones; and
a tone generation unit coupled to the logic unit for transmitting, via the communication interface, at least one tone of a plurality of tones, each tone corresponding to a particular analysis produced by the logic unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of determining the state of a device, comprising the steps of:
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detecting a predetermined series of tones transmitted via a communication link;
determining a state of a device in response to the detection of the predetermined series of tones;
correlating the state of the device to at least one response tone; and
transmitting, via the communication link, the at least one response tone. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
calculating a wait period in the event of a transmission error;
waiting a period of time corresponding to the wait period; and
retransmitting, via the communication link and after the waiting step, the at least one response tone.
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22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
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correlating the at least one response tone to a location of the device; and
transmitting information, corresponding to the location, in conjunction with the at least one response tone.
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23. A computer program product for determining the state of a device, comprising;
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means, stored on a recording medium, for detecting a predetermined series of tones transmitted via a communication link;
means, stored on the recording medium, for determining a state of a device in response to the detection of the predetermined series of tones;
means, stored on the recording medium, for correlating the state of the device to at least one response tone; and
means, stored on the recording medium, for transmitting, via the communication link, the at least one response tone. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
means, stored on the recording medium, for calculating a wait period in the event of a transmission error;
means, stored on the recording medium, for waiting a period of time corresponding to the wait period; and
means, stored on the recording medium, for retransmitting, via the communication link and after the waiting period, the at least one response tone.
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28. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising:
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means, stored on the recording medium, for correlating the at least one response tone to a location of the device; and
means, stored on the recording medium, for transmitting information, corresponding to the location, in conjunction with the at least one response tone.
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Specification