Automated data transmission system
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the transmission of data, via a telephone line, from a plurality of data reading and storage devices at a first location where data is collected to a central station, the plurality of data reading and storage devices including a first data reading and storage device having means for reading and storing data of at least one data type and a second data reading and storage device having means for reading and storing data of a plurality of different data types, the method comprising:
- collecting and storing data of the at least one type in the reading and storing means of the first device and data of each of the plurality of different types in the reading and storing means of the second device at the first location;
providing an indication of the present time at the first location;
storing, in a first storing step at the first location an indication of a selected time which is later than the present time;
storing, in a second storing step at the first location, an indication of the at least one data type for which data is stored in the first device and an indication of at least a selected one of the plurality of data types for which data is stored in the second device;
comparing the indication of the present and selected times and establishing a connection, via the telephone line, from the first location to the central station when the present time becomes later than the selected time; and
effecting a communication, via the connection, which includes a first transmission of data of the selected ones of the stored data types from the first location to the central station and a second transmission, from the central station to the first location, of an indication of a new selected time and an indication of the data types for which data is to be transmitted during the next communication, which data types include the at least one data type for which data is stored in the first device and at least one, but less than all, of the plurality of different data types for which data is stored in the second device.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the transmission of data, via a telephone network (20), between a first location (2,14,16) where data is collected and a central station (22). Data transmission is effected by: collecting and storing data (24-36) at the first location (2); providing an indication (42) of the current time at the first location; storing, at the first location, an indication (30) of a selected time which is after the present time and an indication (32-36) of selected ones of the plurality of data types; comparing (42) the indication of the present and selected times and establishing a connection (56), via the telephone network (20), from the first location (2,14,16) to the central station (22) when the present time becomes later than the selected time; and effecting a communication, via the connection, which includes a first transmission (56) of the selected ones of the stored data type from the first location (2,14,16) to the central station (22) and a second transmission (58 ), from the central station (22) to the first location (2,14,16), of an indication of a new selected time, and identification of the data to be collected and the locations from which that data will be obtained, for the next communication.
78 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling the transmission of data, via a telephone line, from a plurality of data reading and storage devices at a first location where data is collected to a central station, the plurality of data reading and storage devices including a first data reading and storage device having means for reading and storing data of at least one data type and a second data reading and storage device having means for reading and storing data of a plurality of different data types, the method comprising:
-
collecting and storing data of the at least one type in the reading and storing means of the first device and data of each of the plurality of different types in the reading and storing means of the second device at the first location; providing an indication of the present time at the first location; storing, in a first storing step at the first location an indication of a selected time which is later than the present time; storing, in a second storing step at the first location, an indication of the at least one data type for which data is stored in the first device and an indication of at least a selected one of the plurality of data types for which data is stored in the second device; comparing the indication of the present and selected times and establishing a connection, via the telephone line, from the first location to the central station when the present time becomes later than the selected time; and effecting a communication, via the connection, which includes a first transmission of data of the selected ones of the stored data types from the first location to the central station and a second transmission, from the central station to the first location, of an indication of a new selected time and an indication of the data types for which data is to be transmitted during the next communication, which data types include the at least one data type for which data is stored in the first device and at least one, but less than all, of the plurality of different data types for which data is stored in the second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. Apparatus for controlling the transmission of data, via a telephone line, from a plurality of data reading and storage devices at a first location where data is collected to a central station, the plurality of data reading and storage devices including a first data reading and storage device having means for reading and storing data of at least one data type and a second data reading and storage device having means for reading and storing data of a plurality of different data types, the apparatus comprising:
-
first means for collecting and storing data of the at least one type in the reading and storing means of the first device and data of each of the plurality of different types in the reading and storing means of the second device at the first location; second means at the first location for providing an indication of the present time; third means at the first location for storing an indication of a selected time which is later than the present time; fourth means at the first location for storing an indication of the at least one data type for which data is stored in the first device and an indication of at least a selected one of the plurality of data types for which data is stored in the second device; fifth means for comparing the indication of the present and selected times and establishing a connection, via the telephone line, from the first location to the central station when the present time becomes later than the selected time; and sixth means for effecting a communication, via the connection, which includes a first transmission of data of the selected ones of the stored data types from the first location to the central station and a second transmission, from the central station to the first location, of an indication of a new selected time and an indication of the data types for which data is to be transmitted during the next communication, which data types include the at least one data type for which data is stored in the first device and at least one, but less than all, of the plurality of different data types for which data is stored in the second device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification