US Patent No: 5,243,644

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Telemetry access arrangement

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for accessing customer meters and for controlling customer devices over a telephone line. A suppressed ringing connection is established over a customer line between a central office and customer station equipment. 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.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

Related Publications

Loading Related Publications... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
AT&T BELL LABORATORIESMURRAY HILL, NJ3373
BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATIONWILMINGTON, DE1873

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Garland, Stuart M Morton Grove, IL 15 284
Schull, Jerome W Marietta, GA 7 177

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
2009/0132,648 CONTENT DELIVERY AND GLOBAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT NETWORK SYSTEM 4 2009
 
ALCATEL N.V. (1)
4,646,342 Test trunk access controller 10 1985
 
Aquatrol Corporation (1)
4,691,344 Low-powered remote sensor and telephone line transmitter 41 1986
 
AT&T Bell Laboratories (1)
5,189,694 Telemetry access arrangement 63 1990
 
bd Systems, Inc. (1)
4,856,047 Automated remote telemetry paging system 101 1987
 
N.V., DE LAIRESSESTRAAT 153, 1075 HK AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, A CORP. OF THE NETHERLANDS (1)
4,850,010 Telemetry terminal 28 1987
 
SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (1)
6,594,886 Method of fuse manufacture and a battery pack containing that fuse 3 2001
 
Triad Communications, Inc. (1)
4,804,957 Utility meter and submetering system 104 1986

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. (7)
5,812,656 System for providing prioritized connections in a public switched network 42 1995
5,802,155 Method and apparatus for controlling regular and supressed ringing connections in a telecommunications network 6 1995
5,999,526 Method and apparatus for delivering data from an information provider using the public switched network 78 1996
5,905,784 Method for silently alerting inbound-only telemetry interface units 4 1996
5,841,845 Dialing plan for special access applications such as telemetry systems 3 1996
6,275,571 System for direct suppressed ringing access of subscriber lines 0 1998
6,263,055 System for suppressed ringing access of subscriber lines to identify usage anomalies of customer premise equipment connected thereto 27 1998
 
BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION (2)
5,535,267 Telemetry system with improved verification of telemetry interface unit installation 19 1994
7,639,157 Wireless telemetry methods and systems for communicating with or controlling intelligent devices 4 1999
 
CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC. (2)
5,848,143 Communications system using a central controller to control at least one network and agent system 208 1996
5,878,130 Communications system and method for operating same 122 1998
 
Softell (2)
5,809,118 System and method for triggering actions at a host computer by telephone 27 1996
6,425,000 System and method for triggering actions at a host computer by telephone 26 1998
 
TELDATA, INC. (2)
6,347,135 Apparatus and method for powering a telephone-based inbound telemetry device 1 2000
6,487,282 Apparatus and method for an inbound telemetry device to sense telephone line status 2 2000
 
ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. (1)
6,570,880 Control data over a ring network 7 1998
 
BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (1)
6,016,339 Telecommunication network using signalling without activating alerting devices in consumer's premises 1 1996
 
NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED (1)
5,579,381 Methods and apparatus for providing suppressed ringing access 29 1994
 
ONLEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
7,631,086 Virtual dedicated connection system and method 0 2004
 
USCL CORPORATION (1)
5,994,892 Integrated circuit design automatic utility meter: apparatus & method 91 1996