Importance

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Abstract

A utility meter or other fixed device is assigned a permanent dialed number that is unrelated to the telephone number of the customer premise where the device is located. Instead, the dialed number is permanently assigned to a line termination location in the switch such that when the dialed number is dialed a connection is made to the line terminated at that physical location in the network switching system irrespective of the customer's telephone number. As a result, the number dialed by the calling party is unrelated to the customer's telephone number such that changes in a customer's telephone number do not affect the telemetry system. Moreover, the telemetry number could be selected from a specified range of numbers or could include a predetermined command digit such as *8 prior to the number string. As a result, the switching system is able to identify that the request is for a special service such as telemetry connection by the dialed telemetry number rather than by the trunk on which the call is received. Thus, the availability of the service will not depend on access to specialized trunks.

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First Claim