Alarm data concentration and gathering system

Claim 1

A system enabling bidirectional communications over a switched data transmission network between a central station 10 and a plurality of satellite stations 12, 14, 16 and 18, characterized by A. said central station 10 comprising 1) master clock control means 38 for maintaining the ongoing time setting and a plurality of predetermined time settings each of which is different from the others and at which a given satellite station is required to initiate communication and to transmit routine data signals to the central station, 2) means 40 for storing data signals associated with each satellite station at locations having designated addresses associated therewith, 3) means 42 and 44 for receiving data signals from said satellite stations and for transmitting data signals to said satellite stations, 4) means 36 for initiating access to a given address within said storing means in response to receipt of a communication originating within a given satellite station, 5) means 36 for routing data signals received as a part of said originating communication to said given address, 6) means 36 for accessing said master clock control means to provide instructions indicative of said ongoing time setting and of a said predetermined time setting and for coupling said instructions to said transmitting means for transmission to the satellite station then communicating with the central station, and 7) means 36 for terminating said communication; and by B. each of said satellite stations 12, 14, 16 and 18 comprising 1) local clock means 52 responsive to instructions from said master clock control means for controlling the initiation of communications and transmission of routine data signals to said central station at said predetermined time, 2) means 54 for synchronizing and adjusting said local clock means in response to instructions from said master clock control means, 3) store and forward means 56 for accumulating routine data for transmission to said central station at said predetermined time, 4) means 54 for initiating said communications with said central station under control of said local clock, and 5) means 48 for inputting routine data into said store and forward means, whereby said system enables routine data to be received and held within each of said satellite stations and to be transmitted to said central station at different predetermined times, and wherein the initiation of communications between the satellite station and the central station are controlled by said satellite station.

Claim 2

A system enabling bidirectional communications over a switched data transmission network between a central station 10 and a plurality of satellite stations 12, 14, 16 and 18, characterized by A. said central station 10 comprising 1) master clock control means 38 for maintaining the ongoing time setting and a plurality of predetermined time settings each of which is different from the others and at which a given satellite station is required to initiate communication and to transmit routine data signals to the central station, 2) means 40 for storing data signals associated with each satellite station at locations having designated addresses associated therewith, 3) means 42 and 44 for receiving data signals from said satellite stations and for transmitting data signals to said satellite stations, 4) means 36 for initiating access to a given address within said storing means in response to receipt of a communication originating within a given satellite station, 5) means 36 for routing data signals received as a part of said originating communication to said given address, 6) means 36 for accessing said master clock control means to provide instructions indicative of said ongoing time setting and of a said predetermined time setting and for coupling said instructions to said transmitting means for transmission to the satellite station then communicating with the central station, and 7) means 36 for terminating said communication; and by B. each of said satellite stations 12, 14, 16 and 18 comprising 1) local clock means 52 responsive to instructions from said master clock control means for controlling the initiation of communications and transmission of routine data signals to said central station at said predetermined time, 2) means 54 for synchronizing and adjusting said local clock means in response to instructions from said master clock control means, 3) store and forward means 56 for accumulating routine data for transmission to said central station at said predetermined time, 4) means 54 for initiating said communications with said central station under control of said local clock, and 5) means 48 for inputting routine data into said store and forward means, whereby said system enables routine data to be received and held within each of said satellite stations and to be transmitted to said central station at different predetermined times, and wherein the initiation of communications between the satellite station and the central station are controlled by said satellite station.

Claim 6

A system according to any preceding claim characterized by said central station further including means for verifying proper storage of said data signals at said given address and for retransmitting said signals to said data signal storing means in the event improper storage was indicated.