US5136514A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tariff arrangement with secure bidirectional interface
Assignee: Electrowatt Technology Innovation AG
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Filing: 1990-10-10
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Granted: 1992-08-04
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Expires: 2010-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A tariff arrangement which is preferably intended for an electricity meter comprises a microprocessor, a data memory and a bidirectional interface for transfer of data with a read-out device. For the duration of a data transfer operation a timing member is activated and by way of a logic circuit inhibits a predetermined memory region to prevent data from being written thereto. The data which are stored in the memory region, for charging purposes, are therefore protected from unintentional alterations during the data transfer operation, even if the software should have corresponding defects. The function of the timing member and the logic circuit can be checked in a simple manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Horst Laumann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R21/00; G01R21/133; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06; G11; G11C; G11C7/00; G11C7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A tariff arrangement capable of supporting a bidirectional data transfer operation comprising: a microcomputer, an interface connected to said microcomputer by way of an input data line and an output data line for the bidirectional transfer of data to or from a remote station during a reading-out operation; a memory connected to said microcomputer by way of a data bus, said memory having a first region and a second region, wherein during the reading-out operation only said first memory region is inhibited from being written to; and an inhibiting circuit connected to said microcomputer, to said first memory region and to said input data line connecting said microcomputer to said interface, said inhibiting circuit including a timer activatable by externally generated input data of the input data line during the reading-out operation for inhibiting the microcomputer from writing data to said first memory region for a time period including the period during which the reading-out operation is performed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A tariff arrangement capable of supporting a bidirectional data transfer operation comprising: a microcomputer, an interface connected to said microcomputer by way of an input data line and an output data line for the bidirectional transfer of data to or from a remote station during a reading-out operation; a memory connected to said microcomputer by way of a data bus, said memory having a first region and a second region, wherein during the reading-out operation only said first memory region is inhibited from being written to; and an inhibiting circuit connected to said microcomputer, to said first memory region and to said input data line connecting said microcomputer to said interface, said inhibiting circuit including a timer activatable by externally generated input data of the input data line during the reading-out operation for inhibiting the microcomputer from writing data to said first memory region for a time period including the period during which the reading-out operation is performed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
185 words
A calibratable tariff arrangement for use in an electricity meter capable of supporting a bidirectional data transfer operation comprising: a microcomputer; an interface connected to said microcomputer by way of an input data line and an output data line for the bidirectional transfer of data to or from a remote station during a reading-out operation; a memory connected to said microcomputer by way of a data bus, said memory having a first region for storing measurement values and charging parameters for the consumption of energy or power and a second region for storing data of subordinate significance, wherein during the reading-out operation only said first memory region is inhibited from being written to; and an inhibiting circuit connected to said microcomputer, to said first memory region and to said input data line connecting said microcomputer to said interface, said inhibiting circuit including a timer activatable by externally generated input data of the input data line during the reading-out operation for inhibiting the microcomputer from writing data to said first memory region for a time period including the period during which the reading-out operation is performed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
185 words
A calibratable tariff arrangement for use in an electricity meter capable of supporting a bidirectional data transfer operation comprising: a microcomputer; an interface connected to said microcomputer by way of an input data line and an output data line for the bidirectional transfer of data to or from a remote station during a reading-out operation; a memory connected to said microcomputer by way of a data bus, said memory having a first region for storing measurement values and charging parameters for the consumption of energy or power and a second region for storing data of subordinate significance, wherein during the reading-out operation only said first memory region is inhibited from being written to; and an inhibiting circuit connected to said microcomputer, to said first memory region and to said input data line connecting said microcomputer to said interface, said inhibiting circuit including a timer activatable by externally generated input data of the input data line during the reading-out operation for inhibiting the microcomputer from writing data to said first memory region for a time period including the period during which the reading-out operation is performed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
A tariff arrangement capable of supporting a bidirectional data transfer operation comprising: a microcomputer; an interface connected to said microcomputer by way of an input data line and an output data line for the bidirectional transfer of data during said a reading-out operation, said interface including a means for connecting to a bidirectional optical data link for the bidirectional transmission of data to and from a remote station, a memory connected to said microcomputer by way of a data bus, said memory having a first region and a second region, wherein during the reading-out operation only said first memory region is inhibited from being written to; and an inhibiting circuit connected to said microcomputer, to said first memory region and to said input data line connecting said microcomputer to said interface, said inhibiting circuit including a timer activatable by externally generated input data of the input data line during the reading-out operation for inhibiting the microcomputer from writing data to said first memory region for a time period including the period during which the reading-out operation is performed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
A tariff arrangement capable of supporting a bidirectional data transfer operation comprising: a microcomputer; an interface connected to said microcomputer by way of an input data line and an output data line for the bidirectional transfer of data during said a reading-out operation, said interface including a means for connecting to a bidirectional optical data link for the bidirectional transmission of data to and from a remote station, a memory connected to said microcomputer by way of a data bus, said memory having a first region and a second region, wherein during the reading-out operation only said first memory region is inhibited from being written to; and an inhibiting circuit connected to said microcomputer, to said first memory region and to said input data line connecting said microcomputer to said interface, said inhibiting circuit including a timer activatable by externally generated input data of the input data line during the reading-out operation for inhibiting the microcomputer from writing data to said first memory region for a time period including the period during which the reading-out operation is performed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tariff arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3 where the inhibiting circuit further comprises: at least one logic circuit connected to said timer and said memory so as to inhibit the writing of data to said first region during the reading-out operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The tariff arrangement of claim 4 further comprising: an address bus connected to said microcomputer, to said memory and to said at least one logic circuit, wherein said first memory region is defined by a portion of address lines of said address bus connected to said at least one logic circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-02-03 | 1996-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-04 | 2000-02-03 | 2000-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-04 | 2004-02-03 | 2004-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |