US5189694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telemetry access arrangement
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1990-08-31
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Granted: 1993-02-23
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Expires: 2010-08-31
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart M. Garland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A telephone switching system comprising: a switching network for interconnecting a multiplicity of telecommunications trunks and another multiplicity of analog customer lines; at least one of said trunks connectable to a utility data accessing device for accessing a customer premises device; and processor means operative under the control of a program for translating a class of service of said at least one of said trunks, and responsive to said translating, for establishing a connection through said network without transmitting ringing signals to an analog customer line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A telephone switching system comprising: a switching network for interconnecting a multiplicity of telecommunications trunks and another multiplicity of analog customer lines; at least one of said trunks connectable to a utility data accessing device for accessing a customer premises device; and processor means operative under the control of a program for translating a class of service of said at least one of said trunks, and responsive to said translating, for establishing a connection through said network without transmitting ringing signals to an analog customer line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The switching system of claim 1 wherein tone signals are transmitted over said connection to alert a device at customer station equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein frequency shift keyed signals are transmitted over said connection for exchanging data with a device at a customer premises.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein said processor means are further operative under the control of a program for making billing record of said connection, said process of making a billing record being essentially the same as a process for making a billing record of a voice call.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The telecommunications switching system of claim 1 wherein said processor means is further operative under the control of said program for detecting an off-hook signal from a customer station connected over said connection and responsive to a detection of said off-hook signal for disconnecting said connection.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of accessing a customer premises device from a data accessing device via a telecommunications switching system said telecommunications switching system comprising a voice band signal switching network for switchably interconnecting multiplicities of inlets and multiplicities of outlets, said inlets for connection to interoffice telecommunications trunks, said outlets for connection to analog customer lines, the method comprising: determing that a class of service for an inlet connected to said data accessing device is a class of service requiring establishment of a suppressed ringing connection; establishing a suppressed ringing connection from said inlet to an outlet of said voice band signal switching network for connecting said data accessing device to an analog customer line connected to station equipment of a customer; and transmitting signals over said suppressed ringing connection for accessing said customer premises device over said analog line from said data accessing device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of accessing a customer premises device from a data accessing device via a telecommunications switching system said telecommunications switching system comprising a voice band signal switching network for switchably interconnecting multiplicities of inlets and multiplicities of outlets, said inlets for connection to interoffice telecommunications trunks, said outlets for connection to analog customer lines, the method comprising: determing that a class of service for an inlet connected to said data accessing device is a class of service requiring establishment of a suppressed ringing connection; establishing a suppressed ringing connection from said inlet to an outlet of said voice band signal switching network for connecting said data accessing device to an analog customer line connected to station equipment of a customer; and transmitting signals over said suppressed ringing connection for accessing said customer premises device over said analog line from said data accessing device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising: establishing a connection from said data accessing device to said inlet prior to said establishing said suppressed ringing connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said connection from said data accessing device is established over an interoffice trunk.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting tone signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting frequency shift keyed signals through said network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising: establishing a connection between said data accessing device and a central office service unit, connectable to said network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said establishing a connection between said data accessing device and said central office service unit comprises establishing a connection from said accessing device to said central office service unit over an a customer line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein a plurality of switches in different wire centers is connectable to said service unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of establishing a plurality of simultaneous suppressed ringing connections in one of said plurality of switches from said service unit to a plurality of customer stations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of: making a billing record for said suppressed ringing connection in essentially the same manner as making a billing record for a voice call.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of: detecting an off-hook signal on said suppressed ringing connection for disconnecting said suppressed ringing connection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said establishing comprises establishing a connection for connecting to a meter interface unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said meter interface unit is also connected to a controllable device and wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting signals for controlling said controllable device over said connection.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of accessing a customer premises device from a data accessing device via a telecommunications switching system, said telecommunications switching system comprising a switching network for switchably interconnecting multiplicities of inlets and multiplicities of outlets, said inlets for connection to interoffice telecommunications trunks, said outlets for connection to customer lines, the method comprising: determining that a class of service for an inlet connected to said data accessing device is a class of service requiring establishment of a suppressed ringing connection; establishing a suppressed ringing connection from said inlet to an outlet of said switching network for connecting said data accessing device to a customer line connected to station equipment of a customer; and transmitting signals over said suppressed ringing connection for accessing said customer premises device over said customer line from said data accessing device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of accessing a customer premises device from a data accessing device via a telecommunications switching system, said telecommunications switching system comprising a switching network for switchably interconnecting multiplicities of inlets and multiplicities of outlets, said inlets for connection to interoffice telecommunications trunks, said outlets for connection to customer lines, the method comprising: determining that a class of service for an inlet connected to said data accessing device is a class of service requiring establishment of a suppressed ringing connection; establishing a suppressed ringing connection from said inlet to an outlet of said switching network for connecting said data accessing device to a customer line connected to station equipment of a customer; and transmitting signals over said suppressed ringing connection for accessing said customer premises device over said customer line from said data accessing device.
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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) | 1996-02-23 | 1996-08-24 | 1997-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-02-23 | 2000-08-24 | 2001-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-02-23 | 2004-08-24 | 2005-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |