Remote meter reader and method for reading meters over non-dedicated telephone lines

A meter reader adapted to be connected at a telephone subscriber station in series between the telephone lines connected to the subscriber station and a subscriber telephone and coupled to a meter at said subscriber station for use in transmitting data signals from said meter over said telephone lines to a central office on a call initiated by said central office, said subscriber at said subscriber station including a ringing device, said meter reader comprising:

• a means for selectively isolating said subscriber telephone from said telephone lines during a predetermined data access time,
• b. means for detecting a ringing signal to said subscriber station during said data access time indicating an incoming call,
• c. means for answering said call, causing thereby said ringing signal to terminate,
• d. means for ascertaining if said call is from said cental office, and
• e. means for transmitting said data signals to said central office, if said call is from said central office.

A meter reader adapted to be connected at a telephone subscriber station in series between non-dedicated telephone lines and a telephone and coupled to a meter at said subscriber station for use in transmitting data signals from said meter over said telephone lines to a central office on a call initiated by said central office without substantially interfering with normal telephone service said telephone at said subscriber station including a bell, said meter reader comprising:

• a. a microprocessor,
• b. telephone isolating means operable in response to control signals from said microprocessor for isolating said telephone from said telephone line for a predetermined data access time,
• c. ring detector means coupled to said telephone line for detecting ringing signals to said telephone during said data access time and sending a signal in response thereto to said microprocessor,
• d. call answering means for answering incoming calls during said data access time,
• e. transmission means for transmitting data signals from said meter over said telephone lines,
• f. ring generator means for generatng signals for activating the bell in the telephone at the subscriber station and simulated side tone signals during said data access time, and
• g. off-hook detector means for detecting an off-hook condition.

A meter reader adapted to be connected at a subscriber station in series between a telephone line and a telephone at a said subscriber station and coupled to a digital utility meter at said remote station for use in transmitting digitally encoded data signals from said meter over said telephone line to a central office in response to a call initiated by said central office, said telephone at said subscriber station including a ringing device, said meter reader comprising:

• a. a microprocessor,
• b. a telephone isolating device responsive to signals from said microprocessor for selectively isolating said telephone from said telephone line for a predetermined data access time,
• c. a ring detector for detecting a ringing signal indicative of an incoming call when said telephone is isolated from said telephone line,
• d. means for ascertaining if said incoming call is from said central office,
• e. an answer call device responsive to signals from said microprocessor for causing an incoming call to be answered during said data access time when said telephone is isolated,
• f. transmission means for transmitting data and status signals between said microprocessor and said central office if said call is from said central office, and
• g. an off-hook detector for detecting an off-hook condition.

A data sensing and collection system comprising:

• a. a central office,
• b. a plurality of subscriber stations, and
• c. a telephone line connecting said central office to each one of said subscriber stations,
• d. said central office including a computer having a telephone dialing mechnaism,
• e. each of said subscriber stations including:
• i. a telephone having a bell,
• ii. a meter reader connecting said telephone to said telephone line, and
• iii. a source of digital data which is to be read coupled to said meter reader, said meter reader including:
• I. means for selectively isolating said telephone at said subscriber station within a predetermined data access time,
• II. means for detecting an incoming call ringing signal to said telephone at said subscriber station during said data access time,
• III. means for answering said call so as to cause said ringing signal to terminate,
• IV. means for ascertaining if said incoming call is from said central office,
• V. means for transmitting said digitally encoded data signals to said central office if said incoming call is from said central office,
• VI. means for activating said bell in said telephone if said incoming call is not from said central office, and
• VII. means for detecting an off-hook condition of said telephone at any time.