Display for remote receiver in a utility management system
AssigneeScientific-Atlanta, Inc.
InventorsPaul M. Huddleston, Glenn A. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring and testing the operation and configuration of a remote receiver in a utility management system, such as a load management system or a cable television subscriber control system. The receivers are responsive to encoded command signals to perform utility control functions such as remove electrical loads from the electrical distribution system or connect a subscriber to the CATV system. The receiver retrieves status information pertaining to the receiver, and transmits the status information over a data communications link to a hand-held operator display unit. The operator display unit receives the transmitted status information, and displays the received status information to the operator on a display.
Claims43
In a utility management system, said system including means for transmitting address signals for directing commands to utility management receivers and coded command signals for controlling actions to be taken by an addressed one of said utility management receivers, an improved utility management receiver for controlling actions and for transmitting status data obtained during operation of said receiver for display, comprising:
- address decoding means responsive to said address signals for determining whether said receiver has been addressed to receive a command;
- means for decoding said coded command signals in response to said address decoding means determining that said receiver has been addressed, said coded command signals including an utility function command;
- means responsive to said utility function command for carrying out a utility function;
- memory means for storing said status data related to a plurality of parameters of operation of said receiver;
- means for retrieving said status data for said memory means;
- formatting means for arranging said retrieved status data in a predetermined communications format;
- data transmitting means for transmitting data in said communications format;
- and
- display control means operative for causing said data transmitting means to transmit said retrieved status data in said communications format to an external location for display.
In a utility management system, said system including means for communicating coded command signals for causing the execution of a utility function and a remotely located receiver for executing said utility function, said receiver including means for decoding said coded command signals and means responsive to decoded command signals for executing said utility function,
- an improved status display for said receiver, comprising:
- memory means for storing status data related to a parameter of operation of said receiver;
- means for retrieving said stored status data from said memory means;
- formatting means for arranging said retrieved status data in a predetermined optical communications format;
- optical data transmitting means for transmitting said retrieved status data in said predetermined optical communications format;
- display control means operative for causing said optical data transmitting means to transmit said retrieved status data in said predetermined optical communications format;
- an electrically independent free standing portable display unit separate from said receiver including means for receiving status data transmitted by said optical data transmitting means;
- and
- means for displaying said received status data on a display associated with said portable display unit.
In a method for controlling a utility management system, said system including means for communicating address signals for directing commands to particular utility management receivers and coded command signals, and remotely located receivers for executing utility management functions, a method of monitoring and testing said receivers, comprising the steps of:
- decoding the address signals at the receiver for determining whether the receiver has been addressed to receive a command;
- executing a utility function in response to a utility function command signal when the receiver is determined to have been addressed to receive a command;
- providing a memory in the receiver for storing a plurality of parameters of operation of the receiver;
- storing in the memory status data related to a parameter of operation of the receiver in response to the execution of a command by the receiver;
- retrieving the status data from the memory at predetermined times;
- formatting the retrieved status data in a format for display on a display means;
- and
- displaying said formatted status data on the display means.
In a utility management system, said system including a remotely located receiver responsive to a transmitted coded command signal for executing a utility function, a receiver monitoring and testing apparatus, comprising:
- memory means associated with said receiver for storing status data related to a parameter of operation of said receiver;
- means associated with said receiver for retrieving said status data from said memory means;
- means associated with said receiver for transmitting said retrieved status data in a predetermined communications format;
- and
- a transportable display unit for displaying said status data to an operator, comprising:
- means for receiving said transmitted status data from said receiver transmitting means;
- a data display associated with said transportable display unit and positioned for viewing by said operator;
- means for converting said received status data into a format for display on said data display to an operator;
- means for displaying said formatted status data on said data display.
A transportable display apparatus for receiving status information transmitted from a utility management system receiver and displaying same to an operator, said status information comprising information related to a parameter of operation of said utility management system receiver, comprising:
- means for receiving status data transmitted by said utility management system receiver;
- means for converting said received status data into a format for display to an operator;
- means for displaying to an operator a visual display of said received status data;
- memory means for storing said received status data for later recall;
- and
- output means for retrieving said received status data from said memory means and for providing said received status data as an output.
In a utility management system, said system including means for communicating coded command signals for causing the execution of a utility function and a remotely located receiver for executing said utility function, said receiver including means for decoding said coded command signals and means responsive to decoded command signals for executing said utility function,
- an improved status display for said receiver, comprising:
- said coded command signals including a predetermined status inquiry command signal;
- said coded command signals comprising address data and command data;
- said receiver being responsive to command data only for particular predetermined address data;
- memory means for storing status data related to a parameter of operation of said receiver;
- means for retrieving said stored status data from said memory means in response to said predetermined status inquiry command signal;
- formatting means for arranging said retrieved status data in a predetermined optical communications format;
- optical data transmitting means for transmitting said retrieved status data in said predetermined optical communications format;
- display control means operative for causing said optical data transmitting means to transmit said retrieved status data in said predetermined optical communications format;
- an electrically independent portable display unit separate from said receiver including means for receiving status data transmitted by said optical data transmitting means;
- means associated with said portable display unit for transmitting said predetermined status inquiry command signal to said receiver;
- said predetermined status inquiry command signal transmitted by said portable display unit comprising universal address data, each of a plurality of said receivers being responsive to said predetermined status inquiry command signal;
- and
- means for displaying said received status data on a display associated with said portable display unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.