Patent · US Expired

Monitoring system for remote devices

US5410590A · kind A · utility

75Cited by
15References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 18, 1992
Grant dateApr 25, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 18, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M17/02
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus for auditing the usage and indicating the status of a remote coin telephone system to a central computer via a telephone line. The apparatus comprises a power conversion and supply section connected to the telephone line and which derives current from it. The power conversion and supply section has a capacitor for periodically storing and providing electric charge. A microcontroller is connected to the power conversion and supply section. The apparatus also comprises a data signal reception and transmission section, which is connected to the microcontroller and to the telephone line, and a circuit section which detects telephone line voltage, current and frequency signals connected to the telephone line, which are a function of the operation of the audited coin telephone system. Finally the apparatus has a program logic residing in the microcontroller, which receives data signals and waveforms pertaining to the operation of the audited coin telephone system and reports them to the central computer at predetermined time intervals. The program logic also periodically disrupts power usage by the apparatus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.