Patent ID: 6347135
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
A telemetry device for collecting information at a remote location and transmitting the information over a telephone line to a host station, the telemetry device comprising:at least one meter port; a first microcontroller which collects information from the at least one meter port and transmits the collected information to the host station; a first power supply for powering the first microcontroller; a second microcontroller, coupled to the telephone line but electrically isolated from the meter port, the first microcontroller and the first power supply, wherein the second microcontroller detects whether data signals received over the telephone line from the host station contain an alert signal and, upon detection of an alert signal, provides a trigger signal to the first microcontroller to initiate collection of information from the meter port; and a second power supply for powering the second microcontroller, wherein the second power supply derives energy from ring pulse signals received over the telephone line from the host station and at least temporarily stores the derived ring energy.