Patent ID: 6137868
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
An electric power outage notification device for notifying utilities of the time and location of a power outage that comprises:a. a means for receiving an analog voltage input that provides a power supply and a reference voltage;b. a means for providing a signal indicating a change in the reference voltage;c. a microprocessor coupled to the power supply means and coupled to the outage signal generating means;d. a volatile random access memory coupled to the microprocessor for storing user programmable data and instructions used by the microprocessor;e. a read only memory coupled to the microprocessor for providing the microprocessor preprogrammed instructions;f. a real-time clock coupled to the microprocessor for providing the microprocessor current time and date information;g. a programmable data/fax modem chip coupled to the microprocessor for transferring data between the data/fax modem chip and the microprocessor and communicating an outage notification report to an external communications medium that delivers the report to a user selected choice of a remote computer, a facsimile device, or a pager;h. a means for connecting the programmable data/fax modem chip and the volatile random access memory to the external communications medium such that data can be transferred to or from either the data/fax modem chip or the volatile random access memory;i. a programming software means for sending user programmed data and instructions to the volatile random access memory;whereby said device monitors electric power supply.