Patent ID: 7043378

Claim:
A measurement unit for collecting and forwarding measured data, the unit comprising: at least one measuring point for determining the measured data; at least one interface for at least indirectly transferring the measured data to a control center; a process unit and means for local storage, processing, or both of measured data in the measurement unit; means for transferring the measured data from the measuring point to the process unit, the means for transferring optionally comprising means for converting the measured data, into digital signals including an analog-to-digital converter when said measured data are made available by the measuring point in analog form; wherein the process unit includes means for subsequently writing the measured data into a database of the control center; means for controlling by filing the control commands in the control center, said means for controlling by filing the control commands comprising means in the control center for filing the control commands in a database; and means in the process unit for independently periodically reading out said control commands from the control center, from a database, or both, and controlling the measurement unit based on said control commands.