Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to remote monitoring of home devices and, more specifically, to a system and method for interrogating, from a remote location, a device in order to retrieve diagnostic information. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, when a customer of a service company such as an electric company reports a service outage, the service company must dispatch a representative to determine whether the outage is caused by equipment that is the responsibility of the service company (e.g. a blown transformer) or the customer (e.g. a blown electrical fuse). Each time a representative is dispatched, expenditures of time and money are incurred by the service company, even though the reported problem may not be the responsibility of the service company. In the event of outages at multiple locations, a representative may be sent to one location at the expense of another, thus creating a misallocation of limited company resources. In addition, it is often difficult to determine whether or not a specific repair has been successful. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting the state of a device and transmitting to a remote location a particular tone or tones corresponding to the detected state. The state detection and transmission is initiated either by a predetermined series of tones from the remote location to the apparatus or by a change in the state of the device. The claimed apparatus may be coupled to a device such as, but not limited to, an appliance or meter or, in the alternative, an integral part of the device. 
     In one embodiment, the claimed apparatus is coupled to both an electric meter and a telephone line. If an electric customer reports a power outage, the electrical service provider responsible for the meter can determine whether there is power to the meter without sending a service person to the customer&#39;s location. In response to a predetermined series of tones transmitted from the electrical service provider to the apparatus via the telephone line, the apparatus determines whether a specific voltage level is present at the electrical meter. If the specific voltage level is present at the meter, then a particular tone is transmitted from the apparatus to the service provider, indicating to the service provider that a reported power outage is not the result of the service provider&#39;s equipment and that the customer may need to be advised to call an electrician. If the specific voltage level in not present at the meter, a second, different tone is transmitted and the service provider can dispatch a service person, knowing that the reported problem originates on the service provider&#39;s side of the electrical meter. In this manner, unnecessary service calls are reduced or eliminated and the service provider can allocate resources more efficiently. In addition, transmissions from multiple locations enable the service provider to determine the scope of a problem. 
     In addition to electrical service providers, the claimed subject matter is applicable to any service provider or user with a need to monitor somthing such as, but not limited to, major appliances, cable boxes, gas lines and even such things as a chemical level in a swimming pool. For example, if a consumer complains to a television manufacturer about a broken television, the manufacturer can send signal to the television via cellular telephone receiver in the television and determine whether the television is receiving power and a suitable cable signal. A signal from the television to the manufacturer can utilize the same cellular telephone connection. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical meter incorporating an exemplary state response and detection device (SRADD) of the claimed subject matter; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the SRADD of FIG. 1 in more detail; 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the claimed subject matter from the perspective of users; 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing processing of the SRADD of FIGS. 1 and 2; and 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing processing involved with signaling the state of the SRADD of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although described with particular reference to a device that monitors an electrical meter, the state response and detection device (SRADD) and method of the disclosed embodiment can be implemented in any system in which remote error diagnosis is desirable. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary electrical meter in which the system according to the present invention is implemented. Those with skill in the electrical arts will recognize that the disclosed embodiments have relevance to a wide variety of devices and situations in addition to those described below. In addition, the SRADD of the present invention can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The hardware portion can be implemented using specialized logic; the software portion can be stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system such as a microprocessor. 
     In the context of this document, a “memory” or “recording medium” can be any means that contains, stores, communicates, propagates, or transports the program and/or data for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus or device. Memory and recording medium can be, but are not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared of semiconductor system, apparatus or device. Memory an recording medium also includes, but is not limited to, for example the following: a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), and a portable compact disk read-only memory or another suitable medium upon which a program and/or data may be stored. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system  100  that includes an electrical meter  101  and an exemplary SRADD  103 . SRADD  103  can either be incorporated into or affixed to the electrical meter  101 . It should be noted that SRADD  103  can be added to an existing meter and isolated from high voltage (meters typically operate at a much higher voltage than phone systems) by use of a relay or an induction type of device. SRADD  103  doesn&#39;t have to be directly attached to the meter. Although since the meter is typically the transition point for service company responsibility, SRADD  103  should be as close as possible to the meter if not attached. Electrical meter  101  is typically attached to a home, business or other structure (not shown) and meters the electrical usage of the structure. Electrical meters and their usage should be familiar to those with skill in the electrical arts. 
     SRADD  103  is coupled to a standard telephone system, or plain old telephone system (POTS)  105 , via a telephone line  107 . In alternative embodiments of the invention, the SRADD  103  is coupled to the Internet via a network connection or communicatively coupled to a control center (not shown) via any other type of connection, e.g. a dedicated line or wireless connection. The precise mechanics of the communication between the SRADD  103  and a control center or other user who employs SRADD  103  to monitor the electrical meter  101  is not critical to the spirit of the invention. 
     In addition, electrical meter  101  is only an example of the type of service or device that can be attached to SRADD  103  to provide remote trouble detection and diagnostic capabilities. SRADD  103  can also be employed to monitor and diagnose other types of devices such as, but not limited to, a water meter, a gas line, a network connection, a cable television box, an appliance, and a chemical level such as in a swimming pool. Among other things, the claimed subject matter is applicable for monitoring any device or measurement that can be expressed by means of a Boolean good/bad indicator. 
     FIG. 2 is block diagram of SRADD  103  of FIG. 1 in more detail. SRADD  103  includes a communication, or POTS, interface  203  for transmitting and receiving tones via POTS  105  and connection  107  (FIG.  1 ). POTS interface  203  monitors connection  107  and in effect looks like an extension phone attached to connection  107 . When connection  107  is an open line (i.e. there is a call in progress), any signal tones received on the open line are transmitted from POTS interface  203  to a tone detection unit  205 . When a customer calls to report a service outage, a specific tone or tones are sent by service personnel or, in the alternative, from an automated monitoring system to signal SRADD  103  that the transmitting service personnel or monitoring system requests a status check of electrical meter  101 . If tone detection unit  205  determines the received tones match a predetermined sequence of tones, then a signal is transmitted to a logic unit  209  indicating a tone pattern match has occurred. 
     Connection  107  can be a dedicated or non-dedicated connection. In the case of a non-dedicated connection, logic in POTS interface  203  determines whether or not a received signal corresponds to an attempt to connect to SRADD  103 . 
     A voltage detection unit  201  is coupled to electrical meter  101  (FIG. 1) and measures a voltage level at an appropriate point in electrical meter  101 . In this example, the voltage level detected by voltage detection unit  201  corresponds to whether or not electrical meter  101  is receiving power from a connected power line (not shown). For example, if power is interrupted between a utility company and electrical meter  101 , then the voltage level is zero (0) volts. Conversely, if service is restored and electric meter  101  is receiving power, the power level is one hundred ten (110) volts. As mentioned above, electrical meter&#39;s  101  actual voltage is lowered by a relay or induction device (not shown) so that SRADD  103  and voltage detection unit  201  process a low voltage signal, typically +5 volts. Voltage detection unit  201  transmits the voltage level information to logic unit  209 . In an alternative embodiment, multiple voltage levels are detected, monitored and reported. 
     Logic unit  209 , after receiving tone information from tone detection unit  205  and voltage level information from voltage detection unit  201 , determines an appropriate response to send the service personnel or automated system that initiated the inquiry. Logic unit  209  signals a tone generation unit  207 , which transmits one or more tones, corresponding to the detected state of electrical meter  101 , to the service personnel or automated system via POTS interface  203 , communication link  107  and POTS  105 . As mentioned above, POTS  105  and communication link  107  may be another type of communication link such as, but not limited to, a network connection or a system of wireless transmitters and receivers. A battery  211  provides power for SRADD  103  and its components and is available to supply a reference voltage to voltage detection unit  201 , if necessary. 
     In an alternative embodiment, logic unit  209  initiates a signal to tone generation unit  207  and call to service personnel through POTS interface  203  whenever voltage detection unit  201  detects that a power interruption has occurred. In other words, SRADD  103  can be configured to signal a problem on its own initiative rather than waiting for a query from service personnel or automated system. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart  300  showing an embodiment of the caimed subject matter from the perspective of the users of the system  100  (FIG.  1 ). Processing begins in a “Begin Call” step  401  in which SRADD  103  is attached to connection  107  (FIGS.  1  and  2 ). Process  300  then proceeds to a “Call Service” step  303  in which a consumer calls a service company to report a service outage and request service. At this point, SRADD  103  detects that connection  107  is “off-hook” (i.e. a user is making a call). Processing executed by SRADD  103  is explained in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5 below. 
     Once the user has established a connection to service personnel via connection  107 , control then proceeds to a “State Needed?” step  305  in which the service personnel determines whether or not to request the status or state of the customer&#39;s meter  101  via SRADD  103 . If the service personnel does not need the status or state, then control proceeds to a “Service Call” step  311  in which the service personnel performs the necessary actions to address the customer&#39;s problems. If in step  305  the service personnel determines that information relating to the state or status of the customer&#39;s meter  101  would help diagnose and address the customer&#39;s problem, then control proceeds to a “Transmit Tones” step  307  in which the service personnel transmits, via connection  107 , one or more, predetermined tones. As explained below in conjunction with FIG. 3, SRADD  103  receives the tones and begins processing the request for information. 
     It should be noted that the term “tones” is meant to imply touch tones commonly associated with telephone networks. Although the description employs touch tones as an example, those with skill in the telephony and computing arts should recognize that there are many ways for signals to be transmitted via a connection, regardless of whether the connection is a network connection, telephone line or any other type of medium. The signaling examples described herein are not meant to limit the particular signaling techniques employed to touch tones. 
     Once the service personnel has transmitted tones in ste  307 , control proceeds to an “Await Response” step  309  in which the service personnel gives SRADD  103  time to perform a status check and reply with one or more tones corresponding to the state of electrical meter  101 . Once the service personnel has received a reply, control proceeds to Service Call step  311  in which the service personnel performs the necessary actions to address the customer&#39;s problems, based upon the information transmitted from SRADD  103 . From step  311 , control then proceeds to a “Complete Call” step  313  in which the service call is complete. 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart  400  illustrating the processing of SRADD  103  of FIGS. 1 and 2. Processing begins in a “Begin Processing” step  401  in which the SRADD  103  is first initialized or powered on. At this point, the electrical meter  101  can be queried as to its operating state by a remote user via the connection  107  and POTS  105  (FIGS.  1  and  2 ). Control then proceeds to a “Receive Tones” step  403  in which Tone Detection device  205  (FIG. 2) detects any signal tones arriving through POTS interface  203 . As mentioned above, in the case of a non-dedicated connection  107 , POTS interface  203  is responsible for determining the existence of a connection request and, if so, establishing that connection. Once a series of tones are received, control proceeds to a “Pattern Match?” step  405  in which the tone detection device  205  determines whether the receive tones match a predetermined pattern, indicating that a remote query request has been received by the SRADD  103 . 
     If in step  405  tone detection unit  205  determines a match has occurred, then control proceeds to a “Check Voltage” step  407  in which logic unit  209  requests a voltage reading from voltage detection unit  201 . In an alternative embodiment, voltage detection unit continuously monitors the relevant voltage of the electrical meter  101  and makes the information available to logic unit  209 . In that case, logic unit  209  simply reads a voltage level from voltage detection unit  201  rather than requesting and then reading a voltage level. Control then proceeds to a “Generate Response” step  409  in which control unit  209  signals tone generation unit  207  to generate a response signal corresponding to the voltage state read in step  407 . It should be noted that the generated response can also include information in addition to a voltage level, including, but not limited to, a service address and/or information on corresponding to the particular meter  101 . 
     If in step  405  tone detection unit  205  determines the predetermined tone pattern has not been matched, then control returns to Receive Tones step  403  and SRADD  103  and tone detection unit  205  continues to monitor POTS interface  203  as explained above. It should be noted that there is no “End” or “Completion” block in process  400  because, once initiated, it is contemplated that the monitoring and notification functions of SRADD  103  are ongoing, i.e. the functions continue until SRADD  103  is powered off or disconnected. 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart  500  showing the processing involved with signaling the state of the SRADD of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a situation in which SRADD  103  detects an outage and attempts to automatically report the outage to the power company. Process  500  corresponds to Transmit Response step  411 , explained above in conjunction with FIG.  4 . Processing begins in an “Initiate Report” step  501  and immediately proceeds to an “Attempt Report” step  503  in which a connection is attempted through POTS interface  203  (FIG.  2 ). Control then proceeds to a “Report Successful?” step  505  in which SRADD  103  determines whether or not the attempted contact was successful. Of course in the case of a service personnel initiating a query over a POTS line and system  105  and  107 , a report would likely be successful because the connection is already established. However, in the case of a wireless connection or if the report is initiated by SRADD  103 , it is more likely that an attempt to transmit a report or make a connection could be unsuccessful. 
     If in step  505  SRADD  103  determines the report is successful, then control proceeds to a “Complete Report” step  513  in which process  500  is complete. If in step  505  SRADD  103  determines the report was unsuccessful, then control proceeds to a “Determine Wait Interval” step  507 . The determination of a specific wait interval may depend upon several factors. For example, the wait interval may depend upon the number of contact attempts that SRADD  103  has made. The wait interval may be set to a fixed amount of time regardless of the number of attempts or a “back-off” scheme in which the wait interval increases each time an additional unsuccessful attempt has been made. Control then proceeds to a “Wait” step  509  in which SRADD  103  waits the amount of time determined in step  507 . 
     Following the wait imposed in step  509 , control proceeds to an “Outage Continuing?” step  511  in which SRADD  103 , in the case of a service outage initiating the report attempt, determines whether or not the conditions that initiated the service outage persist. If not, control proceeds to Complete Report step  513  where process  500  is complete. If the outage persists in step  511 , then control proceeds to Attempt Report step  503  and processing continues as described above. In an alternative embodiment, control proceeds from step  511  to step  503  even though the outage has not persisted. In that case, SRADD  103  signals that an outage has occurred but is now over. 
     One advantage of employing multiple attempts to signal an outage is that often, in the case of an electrical outage, multiple structures are involved and phone lines into a service facility such as an electric company may by clogged by too many calls. By spreading the multiple calls over time, the electric company can process all the calls, determine the scope of the outage from the locations of the individual calls and, in some cases, even determine potential causes of the outage. In the event service resumptions are also reported as explained above, the electric company can also determine whether or not a attempted repair has been successful. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, including but not limited to additional, less or modified elements and/or additional, less or modified steps performed in the same or a different order.

Technology Category: 5