Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

Mark Wayne Patton

Glenn A Davis

Douglas Wallace Todd

A method for monitoring a condition, such as the presence of electrical power, at a remote location and for generating a telephone call on to a telephone line that delivers to a central control unit notification of a change in the monitored condition in the form of a set of unique identifying signals. According to the method, the condition is monitored at the remote location and is sensed for changes in the condition from a first state to a second state. Responsive to a change in the condition to the second state, the telephone line is tested and a line availability signal generated. Responsive to indicia of line availability, the line is selectively seized. Signals are generated on to the telephone line representative of a first telephone number to address the first control location, the signals representative the first telephone number correspond to the change in the monitored condition and signals representative of the telephone number assigned to the remote location are generated on to the telephone line by the interexchange carrier network.

Systems for power interruption detection

A method and apparatus for providing information, such as power consumption, to a subscriber over an electronic network in response to commands provided by the subscriber. The apparatus includes a remote unit which detects and stores the power consumption information, a subscriber device, i.e., a telephone, for generating request commands and a control device which tracks the information. The subscriber using the subscriber device, feeds the request commands via the network to the control device. The control device responds to the commands by directing the remote unit to feed its stored power consumption information onto the network to the control device. The control device then processes the information and indicates the result back to the subscriber.

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Mark Wayne Patton