The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 1995
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1992
Robert E Lee, Jr, Dover, NH (US);
Marjorie J Mancuso, Exeter, NH (US);
Gregory P Lavoie, Newmarket, NH (US);
Susan D Dastous, Milford, NH (US);
Maurice J Ouellette, North Berwick, ME (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment, the present invention is an algorithm implemented in a microprocessor-controlled system which, for example, is disposed within an energy meter housing. Particularly, the microprocessor is coupled to a communications interface which receives and transmits messages on a power line or some other external communications media. Upon receipt of a message, the commands contained in the message are read. If a command corresponds to a 'buffer and lock' command, then a timer operated by the microprocessor starts to run. For example, if data to be retrieved from the system is data which is erased from system memory when read therefrom, just prior to reading such data, a buffer and lock command is transmitted by the external communication device. Upon receipt of such command, the microprocessor initiates running of a timer and the data is read from the meter. The data also is copied to a buffer, e.g., a RAM memory location. If the data is 'lost' during transmission, and as long as the timer is running, the data can be copied from the designated buffer and re-transmitted. In this manner, data normally not saved in a meter subsequent to a read operation is saved and, if necessary, re-transmitted.