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:
May. 20, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 14, 1996
Ronald L Bane, Stone Moutain, GA (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A remote meter reading system (10) includes a remotely accessible meter interface unit (12). The meter interface unit (12) is operable in an activated mode and in an inactivated mode. The meter interface unit (12) is periodically activated to monitor a communication channel to detect whether there is communication activity (410). When communication activity is detected (430), the meter interface unit (12) is operated in a message monitoring mode to monitor the communication channel (450, 460). When a message addressed to the meter interface unit (12) is detected during the monitoring period (470), the meter interface unit (12) is placed in an activated mode for an extended time period to process communication signals (485). If no communication activity is detected when periodically activated (430), or if no message addressed to meter interface is detected during the monitoring period (470), the meter interface unit (12) is placed in an inactivated mode (440).