Inventors:
Thomas C. Matty - N. Huntingdon PA
Robert G. Colclaser - Grafton MA
Gary O. Hitchins - Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County PA
Assignee:
ABB Power T&D Company - Blue Bell PA
International Classification:
H04M 1100
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for controlling the transmission of data, via a telephone network (20), between a first location (2,14,16) where data is collected and a central station (22). Data transmission is effected by: collecting and storing data (24-36) at the first location (2); providing an indication (42) of the current time at the first location; storing, at the first location, an indication (30) of a selected time which is after the present time and an indication (32-36) of selected ones of the plurality of data types; comparing (42) the indication of the present and selected times and establishing a connection (56), via the telephone network (20), from the first location (2,14,16) to the central station (22) when the present time becomes later than the selected time; and effecting a communication, via the connection, which includes a first transmission (56) of the selected ones of the stored data type from the first location (2,14,16) to the central station (22) and a second transmission (58 ), from the central station (22) to the first location (2,14,16), of an indication of a new selected time, and identification of the data to be collected and the locations from which that data will be obtained, for the next communication.