Abstract: In a security and alarm service environment, a method and system for verifying the continuity of a telephone line 317 connected to a subscriber terminal unit (STU) 310 at a customer's premises. The STU 310 is connected by telephone line 317 to a network interface 315 which is connected to a line unit 320 by a twisted pair 325. Line unit 320 is located in remote terminal 330 which is connected to switch 335 by digital loop 340. Switch 335 is connected to scanner 345 by trunk group 350 and SMDI link 355. A low tone generator in STU 310 generates a low frequency tone that is transmitted to line unit 320. If telephone line 317 is cut, if STU 310 malfunctions, or if an alarm condition at the customer's premises is detected by STU 310, then the low tone is not received by line unit 320. Remote terminal 330 encodes a signaling bit that is transmitted over digital loop 340 to switch 335. The encoded signaling bit indicates whether or not the low tone was received by line unit 320.

Abstract: A telemetry system in which a telephone system of the telemetry system is adapted to provide automatic identification of the telephone number of a subscriber location at which a telemetry interface unit is installed and to utilize the identified telephone number in a procedure for verifying the installation. The telephone system is adapted to respond to a preselected telephone number which results in identification of the subscriber location telephone number and which includes a utility identifier which can be used to access utility information for the verification procedure.

Abstract: A telephone system which offers a voice message service and which enables visual indication of waiting messages at subscriber locations using suppressed ringing connections through the switching network of the system and in which acknowledgement signals are provided to the system by the subscriber locations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for accessing customer meters and for controlling customer devices over a telephone line. A connection using only a single distinctive brief burst of power ringing or tone is established over a customer line between a central office and customer station equipment to alert both the customer and the customer premises equipment (CPE) or a short burst of tone to alert the CPE. The connection is between a data accessing device such as a meter reading controller and a customer premises device such as a meter interface unit. Signals are exchanged over the connection between these two units without alerting the customer via a ringing signal and without changing the supervisory state of the customer's station equipment from on-hook. The connection can also be used for controlling devices such as air conditioning units, in order, for example, to avoid overloads in a power distribution system.

Abstract: A telephone system which offers a voice message service and which enables visual indication of waiting messages at subscriber locations using suppressed ringing connections through the switching network of the system.

Abstract: An improved telemetry system in which suppressed ringing connections are established through a switching network to access equipment at subscriber locations. The control equipment for controlling the switching network is specifically adapted to include a set-up routine for identifying the signalling modes for the loop networks connected to the subscriber locations. The control equipment additionally is adapted to permit access by a user of the telemetry system to a subscriber location by first using a no signal signalling mode and, if unsuccessful, an identified signalling mode for the subscriber location. Finally, the control equipment is also adapted to automatically generate telemetry system information for each subscriber location from telephone system and user customer information so that the telemetry system and user customer information are linked by a common reference ID associated with the equipment at a subscriber location.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for accessing customer meters and for controlling customer devices over a telephone line. A suppressed ringing connection is established over a customer line between a central office and customer station equipment. The connection is between a data accessing device such as a meter reading controller and a customer premises device such as a meter interface unit. Signals are exchanged over the connection between these two units without alerting the customer via a ringing signal and without changing the supervisory state of the customer's station equipment from on-hook. The connection can also be used for controlling devices such as air conditioning units, in order, for example, to avoid overloads in a power distribution system. The voice switching network of the central office is used for making the connection between the meter control unit and the meter interface unit.