DIAL IN-BOUND METER INTERFACE UNIT WHICH DERIVES ITS POWER FROM A TELEPHONE LINE

摘要

The present invention is a dial in-bound MIU (100) capable of deriving its operating current from a telephone line (120). The MIU is coupled to the telephone line using conventional practices. The MIU has the capacity to initiate data transmission at a predetermined time or upon demand by the customer or the utility company. The MIU includes a microprocessor (u22) which serves as the command processing center for the MIU. The microprocessor also manages all time-dependent functions for the MIU. When the microprocessor determines that data transmission is required, the MIU dials up a central computer using a modem (150) built into the MIU circuitry.