METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE COMMODITY TRANSFER CONTROL AND MONITORING

摘要

A single system collects commodity transfer data from commodity meters (70) at remote sites and controls commodity transfer at the remote sites. Controller circuit (82) converts commodity transfer signals into digital metering data which is stored pending interrogation. Polling device (52) initiates dialed access to each remote site to retrieve the metering data. Telephone interface control circuit (80) effects two-way communication between polling device (52) and controller circuit (82) in response to a sequence of gateway conditions indicating that dialed access has been secured by polling device (52). The gateway conditions comprise a ringing signal closely succeeded by an off-hook condition and within a predetermined time thereafter an identifying access tone from polling device (52). Gatekeeper mechanisms (76) in commodity supply lines (68, 78) are controllable by the controller circuit (82), and therethrough by the polling device (52), to initiate or terminate commodity transfers.