A NOVEL TELEPHONIC SYSTEM FOR UTILITY REAL-TIME METERING

THE PROJECT IN PHASE I WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A KEY ELEMENT OF A PROPOSED REAL-TIME METERING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC, GAS AND WATER UTILITIES. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM USES EXISTING METERS, IS COMPATIBLE WITH TODAY'S SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK, AND WILL SMOOTHLY INTEGRATE IN PLANNED FIBER-TO-THE-HOME PROGRAMS. A "BREADBOARD" OF A KEY ELEMENT WILL BE ASSEMBLED AND TESTEDON REPRESENTATIVE TELEPHONE LINES UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS ROUTINELY ENCOUNTERED ON TELEPHONE CIRCUITS. FEASIBILITY WILL HAVE BEEN SHOWN IF IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE SYSTEM CAN PERFORM AS EXPECTED WITHOUT INTERFERENCE WITH, OR FROM, TYPICAL TELEPHONE TRAFFIC AND OPERATION.