Intelligent Pathway^TM is a new platform that provides a telephone based outbound Utility Telemetry Service (UTS) transport capability over the existing analog telephone network. Utility companies such as water, gas, and electric can utilize the Shared Access Telemetry^TM capability to remotely communicate with meters or to control the energy consumption of home appliances.

Telephone based outbound UTS, defined by the IEEE Standard #1390 "Utility Telemetry Architecture for Switched Telephone Network Communications," was sponsored by the American Meter Reader Association (AMRA). The standard provides a cost effective access to the Telemetry Interface Unit (TIU) at the customer premise, using the existing analog line. Intelligent Pathway^TM allows for the transport of data between a utility and a TIU using an open standard interface. The basic Intelligent Pathway^TM platform uses the switched telephone network, does not ring the customer line, and is not being effected by call forwarding or other line side features.

Configuration

Installing end-to-end outbound UTS requires:

• Intelligent Pathway^TM platform (Lucent Technologies switch software)
• Utility Controller with application software
• Central Office Service Unit (COSU)
• Telemetry Interface Unit
• Meter with encoder or pulsar
• Network Interface (NI)

Benefits/Attributes

• Customer Satisfaction
  • Remote 24-hour accessibility
  • Accurate meter read
  • Accurate monthly billing
  • Meter malfunction detection
  • Fast (approx. 6 sec./read)
  • Flexible billing cycle
  • Provide time of use billing
  • Remote reconnect/disconnect of service
  • Non intrusive when accessing data

• Company Efficiency
  • New network application
  • Lower operating cost
  • New revenue source
  • Reliable and Scaleable for
    • Demand side management
    • Load profile information
    • Command & control
  • No risk of cloning
  • Data always accurate
  • Easy to detect theft of service

• Employee Satisfaction
  • Ease of use
  • Call completion with no manual intervention
  • Near Real-time access
  • Safety of employees

Easy to Use

• The Utility Controller (UC) dials the telephone network using its application software.
• The telephone network identifies the user and grants access permission.
• The UC provides Directory Number to identify customer premise destination.
• The telephone network establishes a connection to the TIU at the customer premise. The network suppresses the ring, ignores line features such as call forwarding and provides a tone alert to the TIU.
• TIU responds by establishing communication path, reading the meter, or performing the required task and sending the information back to UC.
• UC hangs up. The telephone network connection drops.

Availability

The Intelligent Pathway^TM platform is available and can be ordered now either as software release 5E 10 (downloadable to 9.2) or 1AE 12.06.

Contacts

Stuart Garland . . . 630 713-7150
Michael Onatolu . .630 979-7588
David B Smith . . . 630 224-4113

More details are available through Lucent Technologies customer representatives or by email request to this Home Page site.

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