Computer Supervision, Monitoring and Control of Telephone AC Power Systems

Title: Computer Supervision, Monitoring and Control of AC Systems in Community Dial Offices. This paper reviews the current needs for data on the AC supply to C.D.O.'s in view of higher traffic patterns, lower staffing levels, and higher costs. The historical methods of obtaining the necessary data are reviewed and their shortcomings analyzed. Manual logging, strip chart recording, power surveys, and on-site personnel all yield less than adequate performance, in terms of quantity and quality of data, speed, availability, and dependability. The use of computers and microprocessor based instrumentation to perform these vital routine tasks is examined in detail. Current equipment availability and specifications are reviewed. The new data now being made available to the Maintenance Groups sets new standards in reliability and availability of equipment. Much of the same data, combined with other sources, gives the Engineering and Planning Groups the means to ensure that the AC Power Systems in C.D.O.'s spread over wide and difficult geographic areas perform within their design specifications. Further planning, scheduling, and design of power systems is enhanced by the new factual data available. The design and implementation of computer based AC monitoring systems is thoroughly discussed and portrayed, based on actual installations.