Method and apparatus for efficient use of communication channels for remote telemetry
First Claim
1. A dual communication channel remote telemetry system comprising:
- at least one central controller configured to generate at least one control message and to receive at least one reporting message, said at least one central controller further configured to access a broadcast communications channel for carrying said control message and to access a shared two-way communications channel for receiving said reporting message;
a plurality of remote telemetry units configured to measure at least one local parameter and to generate at least one reporting message, each of said plurality of remote telemetry units having a unique identifier and having a receiver configured to receive said control message over said broadcast communications channel and a transceiver configured for communicating said reporting message to said at least one central controller over said shared two-way communications channel.
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Abstract
A remote telemetry system utilizing dual communication pathways comprising low-cost remote communications devices operating on existing wire-based communications systems, wireless communications systems, and/or a combination thereof, to provide real-time reading and control of the remote telemetry units. A central controller directs the operation of the remote telemetry units and receives data from the remote telemetry units. The central controller is configured to utilize a conventional broadcast communications channel to transmit commands to individual remote telemetry units, each of which is assigned a unique identification code. Signals broadcast from the central controller are received at receivers associated with each remote telemetry unit, which performs a directed operation if a unique identification code included in the broadcast signal matches the identification code assigned to the remote telemetry unit. Each remote telemetry unit is provided with access to a conventional shared two-way communication pathway for return communication to the central controller. The shared two-way communication pathway is inactive unless specifically activated by a remote telemetry unit upon receipt of a signal from the central controller. In this manner, a large number of remote telemetry units may be provided with regulated access to a single shared two-way communications channel.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A dual communication channel remote telemetry system comprising:
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at least one central controller configured to generate at least one control message and to receive at least one reporting message, said at least one central controller further configured to access a broadcast communications channel for carrying said control message and to access a shared two-way communications channel for receiving said reporting message;
a plurality of remote telemetry units configured to measure at least one local parameter and to generate at least one reporting message, each of said plurality of remote telemetry units having a unique identifier and having a receiver configured to receive said control message over said broadcast communications channel and a transceiver configured for communicating said reporting message to said at least one central controller over said shared two-way communications channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. A method of remote telemetering in a dual communications pathway system in which at least one central controller having a broadcast communications pathway and a shared two-way communication pathway communicates with a plurality of remote telemetry units each having a unique identifier, said broadcast communications pathway carrying at least one control message and said shared two-way communications pathway carrying at least one reporting message, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating, at said at least one central controller, a control message for transmission to said plurality of remote telemetry units, said control message including a recipient identifier associated with one of said plurality of remote telemetry units;
transmitting said control message from said at least one central controller over said broadcast communications pathway;
receiving, at each of said plurality of remote telemetry units, said control message;
comparing, at each of said plurality of remote telemetry units, said recipient identifier included in said control message with said unique identification code of said receiving remote telemetry unit; and
responsive to a match between said recipient identifier and said associated unique identification code, one of said plurality of remote telemetry units performing an operation instructed in said control message.
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Specification