System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices
First Claim
1. A system for remote data collection, assembly, and storage comprising:
- a computer configured to execute at least one computer program that formats and stores select information for retrieval upon demand from a remotely located device, said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN);
at least one wireless transmitter configured to transmit select information and transmitter identification information;
a plurality of transceivers dispersed geographically at defined locations configured to receive select information transmitted from at least one nearby wireless transmitter and further configured to transmit the select information, the transmitter identification information and transceiver identification information; and
at least one gateway connected to the wide area network configured to receive and translate the select information, the transmitter identification information, and transceiver identification information, said gateway further configured to further transmit the translated information to the computer over the WAN.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system is configured to monitor utility meters in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein each wireless transmitter is integrated into a sensor adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer on a network. The dedicated computer, collects, compiles, and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal, the system further including means for applying the control signal at a designated actuator.
273 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A system for remote data collection, assembly, and storage comprising:
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a computer configured to execute at least one computer program that formats and stores select information for retrieval upon demand from a remotely located device, said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN);
at least one wireless transmitter configured to transmit select information and transmitter identification information;
a plurality of transceivers dispersed geographically at defined locations configured to receive select information transmitted from at least one nearby wireless transmitter and further configured to transmit the select information, the transmitter identification information and transceiver identification information; and
at least one gateway connected to the wide area network configured to receive and translate the select information, the transmitter identification information, and transceiver identification information, said gateway further configured to further transmit the translated information to the computer over the WAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 42)
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20. A method for collecting information and providing data services comprising:
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adaptively configuring at least one transmitter with a sensor wherein the transmitter generates an information signal consisting of a transmitter identification code and an information field;
placing a plurality of transceivers dispersed geographically wherein the information signal is received and repeated as required to communicate the information signal to a gateway, the gateway providing access to a WAN;
translating the information signal within the gateway into a WAN compatible data transfer protocol;
transferring the information signal via the WAN to a computer wherein the computer is configured to manipulate and store data provided in the information signal; and
granting client access to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43)
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26. A method for controlling a system comprising:
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remotely collecting data from at least one sensor;
processing the data into a RF signal;
transmitting the RF signal to a gateway;
translating the data in the RF signal into a network transfer protocol;
sending the translated data to a computer, wherein the computer is configured to appropriately respond to the data generated by the at least one sensor by generating an appropriate control signal;
sending the control signal via the network to the gateway;
translating the control signal from a network transfer protocol into a RF control signal;
transmitting the RF control signal;
receiving the RF control signal;
translating the received RF control signal into an analog signal; and
applying the analog signal to an actuator to effect the desired system response.
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34. A system for monitoring remote devices comprising:
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at least one sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to a physical condition;
at least one wireless transmitter configured to encode the electrical signal, the wireless transmitter further configured to transmit the encoded electrical signal and transmitter identification information in a radio-frequency (RF) signal;
at least one gateway connected a wide area network (WAN) configured to receive and translate the RF signal, the gateway further configured to deliver the encoded electrical signal and transmitter identification information to a computer on the WAN; and
a computer configured to execute at least one computer program that formats and stores select information responsive to the electrical signal for retrieval upon demand from a remotely located device.
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44. A system for controlling remote devices comprising:
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a computer configured to execute at least one computer program that generates at least one control signal responsive to a system input signal;
said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN);
at least one gateway connected to the WAN configured to receive and translate the at least one control signal;
said gateway further configured to transmit an RF signal containing the control signal and destination information;
at least one wireless transceiver configured to receive the RF signal from the gateway;
said wireless transceiver configured to translate the RF signal to an analog output signal, the wireless transceiver electrically coupled with an actuator; and
an actuator configured to receive the analog output signal from the wireless transceiver, the actuator further configured to translate the analog output signal into a response. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A system for managing an arrangement of application specific remote devices comprising:
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a computer configured to execute a multiplicity of computer programs, each computer program executed to generate at least one control signal in response to at least one application system input, said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN);
at least one gateway connected to the WAN configured as a two-way communication device to receive and translate the at least one control signal and the at least one application system input;
said gateway further configured to translate and transmit an RF signal containing the control signal and destination information, said gateway further configured to receive and translate the at least one application system input and source information;
at least one wireless transceiver per computer program configured to receive the RF signal from the gateway;
said wireless transceiver configured to translate the RF signal to an analog output signal, the wireless transceiver electrically coupled with an actuator and a sensor;
an actuator configured to receive the analog output signal from the wireless transceiver, the actuator further configured to translate the analog output signal into a response; and
a sensor configured to translate a physical condition into an analog version of the application system input. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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59. A method for collecting information and providing data services comprising:
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adaptively configuring a data translator at the output of a local controller, wherein the data translator converts the output data stream into an information signal consisting of a transmitter code and an information field;
adaptively configuring at least one transmitter with the data translator, wherein the transmitter converts the information signal into a low-power RF signal;
placing a plurality of transceivers dispersed geographically wherein the low-power RF signal is received and repeated as required to communicate the information signal to a gateway, the gateway providing access to a WAN;
translating the low-power RF signal within the gateway into a WAN compatible data transfer protocol;
transferring the translated low-power RF signal via the WAN to a computer wherein the computer is configured to manipulate and store data provided in said signal; and
granting client access to the computer.
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64. A method for controlling an existing control system with a local controller comprising:
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adaptively configuring a data translator disposed between and in communication with both a local controller and a wireless transceiver, wherein the data translator is configured to translate the local controller data stream into an information signal consisting of a transceiver identification code and a concatenation of finction codes, the data translator further configured to translate control signals from the wireless transceiver into local controller recognized control signals;
remotely collecting data from at least one transceiver integrated with the data translator;
processing the data into a RF signal;
transmitting the RF signal to a gateway;
translating the data in the RF signal into a network transfer protocol;
sending the translated data to a computer, wherein the computer is configured to appropriately respond to the data generated by the at least one sensor by generating an appropriate control signal;
sending the control signal via the network to the gateway;
translating the control signal from a network transfer protocol into a RF control signal;
transmitting the RF control signal;
receiving the RF control signal;
translating the received RF control signal into a local controller recognized control signal; and
applying the local controller recognized control signal via a local controller to effect the desired system response. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification