Monitoring system communication system and method
First Claim
1. A method for installing each of a plurality environmental of equipment systems without running a specialized data transmission line, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:
- physically mounting a first environmental equipment system at a first physical location;
mounting a first communication node physically proximate to said first environmental equipment system;
utilizing said first communication node for collecting said sensor data from said first environmental equipment system;
providing one or more servers connected to said Internet operable for receiving said sensor data, said one or more servers being operable to collect and store said sensor data for said plurality of environmental equipment systems; and
providing a first communication link through which said sensor data from said first communication node is transmitted to said one or more servers without installing at said physical location a metallic cable used only for data communication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an electronic communication system and method that permits an environmental equipment system installer to install equipment without the need to run a data line such as a telephone line or other specialized data line thereby decreasing the cost and time required for installing the system. The electronic communication system comprises a first communication node to collect operating data and sensor data. A second communication node positioned proximate the first communication node may comprise a modem for connection to the Internet. A wireless or power line connection provides a node-to-node communication link.
63 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for installing each of a plurality environmental of equipment systems without running a specialized data transmission line, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:
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physically mounting a first environmental equipment system at a first physical location;
mounting a first communication node physically proximate to said first environmental equipment system;
utilizing said first communication node for collecting said sensor data from said first environmental equipment system;
providing one or more servers connected to said Internet operable for receiving said sensor data, said one or more servers being operable to collect and store said sensor data for said plurality of environmental equipment systems; and
providing a first communication link through which said sensor data from said first communication node is transmitted to said one or more servers without installing at said physical location a metallic cable used only for data communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication system for a plurality of environmental equipment systems positioned at a plurality of physical locations, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said system comprising:
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a plurality of first communication nodes wherein each first communication node is mounted physically proximate to said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said first communication nodes being operable for collecting said sensor data from said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;
a plurality of second communication nodes wherein each second communication node is mounted within less than six hundred yards from respective ones of said first communication nodes; and
a first communication link for said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said second communication nodes being operable for receiving said sensor data from said respective one of said first communication nodes through said first communication link and for at least temporarily storing said sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for installing a plurality of environmental equipment systems, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service companies, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:
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physically mounting said plurality of environmental equipment systems at different physical locations;
positioning a plurality of communication nodes in physical proximity with respect to said plurality of environmental equipment systems;
utilizing respective ones of said plurality of communication nodes for collecting said sensor data from respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;
providing one or more servers connected to the Internet and operable for collecting said sensor data for said plurality of environmental equipment systems;
providing a plurality of node-to-node communication links between at least selected of said plurality of communication nodes;
providing that each of said plurality of node-to-node communication links comprises at least one of a power line or a low power transmitter wireless signal; and
utilizing said plurality of node-to-node communication links for communicating said sensor data to said one or more servers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A data communication system for each of a plurality environmental equipment systems which is installable without running a specialized data transmission line, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:
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a first communication node positioned physically proximate to said first environmental equipment system, said first communication node being operable for collecting said sensor data from said first environmental equipment system;
one or more servers connected to said Internet operable for receiving said sensor data from said each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems; and
a first communication link through which said sensor data from said first communication node is transmitted to said one or more servers, said first communication link comprising at least one of a power cable, a metallic structure, or a wireless connection. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for installing each of a plurality environmental equipment systems, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:
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physically mounting said plurality of environmental equipment systems at different physical locations;
positioning a plurality of first communication nodes physically proximate to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;
utilizing each said plurality of first communication nodes for collecting said sensor data for said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;
positioning a plurality of second communication nodes at a location physically spaced apart from respective ones of said plurality of first communication nodes;
providing an Internet data communication link for said plurality of second communication nodes;
providing a node-to-node communication link between respective ones of said first plurality of communication nodes and said second plurality of communication nodes;
providing that said second plurality of communication nodes receives said sensor data and at least temporarily stores said sensor data from said first communication node; and
providing that said second communication node transmits said sensor data received from said first communication node over said Internet through said Internet data communications link. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification