System and method for remote asset monitoring
First Claim
1. An asset interface device comprising:
- a clock circuit intermittently activating a circuit of said device for a predetermined period of operation;
a sensor circuit communicating with said clock circuit, wherein said sensor circuit is responsive to operational data related to an asset communicating with said asset interface device;
a transceiver circuit communicating with said sensor circuit, wherein said transceiver circuit transmits and receives said operational data during said predetermined period of operation; and
a control circuit communicating with and interposed between said sensor circuit and said transceiver circuit translating said operational data during said predetermined period of operation, wherein said clock circuit, sensor circuit, transceiver circuit, and control circuit are each configured for intrinsically safe operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for remotely monitoring conditions at a location and for controlling devices at the location. The inventive system includes: a data link in communication with an electronically readable instrument, the data link having a transceiver configured for wireless digital communication; and a data gate having a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with one or more data links, the data gate also having an interface for connection to a communication network such as a land-line telephone network, cellular/pcs network, satellite communication network, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the data gate communicates with a server via the communication network where the information from the electronically readable instrument is processed and made available to other devices over a computer network.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An asset interface device comprising:
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a clock circuit intermittently activating a circuit of said device for a predetermined period of operation;
a sensor circuit communicating with said clock circuit, wherein said sensor circuit is responsive to operational data related to an asset communicating with said asset interface device;
a transceiver circuit communicating with said sensor circuit, wherein said transceiver circuit transmits and receives said operational data during said predetermined period of operation; and
a control circuit communicating with and interposed between said sensor circuit and said transceiver circuit translating said operational data during said predetermined period of operation, wherein said clock circuit, sensor circuit, transceiver circuit, and control circuit are each configured for intrinsically safe operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for communicating between a transmitting device and a receiving device over a network by steps comprising:
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(a) packaging data to be transmitted over said network into a packet at said transmitting device, wherein said packet comprises a plurality of sequential bits;
(b) transmitting said plurality of sequential bits over said network, wherein said plurality of sequential bits are transmitted at a predetermined bit transfer rate by said transmitting device; and
(c) sampling said plurality of sequential bits at said receiving device communicating with said transmitting device, wherein said receiving device samples each bit of said plurality of sequential bits at a predetermined bit sample rate, wherein said predetermined bit sample rate is greater than said predetermined bit transfer rate such that a plurality of samples of each of the plurality of sequential bits are taken during a sample period for each bit of said plurality of sequential bits of said packet. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for communicating over a wireless network between a data link, a data gate, and a server configured to accept HTTP input by steps comprising:
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(a) packaging data to be transmitted over said network into a packet at said data link, wherein said packet comprises a plurality of sequential bits;
(b) constructing a preamble to said plurality of sequential bits at said data link, wherein said preamble comprises a predetermined bit pattern;
(c) transmitting said packet with said preamble over a first radio frequency channel from said data link, wherein said preamble and said plurality of sequential bits are transmitted at a predetermined bit transfer rate by said data link;
(d) transmitting said packet with said preamble over a second radio frequency channel from said data link, wherein said preamble and said plurality of sequential bits are transmitted at a predetermined bit transfer rate by said data link;
(e) detecting said predetermined bit pattern at said data gate of said preamble transmitted over said first radio frequency channel to determine a starting position for said plurality of sequential bits based on said predetermined bit pattern;
else(f) detecting said predetermined bit pattern at said data gate of said preamble transmitted over said second radio frequency channel to determine said starting position for said plurality of sequential bits based on said predetermined bit pattern, when determination of said starting position for said plurality of sequential bits transmitted over said first radio frequency channel fails;
(g) sampling said plurality of sequential bits at said data gate, wherein said data gate samples each bit of said plurality of sequential bits at a predetermined bit sample rate, wherein said predetermined bit sample rate is greater than said predetermined bit transfer rate such that a plurality of samples of each of the plurality of sequential bits are taken during a sample period for each bit of said plurality of sequential bits of said packet; and
(h) transmitting a response packet from said data gate to said data link over said first and second radio frequency channels. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A system for intrinsically safe monitoring of a volatile materials storage and delivery system comprising:
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an asset interface device comprising;
a clock circuit intermittently activating a low quiescent current voltage regulator circuit of said device for a predetermined period of operation;
a capacitor connected to the output of the regulator, wherein said capacitor is charged until a voltage level of said capacitor attains an upper limit during said predetermined period of operation;
a sensor circuit communicating with said clock circuit, wherein said sensor circuit is responsive to operational data related to said volatile materials storage and delivery system;
a transceiver circuit communicating with said sensor circuit, wherein said transceiver circuit transmits and receives said operational data during said predetermined period of operation;
a control circuit communicating with and interposed between said sensor circuit and said transceiver circuit translating said operational data during said predetermined period of operation, wherein said clock circuit, sensor circuit, transceiver circuit, and control circuit are each configured for intrinsically safe operation;
a data transmission repeater communicating with said asset interface device, wherein said data transmission repeater receives said operational data during said predetermined period of operation and retransmits said operational data during said predetermined period of operation;
a data gate communicating with said asset interface device and said data transmission repeater, said data gate detects said transmitted operational data during said predetermined period of operation and retransmits said operational data; and
a server communicating with said data gate, wherein said server receives said operational data from said data gate and transmits operational data to said data gate for management of said volatile materials storage and delivery system, wherein said volatile materials storage and delivery system includes a controllable device communicating with said asset interface device to effect said management of said volatile materials storage and delivery system, and wherein transmission of said operational data is transmitted by steps for communicating over a wireless network between said asset interface device, said data gate, and said server, wherein said server is configured to accept HTTP protocol. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for intrinsically safe monitoring of leakage of an underground storage tank comprising:
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an asset interface device comprising;
a clock circuit intermittently activating a low quiescent current voltage regulator circuit of said device for a predetermined period of operation;
a capacitor connected to the output of the regulator, wherein said capacitor is charged until a voltage level of said capacitor attains an upper limit during said predetermined period of operation;
a sensor circuit communicating with said clock circuit, wherein said sensor circuit is responsive to operational data related to said volatile materials storage and delivery system;
a transceiver circuit communicating with said sensor circuit, wherein said transceiver circuit transmits and receives said operational data during said predetermined period of operation;
a control circuit communicating with and interposed between said sensor circuit and said transceiver circuit translating said operational data during said predetermined period of operation, wherein said clock circuit, sensor circuit, transceiver circuit, and control circuit are each configured for intrinsically safe operation;
a data transmission repeater communicating with said asset interface device, wherein said data transmission repeater receives said operational data during said predetermined period of operation and retransmits said operational data during said predetermined period of operation;
a data gate communicating with said asset interface device and said data transmission repeater, said data gate detects said transmitted operational data during said predetermined period of operation and retransmits said operational data; and
a server communicating with said data gate, wherein said server receives said operational data from said data gate and transmits operational data to said data gate for management of said volatile materials storage and delivery system, wherein said volatile materials storage and delivery system includes a controllable device communicating with said asset interface device to effect said management of said volatile materials storage and delivery system, and wherein transmission of said operational data is transmitted by steps for communicating over a wireless network between said asset interface device, said data gate, and said server, wherein said server is configured to accept HTTP protocol. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification