Distributed SCADA system for remote monitoring and control of access points utilizing an intelligent uninterruptible power supply system for a WISP network
First Claim
1. An access point of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the access point including at least one antenna, a power supply and supporting electronics, and further including programming instruction modules that comprise:
- (a) a power supply program module resident at the power supply for energizing the access point permitting wireless signals to be received and transmitted along a backbone of the wireless network;
(b) an access point program module resident at the access point for communicating with the power supply to process (i) commands relayed to the access point that are initiated from a central control console of the WISP network, and (ii) access point resident programming, (c) wherein the central control console, and the access point and the power supply running their respective program modules communicate to maintain the access point or power supply. or both, in an operating mode within the network by identifying power supply or access point problems, or both, and preventing power supply disruptions by initiating power cycling, or an access point program module programming reset or a power supply program module programming reset, or combinations thereof.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent uninterruptible power supply (IUPS) for an access point (AP) within a wireless Internet service provider (WISP) network allows for the interaction with and integration of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. This results in an integrated wireless network management system allows for the control, monitoring and reporting of the system. The access points include at least one antenna, CPU, supporting passive and dynamic component electronics and an access point program module including volatile and/or non-volatile memory. Further, the IUPS includes one or more batteries, power regulation and charging circuits, logic circuits and a resident power supply program module for communication with the access point. Commands can be initiated remotely and status communication requests can be initiated either locally from the access point to the IUPS or from a remote central control console and relayed from the IUPS via the access point. The access point further acts as a liaison to the IUPS requesting status and event monitoring via a messaging protocol, and access point file system. The IUPS module is configured to trigger an automatic power supply cycling of the AP upon determination that the AP is not operating properly. The SCADA system configuration includes multiple components incorporating the concepts of centralized control and data acquisition, access point relays and their management via an IUPS and remote centralized control console.
-
Citations
57 Claims
-
1. An access point of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the access point including at least one antenna, a power supply and supporting electronics, and further including programming instruction modules that comprise:
-
(a) a power supply program module resident at the power supply for energizing the access point permitting wireless signals to be received and transmitted along a backbone of the wireless network;
(b) an access point program module resident at the access point for communicating with the power supply to process (i) commands relayed to the access point that are initiated from a central control console of the WISP network, and (ii) access point resident programming, (c) wherein the central control console, and the access point and the power supply running their respective program modules communicate to maintain the access point or power supply. or both, in an operating mode within the network by identifying power supply or access point problems, or both, and preventing power supply disruptions by initiating power cycling, or an access point program module programming reset or a power supply program module programming reset, or combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
- 7. A power supply of an access point of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the access point further including at least one antenna, supporting electronics and an access point program module, the power supply comprising a power supply program module resident at the power supply for communicating with the access point to process (a) commands relayed to the access point initiated from a central control console of the WISP network, and (ii) status sensing and communication programming configured to trigger an automatic power supply cycling, or an access point or power supply programming reset, or combinations thereof, when the power supply or other access point equipment is determined to not be operating properly.
- 13. A central control console of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of access points each including at least one antenna, a power supply, supporting electronics and access point and power supply program modules, the central control console comprising a network-connected workstation running a central control program for exercising centralized access point control including communicating commands to and receiving status from the access points, wherein the access points communicate with their power supplies to automatically implement the commands initiated from the central control console in one or more localized routines, such that centralized control is provided while avoiding a substantial increase of network traffic.
-
20. A supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) method for monitoring and controlling from a central control console a plurality of access points each including at least one antenna, a power supply, supporting electronics and access point programming and power supply program modules, the method comprising:
-
(a) running a control program that is resident at the central control console; and
(b) exercising centralized access point control including communicating commands to and receiving status from the access point, wherein the access point running the access point program module communicates with the power supply running the power supply program module to automatically implement the commands initiated from the central control console in one or more localized routines, such that centralized control is provided while avoiding a substantial increase of network traffic. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method of operating an access point of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the access point including at least one antenna, a power supply and supporting electronics, and further including power supply and access point program modules, the method comprising:
-
(a) energizing the power supply for the access point permitting wireless signals to be received and transmitted including running a power supply program module resident at the power supply;
(b) running an access point program module resident at the access point;
(c) communicating commands from the access point to the power supply that are initiated from a central control console of the WISP network; and
(d) communicating commands from the access point to the power supply based on status signals from the power supply for maintaining the access point in an operating mode within the network by preventing power supply disruptions. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method of operating a power supply of an access point of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the access point further including at least one antenna, supporting electronics and an access point program module, the power supply comprising a power supply program module resident at the power supply, the method comprising:
-
(a) communicating with the access point to process commands initiated from a central control console of the WISP network;
(b) sensing a power supply status; and
(c) communicating with the access point for triggering an automatic power cycling routine, an access point programming reset routine, or a power supply programming reset routine, or combinations thereof, when the power supply or other access point equipment is determined to not be operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) method for monitoring and controlling from a central control console a plurality of access points each including at least one antenna, a power supply, supporting electronics and access point programming and power supply program modules, the method comprising:
-
(a) running a control program that is resident at the central control console; and
(b) exercising centralized access point control including communicating commands to and receiving status from the access point, wherein the access point running the access point program module communicates with the power supply running the power supply program module to automatically implement the commands initiated from the central control console in one or more localized routines, such that centralized control is provided while avoiding a substantial increase of network traffic. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of operating an access point of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the access point including at least one antenna, a power supply and supporting electronics, and further including power supply and access point program modules, the method comprising:
-
(a) energizing the power supply for the access point permitting wireless signals to be received and transmitted including running a power supply program module resident at the power supply;
(b) running an access point program module resident at the access point;
(c) communicating commands from the access point to the power supply that are initiated from a central control console of the WISP network; and
(d) communicating commands from the access point to the power supply based on status signals from the power supply for maintaining the access point in an operating mode within the network by preventing power supply disruptions. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
-
52. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of operating a power supply of an access point of a wireless internet service provider (WISP) network that includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the access point further including at least one antenna, supporting electronics and an access point program module, the power supply comprising a power supply program module resident at the power supply, the method comprising:
-
(a) communicating with the access point to process commands initiated from a central control console of the WISP network;
(b) sensing a power supply status; and
(c) communicating with the access point for triggering an automatic power cycling routine, an access point programming reset routine, or a power supply programming reset routine, or combinations thereof, when the power supply or other access point equipment is determined to not be operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
-
Specification