Self coordinated machine network

• US 20070127429A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chris Kleveland, Mark Harris, Roland Bryan
• Original Assignee: Chris Kleveland, Mark Harris, Roland Bryan
• Inventors: Bryan, Roland, Harris, Mark, Kleveland, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/00 Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A self coordinated machine network is established by two or more machines in proximity with each other via a wired or wireless network infrastructure. The machines are configured to establish an ad hoc network between themselves for sharing information related to their common applications. New machines that come into proximity of the network infrastructure are configured to join an existing ad hoc network. Machines that power down or are removed from proximity of the network infrastructure are eliminated from the ad hoc network. Communications between the constituent machines of the ad hoc network allow the machines to self coordinate the network and redundantly store information pertaining to the common and disparate applications of the various machines that comprise the self coordinated machine network.

Claims

1. A self coordinated machine network encompassing at least one community of machines, characterized by;

individual machine determination of identity in a network community,

individual machine determination of function in the community,

storage in individual machines about the machine'"'"'s and other community members'"'"' function and identity; and

,

a communications link between individual machines and the network.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein at least one machine'"'"'s communications link is a wired link.

3. The network of claim 1 wherein at least one machine'"'"'s communications link is wireless.

4. The network of claim 3 wherein the wireless link is a radio link.

5. The network of claim 3 wherein the wireless link is infrared.

6. The network of claim 1 wherein each machine in a community has a peer-to-peer relationship to other machines in the community.

7. The network of claim 1 wherein each machine communicates with the other machines on the network through a router.

8. The network of claim 1 wherein at least one machine in the community comprises;

a specific purpose portion,

an intelligent processing and communication device portion for communicating with the community; and

,

an interface between the specific purpose portion and the intelligent processing and communication device portion.

9. The network of claim 8 wherein the interface is at least one of;

a two wire interface,

a multiwire interface,

a multiplexed wired interface;

or

a wireless interface.

10. The network of claim 1 further comprising at least one of;

a control station in communication with the network,

a user interface station in communication with the network;

or,

a service station in communication with the network.

11. The network of claim 10 wherein the user interface station communicates with the network through the control station.

12. The network of claim 11 wherein the user interface station and the control station are built as one unit.

13. The network of claim 10 wherein the control station is remote from the community.

14. The network of claim 10 wherein the control station communicates with more than one community of machines.

15. The network of claim 10 wherein the service station is selected from the group which includes;

laptop computers,

palm computers,

personal data assistants, and

cell phone devices.

16. The network of claim 1 wherein a machine contains memory segmented into areas reserved for information about itself and areas reserved for information about other members of it'"'"'s community, such that machines in a community contain enough information about other members to initialize other members when they join or re-join the network.

17. The network of claim 16 wherein the information in the memory segments consists of at least one of;

machine personality,

machine specific programs;

or,

machine features.

18. A method of operating a number of machines, at least one of which requires payment for service to a customer;

comprising,

associating each machine with an intelligent processing and communication device such that each machine is intelligently represented in an ad hoc self-coordinated network,

interfacing the intelligent processing and communication device to an associated machine to control and/or monitor operation of the associated machine,

provide the intelligent processing and communication device with means to read or access a customer payment identification means; and

,

including at least one pay station on the network such that a customer pays an amount to the pay station, is provided with a readable or accessible identification of payment, and by presenting the payment identification to each intelligent processing and communication device representing a networked machine, may use any networked machine'"'"'s services, the network sharing information about total charges incurred, until the amount of payment is exhausted.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the machine types include washers, dryers, vending machines, entertainment machines, and security devices, such as used in a laundry, vending, or gaming center.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the customer payment to the pay station may occur by at least one of;

cash,

credit card,

cell phone;

or,

PayPal.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the customer payment identification means is at least one of;

pin number,

biometric permission such as fingerprint or retinal scan,

RFID;

or,

charge medallion.

22. A self coordinated network encompassing at least one community of entities or machines, comprising;

at least one intelligent device affixed to at least one host machine or entity whereby the intelligent device serves as a proxy for the host machine, representing characteristics of the host machine or entity to the outside world, wherein the network is characterized by functions including one or more of;

individual machine determination of identity in a network community,

individual machine determination of function in the community,

storage in individual machines about the machine'"'"'s and other community members'"'"' function and identity; and

,

a communications link between individual machines and the network.

23. The network of claim 22 wherein the host characteristics include one or more of;

inventory,

profile, or

actuator status