Asset management device and method using simplex satellite transmitter augmented with local area transceiver
First Claim
1. A monitoring device configured to monitor a remote status of mobile assets, comprising:
- a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device;
a simplex satellite transmitter configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites;
a power source;
an external interface for communicating with one or more devices;
a controller in communication with the external interface and including a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and of the simplex satellite transmitter; and
wherein the controller is further configured to control the position location unit to determine the location and to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the location based on the interval schedule.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device, method, and computer program product for monitoring and transmitting a location and a local status of a remote device using a satellite transmitter is provided. The monitoring device includes a position location unit, a satellite transmitter, a power source, a controller, and a short-range radio transceiver. The position location unit is configured to determine a location of the remote device. The satellite transmitter is configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites in low earth orbit. The controller includes a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and the satellite transmitter, and to periodically enable and disable power from the power source to the position location unit and the satellite transmitter. The short-range radio transceiver is used to configure and remotely manage the monitoring device and is used by the monitoring device to monitor local sensors wirelessly.
60 Citations
72 Claims
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1. A monitoring device configured to monitor a remote status of mobile assets, comprising:
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a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device;
a simplex satellite transmitter configured to transmit the location to one or more satellites;
a power source;
an external interface for communicating with one or more devices;
a controller in communication with the external interface and including a power management unit configured to control a power state of the position location unit and of the simplex satellite transmitter; and
whereinthe controller is further configured to control the position location unit to determine the location and to control the simplex satellite transmitter to transmit the location based on the interval schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A monitoring device for monitoring a remote status of a mobile asset, the monitoring device comprising:
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a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device;
a satellite transmitter to transmit the location to one or more satellites;
an external interface for communicating with one or more devices;
a power source; and
a controller in communication with the external interface and including a power management unit configured to control the supply of power from the power source to the satellite transmitter on an interval schedule. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for monitoring a remote device with an asset management device, the method comprising the steps of:
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enabling power to an external interface of the asset management device;
transmitting a synchronization message through the external interface, the synchronization message containing a device identification data field associated with the asset management device;
enabling receive mode on the external interface for a period following transmission of the synchronization message and awaiting a potential response message from one or more remote devices; and
disabling power to the external interface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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- 46. A configuration tool for configuring one or more host satellite asset management devices using a wireless interface, wherein a host satellite asset management device includes a position location unit to determine a location of a remote device, a satellite transmitter to transmit the location to a satellite, and an external interface for communicating with the configuration tool.
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50. A gateway device for controlling one or more host satellite asset management devices, the gateway device comprising:
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a wireless interface compatible with at least one of a host satellite asset management device or a remote sensor device; and
a controller device to control the wireless interface for communicating with a host satellite asset management device or a remote sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. An interrogator device comprising:
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a wireless interface; and
a controller which monitors and detects the presence of one or more host asset management devices, and upon detection of a host device binds to and initiates a function that results in the host device transmitting a satellite message. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
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62. A method for modifying a configuration of a host satellite asset management device using a gateway device, wherein the host satellite asset management device comprises a position location unit, a satellite transmitter, a wireless interface, a power source, and a controller, and wherein the gateway device comprises a controller, a wireless interface, and a communication interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting by the gateway device the presence of the host satellite asset management device using the wireless interface of the gateway device;
establishing a wireless communication channel between the gateway device and the host satellite asset management device; and
modifying by the gateway device the configuration of the host satellite asset management device using the wireless communication channel, wherein the configuration is modified based on instructions received through the communication interface from a remote controller.
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63. A method for communicating data using one or more nodes, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting from a master communication node a Network Master Idle Message comprising a Leader, Master Identification, Control register, Sequence Number, Dither parameter, and a checksum; and
initiating by the master communication node a period of input message detection during which the master communication node awaits a Network Slave Response Message from a slave communication node. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 70, 71)
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67. The method of 63, further comprising the steps of:
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determining a communications need by the slave communication node;
initiating by the slave communication node a period of input message detection during which the slave communication node awaits a Network Master Idle Message;
receiving the Network Master Idle Message by the slave communication node; and
qualifying the master communication node as acceptable using the Master Identification. - View Dependent Claims (69)
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68. The method of 67, further comprising the step of initiating by the slave communication node a transmit function to the master communication node.
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72. The method of 71, wherein the external interface is at least one of a wired or wireless interface.
Specification