Methods of and apparatus for programming and managing diverse network components, including electronic-ink based display devices, in a mesh-type wireless communication network
First Claim
1. A wireless communication network for programming and monitoring a plurality of network-managed devices, including electronic-ink based display devices, said wireless communication network comprising:
- a network management computer system having a first processor in communication with a first communication interface coupled to a first communication medium, and supporting the transmission and reception of data packets over the wireless communication network so as to program messages to be displayed on wireless electronic-ink based display devices, operably connected to said wireless communication network;
a network gateway device, supporting said first communication interface and being coupled to said first communication medium through said first communication interface, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said first communication medium and communicating with said network management computer system using said first communication interface and a first set of communication protocols, and said network gateway device also supporting a second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a second communication medium using said second communication interface and a second set of communication protocols, wherein said second set of communication protocols include a wireless network layer protocol;
one or more wireless network routers, each said wireless network router supporting said second communication interface and being interfaced with said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium;
a plurality of network-managed devices, including a plurality of wireless electronic-ink based display devices, each said network-managed end-device having a programmed processor, and supports said second communication interface and is capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, so that said data packets can be accessed and used by said programmed processor in each said network-managed end-device; and
a network coordinator for supporting said second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, wherein said network controller establishes and maintains a wireless interconnected mesh of said wireless network routers, according to said wireless network layer protocol, and interconnecting said plurality of wireless electronic-ink display devices and other said network-managed end-devices on said wireless communication network.
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Abstract
A wireless communication network for programming and monitoring a plurality of network-managed devices, including electronic-ink based display devices, comprising a network management computer system, a network gateway device, one or more wireless network routers, a plurality of network-managed devices, and a network coordinator. The wireless communication network of the present invention bridges the gap between wireless display networks, wireless sensor networks, and the worlds of passive, active and partially-active RFID and real-time locating systems. The wireless communication network of the present invention allows conventional communication network protocols to operate in more flexible ways in dynamic, diverse, and heterogeneous application environments, in fields including retail, healthcare, transport, logistics, manufacturing, education, etc. At the same time, the wireless communication network of the present invention is preferably based on the IEEE 802.15.4 network layer standard, which offers low-cost wireless network communication between a large number of wireless network end-devices.
683 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A wireless communication network for programming and monitoring a plurality of network-managed devices, including electronic-ink based display devices, said wireless communication network comprising:
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a network management computer system having a first processor in communication with a first communication interface coupled to a first communication medium, and supporting the transmission and reception of data packets over the wireless communication network so as to program messages to be displayed on wireless electronic-ink based display devices, operably connected to said wireless communication network; a network gateway device, supporting said first communication interface and being coupled to said first communication medium through said first communication interface, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said first communication medium and communicating with said network management computer system using said first communication interface and a first set of communication protocols, and said network gateway device also supporting a second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a second communication medium using said second communication interface and a second set of communication protocols, wherein said second set of communication protocols include a wireless network layer protocol; one or more wireless network routers, each said wireless network router supporting said second communication interface and being interfaced with said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium; a plurality of network-managed devices, including a plurality of wireless electronic-ink based display devices, each said network-managed end-device having a programmed processor, and supports said second communication interface and is capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, so that said data packets can be accessed and used by said programmed processor in each said network-managed end-device; and a network coordinator for supporting said second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, wherein said network controller establishes and maintains a wireless interconnected mesh of said wireless network routers, according to said wireless network layer protocol, and interconnecting said plurality of wireless electronic-ink display devices and other said network-managed end-devices on said wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31)
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- 27. The wireless communication network of claim 27, wherein each said plurality of wireless electronic-ink display device has an RFID IC containing a unique identifier.
Specification