SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A HOST COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20120239808A1
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, James, Petite, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25198 Brouter: transfers data from wireless to wired networks, router: wired to wired
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a site controller for use in a communication system. The site controller can be configured to receive original data messages and repeated data messages, identify remote devices in associated with sensor data signals of received data messages and repeated data messages, and provide information related to the sensor data signals to a wide area network for access by a first host computer.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers, wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless transceivers configured to receive a sensor data signal from at least one of a plurality of remote devices and transmit an original data message comprising a corresponding unique identifier and a sensor data signal, and wherein each of the plurality of wireless transceivers further configured to receive an original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message comprising the sensor data signal and corresponding unique identifier, a site controller in communication with at least one of the wireless transceivers and configured to:

receive original data messages and repeated data messages;

identify remote devices in the plurality of remote devices associated with the sensor data signals of the received original data messages and repeated data messages; and

provide information related to the sensor data signals to a wide area network for access by a first host computer.

2. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the site controller is configured to provide information related to the sensor data signals to a wide area network for access by a first host computer only upon receiving a request from a second host computer.

3. The site controller of claim 2, wherein the first host computer and the second host computer are the same host computer.

4. The site controller of claim 2, wherein the first host computer and the second host computer are different host computers.

5. In a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers, one or more of the wireless transceivers configured to receive a sensor data signal from a remote device and transmit a data message comprising the sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifier of the wireless transceiver, the improvement comprising a site controller in communication with a wide area network and at least one of the wireless transceivers, the site controller comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive data messages from one or more of the plurality of wireless transceivers of the wireless communication network;

a network interface device configured to provide communication between the site controller and a wide area network;

a processor; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to;

identify remote devices associated with the sensor data signals of the received data messages; and

provide information related to the sensor data signals to the wide area network for access by a network device.

6. The site controller of claim 5, wherein the instructions are configured to provide information related to the sensor data signals to the wide area network for access by network device only upon receiving a request from the network device.

7. The site controller of claim 5, wherein the instructions are configured to provide information related to the sensor data signals to the wide area network for access by network device only upon receiving a request from a second network device.

8. A wireless communication network comprising:

a first wireless transceiver associated with a device and configured to communicate a data message with said device;

a unique identifier being associated with one of said first wireless transceiver or said device;

a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with said first wireless transceiver; and

a site controller in communication with a wide area network and said first and second wireless transceivers;

said site controller configured to communicate a data message with said first wireless transceiver either directly or via said second wireless transceiver indirectly, identify the device associated with the data message whether communicated directly or indirectly from said unique identifier, and communicate information related to the data message to the wide area network for access by a host device.

9. The wireless communication network of claim 8, wherein said first wireless transceiver communicates wirelessly with said device.

10. The wireless communication network of claim 8, wherein said first wireless transceiver is integral with said device.

11. The wireless communication network of claim 8, wherein said device is a sensor device, said data message contains sensed information, and said data message is communicated to said site controller from said first wireless transceiver directly or from said first wireless transceiver via said second wireless transceiver indirectly.

12. The wireless communication network recited in claim 8, wherein said device is a control device, data message contains control information, and said data message is communicated from said site controller to said first wireless transceiver directly or to said first wireless transceiver via said second wireless transceiver indirectly.