METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INEXPENSIVELY MONITORING AND CONTROLLING REMOTELY DISTRIBUTED APPLIANCES
First Claim
1. A system for communicating appliance data, the system comprising:
- a cluster communications module, including;
a core module;
a first local area network LAN) communication device coupled to the core module; and
a wide area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the core module,wherein the core module transmits and receives data through the LAN communication device via a first communications protocol and transmits and receives data through the WAN communication device via a second communications protocol; and
a device communications module communicatively coupled to an appliance, the device communications module including;
a microprocessor;
a second LAN communication device coupled to the microprocessor; and
a device interface coupled between the microprocessor and the appliance and being adapted to transmit data to and receive data from the appliance via a third communications protocol;
wherein the cluster communications module is communicatively coupled to e device communications module.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and associated apparatus are described that enables unattended, remotely distributed appliances, such as vending machines, utility meters, thermostats and kitchen appliances (ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) to be connected inexpensively to each other and to a centrally located server. The apparatus 1) uses relatively simple “personality” modules to adapt the apparatus to the application in combination with a sophisticated core module that provides the intelligence needed to process data locally, to format that data and to transfer it to a remote server and 2) uses existing Internet-based communication links, thereby avoiding the costly proprietary links used with current state-of-the-art solutions.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for communicating appliance data, the system comprising:
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a cluster communications module, including; a core module; a first local area network LAN) communication device coupled to the core module; and a wide area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the core module, wherein the core module transmits and receives data through the LAN communication device via a first communications protocol and transmits and receives data through the WAN communication device via a second communications protocol; and a device communications module communicatively coupled to an appliance, the device communications module including; a microprocessor; a second LAN communication device coupled to the microprocessor; and a device interface coupled between the microprocessor and the appliance and being adapted to transmit data to and receive data from the appliance via a third communications protocol; wherein the cluster communications module is communicatively coupled to e device communications module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A device communications module communicatively coupled to an appliance, comprising:
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a microcontroller; a local area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the microcontroller; and a device interface coupled between the microcontroller and the appliance and being adapted to transmit data to and receive data from the appliance, wherein the device communication module is adapted to communicate with at least one of a device communications module and a cluster communications module via the LAN communication device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cluster communications module, comprising:
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a core module; a local area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the core module; and a wide area network (WAN) communication device coupled to the core module, wherein the core module transmits and receives data through the LAN communication device via a first communications protocol and transmits and receives data through the WAN communication device via a second communications protocol, and wherein the cluster communications module is adapted to communicate with at least one of a device communications module and a cluster communications module via the LAN communication device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A communications module, comprising:
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a core module; a microprocessor; a local area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the core module; a wide area network (WAN) communication device coupled to the core module; and a device interface coupled between the microprocessor and an appliance and being adapted to transmit data to and receive data from the appliance via a first communications protocol, wherein the core module transmits and receives data through the LAN communication device via a second communications protocol and transmits and receives data through the WAN communication device via a third communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification