WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE AND DOCKING APPARATUS

• US 20140002233A1
• Filed: 02/15/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interactive Control Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Interactive Control Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Good, James, Miller, Ronald J
• Application Number:
  US14/003,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3062 where the monitored property is the power consumption power management in a computing system G06F1/3203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3093 Configuration details thereof, e.g. installation, enabling, spatial arrangement of the probes

Abstract

A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source, the Module linked to an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source via a Docking Apparatus.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source, the device comprising a Wireless Control Module linked to an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source via a Docking Apparatus, wherein:

the Wireless Control Module comprises a unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag and wirelessly communicates with a Computer System connected to one or more Radio Frequency Transceivers in an Operating Environment using radio frequency communication;

the RF Transceivers wirelessly communicate using radio frequencies and a protocol with one or more Wireless Control Modules;

the Wireless Control Module is a device that monitors, measures and controls the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source to which it is linked;

the Wireless Control Module communicates with the Computer System via one or more RF Transceivers and the RFID tag, accepts commands issued from the Computer System as transmitted from a RF Transceiver, executes those commands, takes measurements, gathers information, and wirelessly communicates a variety of data and information back to the Computer System via a RF Transceiver;

the Docking Apparatus connects a Wireless Control Module to a piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source;

the Computer System provides a system operator with overall management and control of a plurality of Wireless Control Modules within the Operating Environment and comprises a programmable computer with a user interface, a computer display screen, a mouse, a keyboard, a database, and I/O ports suitable for communicating with one or more Wireless Control Modules; and

the Computer System further provides real-time and historical visibility to electrical usage, performance data of each piece of Utilization Equipment to which a Wireless Control Module is linked, and management and control over the source of electrical supply as well as the amount of electricity consumed by each individual piece of Utilization Equipment.

2. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source of claim 1 wherein the Wireless Control Module and the Docking Apparatus are provided as one unit.

3. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source of claim 1 wherein Wireless Control Module functions include receiving instructions in the form of commands sent from a Computer System via the RF Transceiver;

executing those commands;

taking of measurements; and

collecting other data that is then sent back to a Computer System via the RF Transceiver.

4. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source of claim 1 wherein individual pieces of Utilization Equipment or Alternate Electrical Sources are linked to a separate Wireless Control Module through a Docking Apparatus.

5. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source of claim 1 wherein:

one or more Radio Frequency (RF) Transceivers are linked to the Computer System;

the Computer System passes instructions to the RF Transceiver;

the RF Transceiver wirelessly communicates requests for information and commands to one or more Wireless Control Modules using radio frequency communication; and

the RF Transceivers also receive information from one or more Wireless Control Modules and pass that information on to the Computer System.

6. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source of claim 1 wherein the function of the Alternate Electrical Source is to provide an alternate and/or supplemental electrical power source to that provided by the Electrical Utility supplier.

7. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source of claim 1 wherein the Alternate Electrical Source comprises a generator, a solar power source, a wind power source, or a fuel cell.

8. A device for monitoring and controlling the operation of an individual piece of Utilization Equipment or an Alternate Electrical Source of claim 1 wherein the Utilization Equipment is a piece of equipment that utilizes electric energy for electronic, electromechanical, chemical, heating, or lighting.