System and Method for Support of One-Way Endpoints in Two-Way Wireless Networks
First Claim
1. An endpoint proxy device for use with a two-way automatic sensor data collection system, the endpoint having endpoint hardware circuitry, including a processor circuit, a data store operatively coupled to the processor circuit, communications circuitry operatively coupled to the processor circuit and configured to transmit and receive data communications in a wireless network, the endpoint proxy device comprising:
- a remote endpoint interface module implemented with the endpoint hardware circuitry and configured to wirelessly receive, via the hardware circuitry, 1-way transmissions originated from at least one remotely-located 1-way endpoint that is coupled to a corresponding at least one sensor, the 1-way transmissions being transmitted in a 1-way communications protocol representing sensor data from the at least one sensor;
a remote endpoint virtualization module operatively coupled with the remote endpoint interface module, and configured to store, via the hardware circuitry, sensor data received in the 1-way transmissions for a first assigned 1-way endpoint of the at least one 1-way endpoint, and transmit, via the hardware circuitry and the wireless network, a sensor data report based on the sensor data for the first assigned 1-way endpoint, wherein the sensor data report is transmitted via a 2-way communications protocol.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor data collection system includes a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to a corresponding set of endpoints, the endpoints configured to communicate sensor data to a central data collection point via a data communication protocol. A proxy service-enabled endpoint facilitates interoperability with the data collection system for the benefit of endpoints that are otherwise incompatible with the data communication protocol. The endpoint includes a remote endpoint interface module configured to receive communications from at least one of the incompatible endpoints containing incompatible endpoint sensor data. A remote endpoint virtualization module operatively coupled to the remote endpoint interface module and associated with the at least one of the incompatible endpoints. The remote endpoint virtualization module is uniquely addressable according to a corresponding virtual endpoint address, and configured to store the incompatible endpoint sensor data and to communicate that data to the central data collection point via the data communication protocol.
44 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An endpoint proxy device for use with a two-way automatic sensor data collection system, the endpoint having endpoint hardware circuitry, including a processor circuit, a data store operatively coupled to the processor circuit, communications circuitry operatively coupled to the processor circuit and configured to transmit and receive data communications in a wireless network, the endpoint proxy device comprising:
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a remote endpoint interface module implemented with the endpoint hardware circuitry and configured to wirelessly receive, via the hardware circuitry, 1-way transmissions originated from at least one remotely-located 1-way endpoint that is coupled to a corresponding at least one sensor, the 1-way transmissions being transmitted in a 1-way communications protocol representing sensor data from the at least one sensor; a remote endpoint virtualization module operatively coupled with the remote endpoint interface module, and configured to store, via the hardware circuitry, sensor data received in the 1-way transmissions for a first assigned 1-way endpoint of the at least one 1-way endpoint, and transmit, via the hardware circuitry and the wireless network, a sensor data report based on the sensor data for the first assigned 1-way endpoint, wherein the sensor data report is transmitted via a 2-way communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for operating an automatic meter reading (AMR) system containing 2-way endpoints and 1-way endpoints, wherein data from individual endpoints is collected at a central data collection point via the AMR system using a 2-way wireless communications protocol, wherein the 1-way endpoints are incompatible with the 2-way wireless communication protocol, the method comprising:
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monitoring, by a plurality of 2-way endpoints, a communication band used by the 1-way endpoints to detect any 1-way endpoints within communication range of each one of the plurality of 2-way endpoints; reporting, by each of the plurality of 2-way endpoints, any detected 1-way endpoints within its communication range; collecting, by an arbiter device, reports of detected 1-way endpoints from the plurality of 2-way endpoints; sending, by the arbiter device, proxy assignments to selected proxy-assignee endpoints of the plurality of 2-way endpoints, wherein for each of the reported 1-way endpoints at least one proxy-assignee endpoint is assigned to perform a proxy service; and performing the proxy service by each of the proxy-assignee endpoints, including; receiving and storing data transmitted by corresponding 1-way endpoints to which the proxy-assignee endpoints are assigned; and transmitting, via the 2-way wireless communication protocol for reception by the central data collection point, at least a portion of the data transmitted by the corresponding 1-way endpoints. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. In a sensor data collection system including a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to a corresponding set of endpoints, the endpoints being configured to communicate sensor data to a central data collection point via a data communication protocol, a proxy service-enabled endpoint for facilitating data collection system interoperability for incompatible endpoints that are incompatible with the data communication protocol, the proxy service-enabled endpoint comprising:
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a remote endpoint interface module configured to receive communications from at least one of the incompatible endpoints, the communications containing incompatible endpoint sensor data; a remote endpoint virtualization module operatively coupled to the remote endpoint interface module and associated with the at least one of the incompatible endpoints, wherein the remote endpoint virtualization module is uniquely addressable according to a corresponding virtual endpoint address, and configured to store the incompatible endpoint sensor data and to communicate that data to the central data collection point via the data communication protocol.
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32. In a sensor data collection system including a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to a corresponding set of endpoints, the endpoints being configured to communicate sensor data to a central data collection point via a data communication protocol, a proxy service-enabled endpoint for facilitating data collection system interoperability for incompatible endpoints that are incompatible with the data communication protocol, the proxy service-enabled endpoint comprising:
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means for receiving communications from at least one of the incompatible endpoints, the communications containing incompatible endpoint sensor data; means for storing the incompatible endpoint sensor data and for communicating that data to the central data collection point via the data communication protocol.
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Specification