Wide area remote telemetry

• US 6,124,806 A
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Internet Telemetry Corp.
• Original Assignee: Williams Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Cunningham, James D., Holmes, John K., Wonderly, Gregg G., Hollcroft, Keith D., Wallace, Donald I., Schuermann, Chris L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/152,010
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 340/870.11, 340/870.03, 340/870.19, 340/825.06
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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

A wide-area remote telemetry system which monitors and controls remote devices by means of a information control system. The system uses a plurality of sensor interface modules which constantly monitor devices for triggering events. The sensor interface modules transmit information to at least one data collection module which gathers, process, stores and transmits information to a host system via standard external communication systems. The host module receives, records, processes, and transmits information to the network. The information may then be transmitted to customers or may be accessed by customers as desired.

Claims

1. A method for a wide area remote telemetry system, comprising:

receiving information from a sensor;

interpreting information from the sensor;

storing the information into memory for future updates;

generating a first signal of the information to a data collection module at random intervals based on the number of inputs received from the sensor;

transmitting said first signal through a frequency chosen from a collection of frequencies by a hopping algorithm;

scanning the transmission frequencies for the first signal;

detecting the first signal;

receiving the first signal;

storing the first signal information into a data table;

sending a second signal of the information to a host;

receiving the second signal at the host;

verifying the second signal;

compiling the second signal information;

checking the second signal information against an assignment list for primary responsibility assignment;

if no assignment has been made, then relaying primary responsibility information; and

notifying a customer of alarm conditions if necessary.

2. A wide area remote telemetry system, comprising:

at least one sensor interface module;

at least one data collection module with a primary responsibility for acquiring and transmitting information from a sensor interface module;

at least one additional data collection module with a secondary responsibility for acquiring and transmitting information from a sensor interface module wherein each said data collection module stores all information received from each sensor interface module; and

a host module, wherein the information received at the host is verified, compiled, and checked against an assignment list for a primary responsibility assignment, and if no assignment has been made, then primary responsibility information is relayed.