Food information monitoring system
First Claim
1. A system for gathering food information and communicating the food information to a data collection apparatus via at least one of a plurality of communications technologies, the system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of remote units, each remote unit including;
a sensor device that detects data indicative of a particular food condition; and
an output that propagates signals indicative of the detected data; and
(b) a translator unit for relaying data indicative of particular food conditions to a data collection apparatus, the translator unit including;
at least one remote unit interface that receives signals propagated by the outputs of the remote units;
a wireless transmitter, connected to the at least one remote unit interface, for wirelessly transmitting signals indicative of the detected data received from the plurality of remote units; and
an output adapter, connected to the remote unit interface, for electrically communicating, over an external electrical conductor physically connected to the output adapter, signals indicative of the detected data received from the plurality of remote units.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Two-stage systems and methods are provided for gathering food information and communicating the food information to a data collection apparatus. A system includes a remote unit, having a sensor device and a wireless transmitter; a translator or intermediate unit, having a wireless receiver and transmitter; and a central unit. Data is gathered by the remote unit, wirelessly transmitted to the translator unit, and relayed to the central unit. Communication between the translator unit and the central unit may be wireless as well, or the translator unit may be equipped to transmit either wirelessly or via a direct physical connection.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for gathering food information and communicating the food information to a data collection apparatus via at least one of a plurality of communications technologies, the system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of remote units, each remote unit including; a sensor device that detects data indicative of a particular food condition; and an output that propagates signals indicative of the detected data; and (b) a translator unit for relaying data indicative of particular food conditions to a data collection apparatus, the translator unit including; at least one remote unit interface that receives signals propagated by the outputs of the remote units; a wireless transmitter, connected to the at least one remote unit interface, for wirelessly transmitting signals indicative of the detected data received from the plurality of remote units; and an output adapter, connected to the remote unit interface, for electrically communicating, over an external electrical conductor physically connected to the output adapter, signals indicative of the detected data received from the plurality of remote units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for collecting, in a central location, food information from a remote location, the system comprising:
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(a) a remote unit including; a sensor device that detects data indicative of a particular food condition; and an output that propagates signals indicative of the detected data; (b) a communications network; (c) a translator unit that relays data indicative of particular food conditions to the communications network, the translator unit including; at least one remote unit interface that receives signals propagated by the output of the remote unit; a wireless network connection subsystem, having an input connected to the remote unit interface, for wirelessly transmitting signals, indicative of the detected data received from the remote unit, to the communications network via a wireless network access point; and a wired network connection subsystem, having an input connected to the at least one remote unit interface, for electrically communicating signals, indicative of the detected data received from the remote unit, to the communications network if the communications network is wired directly to an output of the wired network connection subsystem; and (d) a central computer that collects data indicative of a particular food condition from the remote unit via the translator unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A two-stage wireless system for gathering food information and communicating the food information to a data collection apparatus, the system comprising:
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(a) a remote unit including; a sensor device that detects data indicative of a particular food condition, and a first wireless transmitter, coupled to the sensor device, that wirelessly transmits first signals indicative of the detected data; (b) a translator unit including; a first wireless receiver that wirelessly receives the first signals from the remote unit, and a second wireless transmitter, having an input connected to the first wireless receiver, that wirelessly transmits second signals indicative of the detected data received from the remote unit; and (c) a central unit including a second wireless receiver that wirelessly receives the second signals from the translator unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification