Method and system for transmitting, receiving and collecting information related to a plurality of working components
First Claim
1. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, and from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of:
- attaching and operably connecting a low power transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver; and
positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of working components in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location;
wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module, andwherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event,the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component;
the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules;
each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module;
re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the area control module; and
said area control module communicating said message to the central location.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for transmitting, receiving, and collecting information related to a plurality of working components, such as street lamps, allows for efficient and effective monitoring and controlling of working components through short-distance radio communications at low power levels. In a preferred implementation of the present invention, a communications network includes a plurality of transceiver modules, each of which is secured and operably connected to a working component. These transceiver modules transmit and receive radio communications or “messages” representative of the status of the working component from one another in a controlled manner, with each message ultimately being directed to an area control module. At the area control module, the messages are collected and transferred to a network support server, which analyzes the information and data contained in such messages, and then transfers such information and data to control and display units through a computer network for review by end users. The control and display units further allow for control of the working components by initiating transmission of radio communications containing instructions or programming code to one or more particular transceiver modules.
143 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, and from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of:
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attaching and operably connecting a low power transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver; and
positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of working components in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location;wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module, and wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the area control module; and said area control module communicating said message to the central location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, comprising:
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a plurality of low power transceiver modules, each such transceiver module being secured and operably connected to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, each such transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver; and at least one area control module positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of transceiver modules in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module and itself dynamically initiates update of the best path to the area control module; a network support server in communication with said area control module; and
one or more display and control units in communication with said network support server;wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said designated path until the message is received at the area control module; said area control module communicating said message to the network support server; and said network support server analyzing said message, and communicating the status information contained therein to the one or more display and control units for review by an end user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A communications network for the monitoring and control of a plurality of independent working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, comprising:
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a plurality of low power transceiver modules, each such transceiver module being secured and operably connected to one of said working components of the system monitored by a utility, each such transceiver module including at least a microcontroller for controlling operation and function of the transceiver module, and a radio transceiver; at least one area control module positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of transceiver modules in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module; a network support server in communication with said area control module; and
one or more display and control units in communication with said network support server;wherein a diagnostics message from one of said transceiver modules containing status information associated with the working component to which said one transceiver module is secured is (a) transmitted through the radio transceiver associated with the transceiver module, (b) received by one or more neighboring transceiver modules, (c) selectively re-transmitted by receiving transceiver modules if determined to be on the best path until received by the area control module, and (d) communicated to the network support server by the area control module; said network support server analyzing said message, and communicating the status information contained therein to the one or more display and control units for review by an end user. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, from each such working component to a network access point, comprising the steps of:
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attaching and operably connecting a low power transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller for controlling operation and function of the transceiver module, and a radio transceiver, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the network access point without any prior knowledge of the area control module; wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said neighboring transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the network access point; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the network access point. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of:
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attaching and operably connecting a transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver operating at a power level of no more than 500 mW; and positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of working components in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module; wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the area control module; and said area control module communicating said message to the central location. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of:
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attaching and operably connecting a low power transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by the utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver operating in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz frequency band or the 2.40 GHz to 2.48 GHz frequency band; and positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of working components in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module; wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the area control module; and said area control module communicating said message to the central location. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification