System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for controlling a system comprising:
- remotely collecting data from at least one originating transmitter coupled to a sensor;
processing the data into a RF signal;
transmitting the RF signal to another nearby transmitter coupled to a sensor;
retransmitting the RF signal to a gateway, wherein the RF signal may be further retransmitted by additional transmitters coupled to a sensor prior to being transmitted to the gateway;
translating the data in the RF signal into a network transfer protocol;
sending the translated data to a computer, wherein the computer is configured to appropriately respond to the data generated by the at least one sensor by generating an appropriate control signal;
sending the control signal via the network to the gateway;
translating the control signal from a network transfer protocol into a RF control signal;
transmitting the RF control signal to one or more of another nearby transmitters coupled to a sensor;
retransmitting the RF control signal, wherein the RF control signal may be further retransmitted by the additional transmitters coupled to a sensor;
receiving the RF control signal;
translating the received RF control signal into an analog signal; and
applying the analog signal to an actuator to effect the desired system response.
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system is configured to monitor utility meters in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein each wireless transmitter is integrated into a sensor adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer on a network. The dedicated computer, collects, compiles, and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal, the system further including means for applying the control signal at a designated actuator.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a system comprising:
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remotely collecting data from at least one originating transmitter coupled to a sensor; processing the data into a RF signal; transmitting the RF signal to another nearby transmitter coupled to a sensor; retransmitting the RF signal to a gateway, wherein the RF signal may be further retransmitted by additional transmitters coupled to a sensor prior to being transmitted to the gateway; translating the data in the RF signal into a network transfer protocol; sending the translated data to a computer, wherein the computer is configured to appropriately respond to the data generated by the at least one sensor by generating an appropriate control signal; sending the control signal via the network to the gateway; translating the control signal from a network transfer protocol into a RF control signal; transmitting the RF control signal to one or more of another nearby transmitters coupled to a sensor; retransmitting the RF control signal, wherein the RF control signal may be further retransmitted by the additional transmitters coupled to a sensor; receiving the RF control signal; translating the received RF control signal into an analog signal; and applying the analog signal to an actuator to effect the desired system response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for controlling remote devices comprising:
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a computer configured to execute at least one computer program that generates at least one control signal responsive to a system input signal;
said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN);at least one gateway connected to the WAN configured to receive and translate the at least one control signal;
said gateway further configured to transmit an RF signal containing the control signal and destination information;at least one wireless transceiver coupled to an actuator and a sensor, and configured to receive the RF signal from the gateway and retransmit the RF signal; a destination wireless transceiver configured to receive and translate the retransmitted RF signal to an analog output signal, the destination wireless transceiver electrically coupled with an actuator; and an actuator configured to receive the analog output signal from the destination wireless transceiver, the actuator further configured to translate the analog output signal into a response; the system input signal comprising; a concatenation of information including data from a said sensor, transceiver identification information from an originating transceiver, and transceiver identification information for each transceiver coupled to a said sensor that receives and retransmits the RF signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A system for managing an arrangement of application-specific remote devices comprising:
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a computer configured to execute a multiplicity of computer programs, each computer program executed to generate at least one control signal in response to at least one application system input, said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN); at least one gateway connected to the WAN configured as a two-way communication device to receive and translate the at least one control signal and the at least one application system input;
said gateway further configured to translate and transmit an RF signal containing the control signal and destination information, said gateway further configured to receive and translate the at least one application system input and source information;at least one wireless transceiver coupled to an actuator and a sensor per computer program and configured to receive and retransmit the RF signal; a destination wireless transceiver configured to receive and translate the retransmitted RF signal to an analog output signal, the destination wireless transceiver electrically coupled with an actuator and a sensor; an actuator coupled to the destination wireless transceiver and configured to receive the analog output signal from the destination wireless transceiver, the actuator further configured to translate the analog output signal into a response; and a sensor coupled to the destination wireless transceiver and configured to translate a physical condition into an analog version of the application system input. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification