Communications module for wireless communications with an electronic device to enable remote access
First Claim
1. A communications module for facilitating wireless electronic communications with one or more electronic devices, the module comprising:
- a processor;
a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with one or more of the electronic devices, wherein a number of the electronic devices that may communicate with the communications module through the wireless module is dynamic;
a one-way paging module in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with a computer through a paging network;
a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through a communications network;
memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to contact the computer whenever the communications module is contacted by one or more of the electronic devices and being programmed to identify one or more of the electronic devices when one or more of the electronic devices contacts the communications module, wherein the computer is remotely located from the communications module;
a customer identification stored in memory to identify a customer associated with the communications module;
an outbound message queue for storing outbound messages being sent from one or more of the electronic devices to the computer; and
an inbound message queue for storing inbound messages being sent to one or more of the electronic devices from the computer, wherein each inbound message includes a device ID and wherein the memory is further programmed to search the inbound message queue for appropriate inbound messages using the device ID for one or more of the electronic devices and to transmit the appropriate inbound messages to one or more of the electronic devices, wherein the electronic devices include a thermostat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications module is disclosed for facilitating wireless electronic communications with an electronic device. The communications module includes a processor and a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with the electronic device. A paging module is also included that is in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with a computer through a paging network. The communications module also includes a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through a communications network. Further, memory is in electronic communication with the processor for storing data.
16 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A communications module for facilitating wireless electronic communications with one or more electronic devices, the module comprising:
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a processor; a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with one or more of the electronic devices, wherein a number of the electronic devices that may communicate with the communications module through the wireless module is dynamic; a one-way paging module in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with a computer through a paging network; a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through a communications network; memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to contact the computer whenever the communications module is contacted by one or more of the electronic devices and being programmed to identify one or more of the electronic devices when one or more of the electronic devices contacts the communications module, wherein the computer is remotely located from the communications module; a customer identification stored in memory to identify a customer associated with the communications module; an outbound message queue for storing outbound messages being sent from one or more of the electronic devices to the computer; and an inbound message queue for storing inbound messages being sent to one or more of the electronic devices from the computer, wherein each inbound message includes a device ID and wherein the memory is further programmed to search the inbound message queue for appropriate inbound messages using the device ID for one or more of the electronic devices and to transmit the appropriate inbound messages to one or more of the electronic devices, wherein the electronic devices include a thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A communications module for facilitating electronic communications between a computer and one or more remote electronic devices, wherein the computer is programmed to send pages to the communications module through a paging network and wherein the communications module is programmed to contact the computer through a communications network, the module comprising:
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a processor; a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with one or more of the electronic devices, wherein a number of the electronic devices that may communicate with the communications module through the wireless module is dynamic; a one-way paging module in electronic communication with the processor for receiving pager communications from the computer through the paging network; a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through the communications network, wherein the computer is remotely located from the communications module; memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to contact the computer whenever the communications module is contacted by one or more of the electronic devices and being programmed to identify one or more of the electronic devices when one or more of the electronic devices contacts the communications module; a customer identification stored in memory to identify a customer associated with the communications module; an outbound message queue for storing outbound messages being sent from one or more of the electronic devices to the computer; and an inbound message queue for storing inbound messages being sent to one or more of the electronic devices from the computer, wherein each inbound message includes a device ID and wherein the memory is further programmed to search the inbound message queue for appropriate inbound messages using the device ID for one or more of the electronic devices and to transmit the appropriate inbound messages to one or more of the electronic devices, wherein the electronic devices include a thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 48, 49)
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27. A communications module for facilitating electronic communications between a computer and a plurality of remote electronic devices, wherein the computer is programmed to send pages to the communications module through a paging network and wherein the communications module is programmed to contact the computer through a communications network, the module comprising:
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a processor; a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with the plurality of electronic devices, wherein a number of the electronic devices that may communicate with the communications module through the wireless module is dynamic; a one-way paging module in electronic communication with the processor for receiving pager communications from the computer through the paging network; a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through the communications network, wherein the computer is remotely located from the communications module; memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to contact the computer whenever the communications module is contacted by one or more of the plurality of electronic devices and being programmed to identify one or more of the electronic devices when one or more of the electronic devices contacts the communications module; a customer identification stored in memory to identify a customer associated with the communications module; an outbound message queue for storing outbound messages being sent from the plurality of electronic devices to the computer; and an inbound message queue for storing inbound messages being sent to the plurality of electronic devices from the computer, wherein each inbound message includes a device ID and wherein the memory is further programmed to search the inbound message queue for appropriate inbound messages using the device ID for one or more of the electronic devices and to transmit the appropriate inbound messages to one or more of the electronic devices, wherein the electronic devices include a thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for facilitating electronic communications between a computer and one or more remote electronic devices, the method comprising:
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sending one or more inbound messages, by the computer, to a communications module, wherein the communications module comprises; a processor; a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with one or more of the electronic devices, wherein a number of the electronic devices that may communicate with the communications module through the wireless module is dynamic; a one-way paging module in electronic communication with the processor for receiving pager communications from the computer through a paging network, wherein the computer is remotely located from the communications module; a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through a communications network; memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to contact the computer whenever the communications module is contacted by one or more of the electronic devices and being programmed to identify one or more of the electronic devices when one or more of the electronic devices contacts the communications module; and a customer identification stored in memory to identify a customer associated with the communications module; storing the inbound messages in an inbound message queue, wherein each inbound message includes a device ID; searching the inbound message queue for appropriate inbound messages using the device ID for one or more of the electronic devices, wherein the electronic devices include a thermostat; sending one or more of the inbound messages to one or more of the electronic devices; receiving an outbound message from one or more of the electronic devices; storing the outbound message in an outbound message queue; and sending the outbound message to the computer from the communications module. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A communications module for facilitating wireless electronic communications with one or more electronic devices the module comprising:
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a processor; a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with one or more of the electronic devices, wherein a number of the electronic devices that may communicate with the communications module through the wireless module is dynamic; a first modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with a computer through a communications network, wherein the computer is remotely located from the communications module; a second modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through the communications network; a one-way paging module in electronic communication with the processor for receiving pager communications from the computer through a paging network; memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to contact the computer whenever the communications module is contacted by one or more of the electronic devices and being programmed to identify one or more of the electronic devices when one or more of the electronic devices contacts the communications module; a customer identification stored in memory to identify a customer associated with the communications module; an outbound message queue for storing outbound messages being sent from one or more of the electronic devices to the computer; and an inbound message queue for storing inbound messages being sent to one or more of the electronic devices from the computer, wherein each inbound message includes a device ID and wherein the memory is further programmed to search the inbound message queue for appropriate inbound messages using the device ID for one or more of the electronic devices and to transmit the appropriate inbound messages to one or more of the electronic devices, wherein the electronic devices include a thermostat.
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47. A system for facilitating electronic communications between a computer and a plurality of remote electronic devices, wherein the computer is programmed to send pages to a communications module through a paging network and wherein the communications module is programmed to contact the computer through a communications network, wherein the computer is remotely located from the communications module, the system comprising:
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a computer, wherein the computer comprises; a processor; a paging module in electronic communication with the processor for sending pager communications to the communications module though a paging network; a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the communications module through a communications network; a message handler for reading and writing data to and from paging software in order to send and receive messages through the paging network; and memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to periodically contact the communications module; a communications module, wherein the module comprises; a processor; a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with the plurality of electronic devices, wherein a number of the electronic devices that may communicate with the communications module through the wireless module is dynamic; a one-way paging module in electronic communication with the processor for receiving pager communications from the computer through the paging network; a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through the communications network; memory in electronic communication with the processor for storing data, the memory being programmed to contact the computer whenever the communications module is contacted by one or more of the plurality of electronic devices and being programmed to identify one or more of the electronic devices when one or more of the electronic devices contacts the communications module; an outbound message queue for storing outbound messages being sent from the plurality of remote electronic devices to the computer; and an inbound message queue for storing inbound messages being sent to the plurality of remote electronic devices from the computer, wherein each inbound message includes a device ID and wherein the memory is further programmed to search the inbound message queue for appropriate inbound messages using the device ID for one or more of the electronic devices and to transmit the appropriate inbound messages to one or more of the electronic devices, wherein the electronic devices include a thermostat.
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Specification