Method and apparatus for inexpensively monitoring and controlling remotely distributed appliances
DCFirst Claim
1. A cluster communications module, comprising:
- a core module, comprisinga central processing unit;
at least one data bus coupled to the central processing unit;
a read-only memory (ROM) in communication with the at least one data bus;
a random access memory (RAM) in communication with the at least one data bus;
an oscillator coupled to the central processing unit; and
a power regulator coupled to the central processing unit;
a local area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the core module;
a wide area network (WAN) communication device coupled to the core module;
wherein the core module is configured to communicate data and instructions through the LAN communication device using a first communication mode, and is configured to communicate data and instructions through the WAN communications device using a second communication mode and wherein the cluster communications module at least receives messages from at least one server and retransmits the messages to at least one appliance or receives message from at least one appliance and retransmits the message to at least one server.
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Abstract
A method and associated apparatus are described that enables unattended, remotely distributed appliances, such as vending machines, utility meters, thermostats and kitchen appliances (ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) to be connected inexpensively to each other and to a centrally located server. The apparatus 1) uses relatively simple “personality” modules to adapt the apparatus to the application in combination with a sophisticated core module that provides the intelligence needed to process data locally, to format that data and to transfer it to a remote server and 2) uses existing Internet-based communication links, thereby avoiding the costly proprietary links used with current state-of-the-art solutions.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A cluster communications module, comprising:
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a core module, comprising a central processing unit; at least one data bus coupled to the central processing unit; a read-only memory (ROM) in communication with the at least one data bus; a random access memory (RAM) in communication with the at least one data bus; an oscillator coupled to the central processing unit; and a power regulator coupled to the central processing unit; a local area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the core module; a wide area network (WAN) communication device coupled to the core module; wherein the core module is configured to communicate data and instructions through the LAN communication device using a first communication mode, and is configured to communicate data and instructions through the WAN communications device using a second communication mode and wherein the cluster communications module at least receives messages from at least one server and retransmits the messages to at least one appliance or receives message from at least one appliance and retransmits the message to at least one server.
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2. A cluster communications module, comprising:
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a core module, comprising; a central processing unit; at least one data bus coupled to the central processing unit; a read-only memory (ROM) in communication with the at least one data bus; a random access memory (RAM) in communication with the at least one data bus; an oscillator coupled to the central processing unit; and a power regulator coupled to the central processing unit; a local area network (LAN) communication device coupled to the core module; and a wide area network (WAN) communication device coupled to the core module; wherein the core module transmits and receives data through the LAN communication device via a first communications protocol and transmits and receives data through the WAN communications device via a second communications protocol. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification