Method and apparatus for inexpensively monitoring and controlling remotely distributed appliances

• US 7,783,738 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International Incorporated (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rodgers, David, Keyghobad, Seyamak
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US12/490,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/216, 709/217, 709/223, 709/226, 709/229, 709/224, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

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.

Claims

1. A method for sending a command, comprising:

parsing, by a server, the command to determine the command'"'"'s nature, wherein the command affects at least one aspect of a communication system including at least one appliance;

formatting, by the server, the command for transmission over a wide area network (WAN);

transmitting, by the server;

the command to a first communications device;

parsing the command at the first communications device to determine the if the command is for the first communications device or if the command is for a second communications device;

executing the command if the command is for the first communications device;

reformatting the command for transmission over a local area network LAN) if the command is for the second communications device;

transmitting the command to the second communications device if the command is for the second communications device;

parsing the command at the second communications device to determine if the command is for the second communications device; and

executing the command at the second communications device if the command is for the second communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications device, upon execution of the command, transmits a confirmation of the executed command to the server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communications device, upon execution of the command, transmits a confirmation of the executed command to the server via the first communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising acknowledging a received transmission by the second communications device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

checking for an acknowledgement from the second communications device by the first communications device; and

retransmitting the command to the second communications device by the first communications device if acknowledgement is not received.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sending an error message to the server if acknowledgement is not received.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising acknowledging a received transmission by the first communications device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

checking for an acknowledgement from the first communications device by the server; and

retransmitting the command to the first communications device by the server if acknowledgement is not received.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retransmitting the command via a second WAN to the first communications device by the server upon a plurality of unacknowledged transmissions.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retransmitting the command to another first communications device by the server upon a plurality of unacknowledged transmissions.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the LAN and the WAN use two different communications protocols.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the LAN and the WAN is a wireless network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the LAN and the WAN is a bi-directional communications network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the LAN is one of an RF network, a Bluetooth connection, a power-line carrier (PLC), a phone line protocol, or an Ethernet link.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of first communications devices and the plurality of first communications devices communicate with each other.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of second communications devices and the plurality of second communications devices communicate with each other.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the command instructs the second communications device to control an appliance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the command instructs the second communications device to obtain data or control the appliance.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is initiated by a user.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the user has authority to issue the command; and

issuing the command based on the determined authority of the user.

21. The method of claim 1 where command is autonomously generated.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the appliance is at least one of a vending machine, a thermostat, a switch, a utility meter, and a kitchen appliance.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of relaying the command to another communications device at the same level.

24. A method for sending a command, comprising:

parsing, by a server, the command to determine the command'"'"'s nature, wherein the command affects at least one aspect of a communication system including at least one appliance;

formatting, by the server, the command for transmission over a wide area network (WAN);

transmitting, by the server;

the command to a first communications device;

parsing the command at the first communications device to determine the if the command is for the first communications device or if the command is for a second communications device;

executing the command if the command is for the first communications device;

reformatting the command for transmission over a local area network (LAN) if the command is for the second communications device;

transmitting the command to the second communications device if the command is for the second communications device;

parsing the command at the second communications device to determine if the command is for the second communications device; and

executing the command at the second communications device if the command is for the second communications device; and

wherein the appliance is a utility meter.