Monitoring business machines using a mesh network on field nodes

• US 8,260,896 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MWA Intelligence Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Trevino, Ramiro, Anderson, Lester
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHANG, SHIRLEY X
• Application Number:
  US12/022,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/34 Modification of an existing route
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices, and software are described for data transmission to and from a monitored device via a mesh network. Monitoring devices report usage, status, location, and other pertinent data via a mesh network, and perhaps other networks as well. Novel data collection, transmission, and aggregation techniques are described. Data transfer may be bi-directional in order to manage and update device status and operation. The monitored device location may be tracked with the reported information.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring business machines using a mesh network, the system comprising:

a plurality of field nodes comprising the mesh network, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of field nodes is each configured to;

monitor usage of a selected one of a first plurality of business machines to generate a first set of monitoring data including location information; and

transmit the first set of monitoring data through other field nodes of the mesh network;

a base station node, in communication with the subset of the plurality of field nodes via the other field nodes; and

configured to;

receive the first set of monitoring data transmitted from the at least a subset of the plurality of field nodes via the other field nodes;

monitor a routing table for the at least a subset of the field nodes;

identify a change in the monitored routing table for one or more of the at least a subset of the field nodes;

identify a change in location based at least in part on the identified change in the monitored routing table and the location information of the first set of monitoring data; and

aggregate the received first set of monitoring data and the data comprising the identified change in location to generate an aggregated set of monitoring data; and

a consolidating server, in communication with the base station node, and configured to;

receive the aggregated set of monitoring data;

collect a second set of monitoring data from a second plurality of business machines via a second network distinct from the mesh network; and

transmit at least a subset of the first set of monitoring data, the data comprising the identified change in location, and the second set of monitoring data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a selected field node of the plurality of field nodes comprises a business machine of the first or the second plurality of business machines.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of at least a subset of the first or the second plurality of business machines is configured to be removably coupled with a selected field node of the plurality of field nodes.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a selected business machine comprising both one of the first plurality of business machines and one of the second plurality of business machines,

wherein a field node of the plurality of field nodes is configured to transmit the first set of usage data collected from the selected business machine when the second network is not operating.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a selected business machine comprising one of the first plurality of business machines and not one of the second plurality of business machines,

wherein a first field node of the plurality of field nodes is coupled with the selected business machine, and the first field node is configured to shut down the selected business machine based at least in part on a message received from the consolidating server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein,

a business machine of the first or the second plurality of business machines comprises a copier, fax, or scanner;

and

the monitoring data comprises usage data, status data, or location data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the consolidating server is further configured to:

transmit the aggregated set of monitoring data and the second set of monitoring data via a third network.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a remote central server computer system, in communication with the consolidating server, and configured to received the aggregated set of monitoring data and the second set of monitoring data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a selected field node of the plurality of field nodes is configured to shut down because of a failure to receive a communication from the consolidating server based at least in part on a change in location of the selected field node causing a change in a routing table entry.

10. A method of collecting business machine monitoring data, the method comprising:

at a server,

receiving a first set of business machine monitoring data including location information collected from field nodes of a first network comprising a mesh network;

monitoring a routing table for at least a subset of the field nodes in the mesh network;

identifying a change in the monitored routing table for one or more of the at least a subset of the field nodes; and

identifying a change in location based at least in part on the identified change in the monitored routing table and the location information;

receiving a second set of business machine monitoring data from a second set of connected business machines via a second network distinct from the mesh network; and

transmitting at least a subset of the first set of business machine monitoring data, data comprising the identified change in location, and the second set of business machine monitoring data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

at the server,

aggregating the first set of business machine monitoring data collected from field nodes of the mesh network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first set and the second set of business machine monitoring data is transmitted via a third network distinct from the first network and the second network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein,

the first set of business machine monitoring data is received from a first base station node collecting data from the field nodes of the first network;

and

the second set of business machine monitoring data is received from a second base station node collecting data from the field nodes of the second network.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a selected field node of the field nodes of the first network comprises a business machine.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein at least a subset of the field nodes of the first or second network is configured to be removably coupled with a business machine.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein,

a selected business machine comprises both one of the first set of business machines and one of the second set of business machines;

and

wherein a field node of the first network is configured to transmit the first set of monitoring data collected from the selected business machine when the second network is not operating.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein,

a selected business machine comprises one of the first set of business machines and not one of the second set of business machines,

wherein a first field node of the field nodes of the first network is coupled with the selected business machine, and the first field node is configured to shut down the selected business machine based at least in part on a message received from the server.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein,

a business machine of the first or the second set of business machines comprises a copier, fax, or scanner;

and

the monitoring data comprises usage data, status data, or location data.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

aggregating the first set of business machine monitoring data collected from field nodes of the mesh network,

wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the aggregated set of monitoring data and the second set of monitoring data via a third network.

20. A system for collecting business machine monitoring data, the system comprising:

means for receiving a first set of business machine monitoring data including location information collected from field nodes of a first network comprising a mesh network;

means for monitoring a routing table for at least a subset of the field nodes in the mesh network;

means for identifying a change in the monitored routing table for one or more of the at least a subset of the field nodes; and

means for identifying a change in location based at least in part on the identified change in the monitored routing table and the location information;

means for receiving a second set of business machine monitoring data from a second set of connected business machines via a second network distinct from the mesh network;

means for consolidating the first set of business machine monitoring data, data comprising the identified change in location, and the second set of business machine monitoring data; and

means for transmitting at least a subset of the consolidated data.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for aggregating the first set of business machine monitoring data collected from field nodes of the mesh network,

wherein the means for transmitting transmits the aggregated set of monitoring data and the second set of monitoring data via a third network.