Multi-device monitoring and control using intelligent device channel sharing

• US 9,398,479 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pavlovski, Christopher J., Plant, Laurence J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Ronald h
• Application Number:
  US14/496,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20150009833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/72 Routing based on the source address
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/745 Address table lookup; Address filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A physical network address of one of a set of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is translated to a shared logical device physical network address in response to receipt from an application server of a first data packet addressed to the physical network address. The shared logical device physical network address forms a logical device group and physically addresses each of the set of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices over a single wireless communication channel. The physical network address of the one of the set of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is embedded within the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address. The first data packet is sent to the shared logical device physical network address.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

translating, in response to receipt of a first data packet addressed to a physical network address of one of a plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices from an application server, the physical network address to a shared logical device physical network address that forms a logical device group and that physically addresses each of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices over a single wireless communication channel;

embedding the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

sending the first data packet to the shared logical device physical network address;

embedding the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within a broadcast data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

embedding a physical network address of at least one additional wireless customer-premise monitoring device of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the broadcast data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address; and

sending the broadcast data packet to the shared logical device physical network address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a token in the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address to cause the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices to initiate transmission of customer-premise monitoring data generated by the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, in a second data packet comprising a data packet source address of the shared logical device physical network address and a payload with the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices, the customer-premise monitoring data generated by the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices in response to the token inserted into the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

translating the data packet source address of the second data packet from the shared logical device physical network address to the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

sending the second data packet to the application server.

4. The method of claim 1, where:

the single wireless communication channel comprises part of a wireless cellular network; and

wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices are configured with each of;

a shared-identity subscriber identity module (SIM) that operates to communicate via the shared logical device physical network address; and

an individual-identity SIM that operates to communicate via the physical network address of the respective one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

further comprising;

receiving wireless session information for cellular communication with the logical device group from the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

storing the wireless session information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a request for the wireless session information from a second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices via a communication initiated by the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the individual-identity SIM;

retrieving the stored wireless session information; and

sending the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is registered as part of the logical device group;

where sending the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM comprises sending the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM in response to determining that the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is registered as part of the logical device group; and

further comprising adding the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices as an active device within a token rotation with other active devices of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices.

7. A system, comprising:

a communication module; and

a processor programmed to;

translate, in response to receipt of a first data packet addressed to a physical network address of one of a plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices from an application server, the physical network address to a shared logical device physical network address that forms a logical device group and that physically addresses each of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices over a single wireless communication channel;

embed the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

send, via the communication module, the first data packet to the shared logical device physical network address;

embed the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within a broadcast data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

embed a physical network address of at least one additional wireless customer-premise monitoring device of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the broadcast data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address; and

send, via the communication module, the broadcast data packet to the shared logical device physical network address.

8. The system of claim 7, where the processor is further programmed to:

insert a token in the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address to cause the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices to initiate transmission of customer-premise monitoring data generated by the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices;

receive, via the communication module, in a second data packet comprising a data packet source address of the shared logical device physical network address and a payload with the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices, the customer-premise monitoring data generated by the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices in response to the token inserted into the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

translate the data packet source address of the second data packet from the shared logical device physical network address to the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

send, via the communication module, the second data packet to the application server.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a memory and where:

the single wireless communication channel comprises part of a wireless cellular network; and

wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices are configured with each of;

a shared-identity subscriber identity module (SIM) that operates to communicate via the shared logical device physical network address; and

an individual-identity SIM that operates to communicate via the physical network address of the respective one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

the processor is further programmed to;

receive, via the communication module, wireless session information for cellular communication with the logical device group from the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

store the wireless session information in the memory.

10. The system of claim 9, where the processor is further programmed to:

receive, via the communication module, a request for the wireless session information from a second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices via a communication initiated by the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the individual-identity SIM;

retrieve the stored wireless session information from the memory; and

send, via the communication module, the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM.

11. The system of claim 10, where the processor is further programmed to:

determine whether the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is registered as part of the logical device group;

where, in being programmed to send, via the communication module, the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM, the processor is programmed to send, via the communication module, the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM in response to determining that the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is registered as part of the logical device group; and

where the processor is further programmed to add the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices as an active device within a token rotation with other active devices of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code, where the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

translate, in response to receipt of a first data packet addressed to a physical network address of one of a plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices from an application server, the physical network address to a shared logical device physical network address that forms a logical device group and that physically addresses each of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices over a single wireless communication channel;

embed the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

send the first data packet to the shared logical device physical network address;

embed the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within a broadcast data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

embed a physical network address of at least one additional wireless customer-premise monitoring device of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the broadcast data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address; and

send the broadcast data packet to the shared logical device physical network address.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to insert a token in the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address to cause the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices to initiate transmission of customer-premise monitoring data generated by the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

receive, in a second data packet comprising a data packet source address of the shared logical device physical network address and a payload with the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices, the customer-premise monitoring data generated by the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices in response to the token inserted into the first data packet addressed to the shared logical device physical network address;

translate the data packet source address of the second data packet from the shared logical device physical network address to the physical network address of the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

send the second data packet to the application server.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, where:

the single wireless communication channel comprises part of a wireless cellular network; and

wireless customer-premise monitoring devices within the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices are configured with each of;

a shared-identity subscriber identity module (SIM) that operates to communicate via the shared logical device physical network address; and

an individual-identity SIM that operates to communicate via the physical network address of the respective one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to;

receive wireless session information for cellular communication with the logical device group from the one of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices; and

store the wireless session information.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

receive a request for the wireless session information from a second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices via a communication initiated by the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the individual-identity SIM;

retrieve the stored wireless session information; and

send the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:

determine whether the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is registered as part of the logical device group; and

where, in causing the computer to send the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to send the wireless session information to the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices using the physical network address associated with the individual-identity SIM in response to determining that the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices is registered as part of the logical device group; and

where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to add the second of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices as an active device within a token rotation with other active devices of the plurality of wireless customer-premise monitoring devices.