System and methods for interconnecting remote devices in an automated monitoring system

• US 20020031101A1
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hunt Techonologies Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Hunt Techonologies Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Aldoretta, David Philip, Davis, James, Petite, Thomas D.
• Application Number:
  US09/925,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20020031101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The present invention may be viewed as providing a system for interconnecting a plurality of remote devices to a site controller in an automated monitoring system via a wireless communication network. The automated monitoring system may be configured for monitoring and controlling the plurality of remote devices using a host computer adapted to communicate with the site controller via a communication network. Briefly described, in one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of transceivers and a plurality of repeaters. Each of the plurality of transceivers have a unique identifier. Furthermore, each of the plurality of transceivers may be configured for communication with one of the plurality of remote devices and configured to receive a sensor data signal from the corresponding remote device and provide a data message over the wireless communication network using a predefined communication protocol. The data message may comprise the unique identifier corresponding to the transceiver sending the message, as well as the sensor data signal. The plurality of repeaters also have unique identifiers. Each of the plurality of repeaters may be disposed in relation to the plurality of transceivers such that each of the plurality of repeaters is in communication with at least one of the plurality of transceivers via the wireless communication network. Furthermore, each of the plurality of repeaters may be configured to receive the data message from the corresponding transceiver and provide an outgoing data message over the wireless communication network using the predefined communication protocol. The outgoing data message may include the data message received from the corresponding transceiver and the corresponding unique identifier for the repeater.

Claims

1. A system for interconnecting a plurality of remote devices to a site controller in an automated monitoring system via a wireless communication network, the automated monitoring system configured for monitoring and controlling the plurality of remote devices using a host computer adapted to communicate with the site controller via a communication network, the system comprising;

a plurality of transceivers having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of transceivers configured for communication with one of the plurality of remote devices and configured to receive a sensor data signal from the corresponding remote device and provide a data message over the wireless communication network using a predefined communication protocol, the data message comprising the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal; and

a plurality of repeaters having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of repeaters disposed in relation to the plurality of transceivers such that each of the plurality of repeaters is in communication with at least one of the plurality of transceivers via the wireless communication network and configured to receive the data message from the corresponding transceiver and provide an outgoing data message over the wireless communication network using the predefined communication protocol, the outgoing data message including the data message and the corresponding unique identifier for the repeater.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network involves radio frequency communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network involves low power radio frequency communication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined communication protocol comprises a data packet comprising:

a receiver address identifying the receiver of the data packet;

a sender address identifying the sender of the data packet; and

a command indicator specifying a predefined command code;

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of transceivers and repeaters are configured to implement a plurality predefined communication protocols.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transceivers and the plurality of repeaters are further configured to receive a command message via the wireless communication network

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of transceivers further comprises one of the plurality of repeaters.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the data packet further comprises a data payload and a checksum field for performing a redundancy check.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the data packet further comprises:

a packet length indicator which indicates a total number of bytes in the current packet;

a total packet indicator which indicates the total number of packets in the current message; and

a current packet indicator which identifies the current packet; and

a message number identifying the current message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the data packet further comprises a preface and a postscript.

11. An automated monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices, comprising:

a plurality of transceivers having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of transceivers configured for communication with one of the plurality of remote devices and configured to receive a sensor data signal from the corresponding remote device and provide a data message over a wireless communication network using a predefined communication protocol, the data message comprising the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal;

a plurality of repeaters having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of repeaters disposed in relation to the plurality of transceivers such that each of the plurality of repeaters is in communication with at least one of the plurality of transceivers via the wireless communication network and configured to receive the data message from the corresponding transceiver and provide an outgoing data message over the wireless communication network using the predefined communication protocol, the outgoing data message including the data message and the corresponding unique identifier for the repeater;

a site controller configured to communicate with the plurality of repeaters and the plurality of transceivers via the wireless communication network using the predefined communication protocol;

a host computer configured to communicate with the site controller via a communications network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication network involves radio frequency communication.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication network is a wide are a network.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the predefined communication protocol comprises a data packet comprising:

a receiver address identifying the receiver of the data packet;

a sender address identifying the sender of the data packet; and

a command indicator specifying a predefined command code;

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of transceivers and the plurality of repeaters are further configured to receive a command message via the wireless communication network and provide a response message associated with the corresponding remote device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of transceivers further comprises one of the plurality of repeaters.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the data packet further comprises a data payload and a checksum field for performing a redundancy check.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data packet further comprises:

a packet length indicator which indicates a total number of bytes in the current packet;

a total packet indicator which indicates the total number of packets in the current message; and

a current packet indicator which identifies the current packet; and

a message number identifying the current message.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data packet further comprises a preface and a postscript.