Monitoring system communication system and method

• US 20040230455A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerry L Mckinney 2002 Trust
• Original Assignee: Jerry L Mckinney 2002 Trust
• Inventors: Corey, Richard A., McKinney, Jerry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/02 of industrial processes; of machinery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic communication system and method that permits an environmental equipment system installer to install equipment without the need to run a data line such as a telephone line or other specialized data line thereby decreasing the cost and time required for installing the system. The electronic communication system comprises a first communication node to collect operating data and sensor data. A second communication node positioned proximate the first communication node may comprise a modem for connection to the Internet. A wireless or power line connection provides a node-to-node communication link.

Claims

1. A method for installing each of a plurality environmental of equipment systems without running a specialized data transmission line, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:

physically mounting a first environmental equipment system at a first physical location;

mounting a first communication node physically proximate to said first environmental equipment system;

utilizing said first communication node for collecting said sensor data from said first environmental equipment system;

providing one or more servers connected to said Internet operable for receiving said sensor data, said one or more servers being operable to collect and store said sensor data for said plurality of environmental equipment systems; and

providing a first communication link through which said sensor data from said first communication node is transmitted to said one or more servers without installing at said physical location a metallic cable used only for data communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising mounting a second communication node at a location within less than five hundred yards from said first communication node.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing that said second communication node receives said sensor data and at least temporarily stores said sensor data from said first communication node.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing that said second communication node retransmits said sensor data received from said first communication node to said one or more servers.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of mounting a second communication node further comprises connecting to a telephone jack.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of mounting a second communication node further comprises connecting to a power line.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing that said node-to-node communication link comprises a power line for supplying power to operate said environmental equipment system.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing that said node-to-node communication link comprises a cordless phone connection which utilizes a pre-existing telephone connection.

9. A communication system for a plurality of environmental equipment systems positioned at a plurality of physical locations, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said system comprising:

a plurality of first communication nodes wherein each first communication node is mounted physically proximate to said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said first communication nodes being operable for collecting said sensor data from said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;

a plurality of second communication nodes wherein each second communication node is mounted within less than six hundred yards from respective ones of said first communication nodes; and

a first communication link for said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said second communication nodes being operable for receiving said sensor data from said respective one of said first communication nodes through said first communication link and for at least temporarily storing said sensor data.

10. The communication system of claim 9, further comprising one or more servers connected to said Internet operable for receiving said sensor data from said plurality of environmental equipment systems, and transmission circuitry in each of said second communication nodes for communicating with said Internet so as to transmit said sensor data received from said first communication node to said one or more servers over said Internet.

11. The communication system of claim 10, wherein said communication circuitry comprises a modem.

12. The communication system of claim 9, further comprising a website for making available said sensor data from each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems for use by at least one of a regulatory body, said one or more service personnel from said one or more service companies, and said a plurality of responsible parties.

13. A method for installing a plurality of environmental equipment systems, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service companies, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:

physically mounting said plurality of environmental equipment systems at different physical locations;

positioning a plurality of communication nodes in physical proximity with respect to said plurality of environmental equipment systems;

utilizing respective ones of said plurality of communication nodes for collecting said sensor data from respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;

providing one or more servers connected to the Internet and operable for collecting said sensor data for said plurality of environmental equipment systems;

providing a plurality of node-to-node communication links between at least selected of said plurality of communication nodes;

providing that each of said plurality of node-to-node communication links comprises at least one of a power line or a low power transmitter wireless signal; and

utilizing said plurality of node-to-node communication links for communicating said sensor data to said one or more servers.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising that said plurality of said node-to-node communication links are less than about a few hundred yards in length.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing that said plurality communication nodes receive said sensor data only from respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing that said plurality communication nodes do not receive said sensor data only from respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising that said plurality of said node-to-node communication links are less than about ten miles in length.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of communication nodes utilize transmitters in the one quarter watt to five watt range.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each or said plurality of communication nodes are operable for communication with adjacently positioned of said plurality of communication nodes.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing that said sensor data received by said one or more servers for said plurality of first environmental equipment systems is available for use by at least one of a regulatory body, said one or more service personnel from said one or more service companies, or said a plurality of responsible parties.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing that said plurality of communication nodes are master communication nodes, and further comprising a plurality of slave communication nodes responsive to said master communication nodes and connected thereto by said plurality of communication links.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said plurality of slave communication nodes comprise a plurality of modems.

23. A data communication system for each of a plurality environmental equipment systems which is installable without running a specialized data transmission line, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:

a first communication node positioned physically proximate to said first environmental equipment system, said first communication node being operable for collecting said sensor data from said first environmental equipment system;

one or more servers connected to said Internet operable for receiving said sensor data from said each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems; and

a first communication link through which said sensor data from said first communication node is transmitted to said one or more servers, said first communication link comprising at least one of a power cable, a metallic structure, or a wireless connection.

24. The data communication system of claim 23, further comprising a second communication node mounted at a location within less than five hundred yards from said first communication node, said second communication node being operable for receiving said sensor data through said first communication link.

25. The data communication system of claim 24, further comprising a memory for said second communication node for at least temporarily storing said sensor data from said first communication node.

26. The data communication system of claim 24, further comprising a modem for said second communication node to transmit said sensor data received from said first communication node to said one or more servers.

27. The data communication system of claim 24, further comprising a phone jack plug for insertion into a telephone jack.

28. The data communication system of claim 24, a power line connector.

29. The data communication system of claim 24, wherein said node-to-node communication link comprises a power line for supplying power to operate said environmental equipment system.

30. The data communication system of claim 24, wherein said node-to-node communication link comprises a cordless phone connection which utilizes a pre-existing telephone connection.

31. A method for installing each of a plurality environmental equipment systems, said environmental equipment systems being serviced by one or more service personnel from one or more service entities, a plurality of responsible parties being responsible for one or more payments related to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems, each of said plurality of environmental equipment systems comprising one or more sensors for producing sensor data, said method comprising:

physically mounting said plurality of environmental equipment systems at different physical locations;

positioning a plurality of first communication nodes physically proximate to respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;

utilizing each said plurality of first communication nodes for collecting said sensor data for said respective ones of said plurality of environmental equipment systems;

positioning a plurality of second communication nodes at a location physically spaced apart from respective ones of said plurality of first communication nodes;

providing an Internet data communication link for said plurality of second communication nodes;

providing a node-to-node communication link between respective ones of said first plurality of communication nodes and said second plurality of communication nodes;

providing that said second plurality of communication nodes receives said sensor data and at least temporarily stores said sensor data from said first communication node; and

providing that said second communication node transmits said sensor data received from said first communication node over said Internet through said Internet data communications link.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing that said node-to-node communication link comprises at least one of a power line or a wireless signal;

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising connecting said second communication node to the Internet with a modem.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing one or more servers connected to said Internet operable for receiving said sensor data from said second communication node over said Internet, said one or more servers being operable to collect and store sensor data for said plurality of environmental equipment systems.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

programming at least a portion of said plurality of environmental equipment systems to verify operation at predetermined intervals utilizing said plurality of first communication nodes and said plurality of second communication nodes.