Wireless communication networks for providing remote monitoring of devices

• US 7,103,511 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Statsignal IPC LLC (Statsignal)
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMALLEY, MARY CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US09/925,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/57, 315133-134, 315/139, 315/149, 340/870.01, 340/870.06, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 455/73, 455/403, 455422-423
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0208 characterized by the configuration of the monitoring system
• 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

Wireless communication networks for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices are provided. Briefly, one embodiment of a wireless communication network may comprise a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers. Each of the plurality of wireless transceivers may be configured to receive a sensor data signal from one of the plurality of remote devices and transmit an original data message using a predefined wireless communication protocol. The original data message may comprise the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal. Each of the plurality of wireless transceivers may be configured to receive the original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol. The repeated data message may include the sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifier. Furthermore, at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers may be further configured to provide the original data messages and the repeated data messages to a site controller connected to a wide area network. The site controller may be configured to manage communications between the wireless communication network and a host computer connected to the wide area network.

Claims

1. A wireless communication network adapted for use in an automated monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a wide area network, the wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of wireless transceivers configured to receive a sensor data signal from one of the plurality of remote devices and transmit an original data message using a predefined wireless communication protocol, the original data message comprising the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal, and further configured to receive the original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifier; and

a site controller in communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers, the site controller configured to receive the original data messages and the repeated data messages, identify the remote device associated with the corresponding sensor data signal, and provide information related to the sensor data signal to the wide area network for delivery to the host computer.

2. The wireless communication network of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of repeaters having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of repeaters in communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and configured to receive the original data message transmitted by the at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal from the original data message and the unique identifier corresponding to the repeater.

3. The wireless communication network of claim 1, wherein the site controller is further configured to provide a command message to one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and each of the plurality of wireless transceivers are further configured to transmit, in response to the command message, the original data message, wherein the original data message corresponds to the command message.

4. The wireless communication network 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 wireless communication network of claim 4, 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;

a current packet indicator which identifies the current packet; and

a message number identifying the current message.

6. The wireless communication network of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers are further configured to receive signals via Bluetooth technology.

7. The wireless communication network of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers are further configured to receive signals via IEEE standard 802.11(b).

8. A wireless communication network adapted for use in an automated monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a wide area network, the wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of wireless communication means having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of wireless communication means configured to receive a sensor data signal from one of the plurality of remote devices and transmit an original data message using a predefined wireless communication protocol, the original data message comprising the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal, and further configured to receive the original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifier;

a means for receiving each of the original data messages and the repeated data messages;

a means for identifying, for each received message, the remote device associated with the corresponding sensor data signal; and

a means for providing information related to the sensor data signal to the wide area network for delivery to the host computer.

9. The wireless communication network of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of repeating means having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of repeating means in communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless communication means and comprising a means for receiving the original data message transmitted by the at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and a means for transmitting a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal from the original data message and the unique identifier corresponding to the repeater.

10. The wireless communication network of claim 8, further comprising a means for providing a command message to one of the plurality of wireless communication means, wherein each of the wireless communication means further comprise a means for transmitting, in response to the command message, the original data message, wherein the original data message corresponds to the command message.

11. The wireless communication network of claim 8, wherein the predefined communication protocol comprises a data packet comprising:

a means for identifying the receiver of the data packet;

a means for identifying the sender of the data packet; and

a command means for specifying a predefined command code.

12. The wireless communication network of claim 11, wherein the data packet further comprises:

a means for indicating a total number of bytes in the current packet;

a means for indicating the total number of packets in the current message;

a means for identifying the current packet; and

a means for identifying the current message.

13. A wireless communication network for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a wide area network, the wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of wireless transceivers configured to receive a sensor data signal from one of the plurality of remote devices and transmit an original data message using a predefined wireless communication protocol, the original data message comprising the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal, and further configured to receive the original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifier;

wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers is further configured to provide the original data messages and the repeated data messages to a site controller connected to the wide area network.

14. The wireless communication network of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of repeaters having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of repeaters in communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and configured to receive the original data message transmitted by the at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal from the original data message and the unique identifier corresponding to the repeater.

15. The wireless communication network of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers is further configured to receive a command message for one of the plurality of wireless transceivers from the site controller and transmit the command message to the one of the plurality of wireless transceivers.

16. The wireless communication network of claim 13, 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.

17. The wireless communication network of claim 16, 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.

18. The wireless communication network of claim 13, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers are further configured to receive signals via Bluetooth technology.

19. The wireless communication network of claim 13, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers are further configured to receive signals via IEEE standard 802.11(b).

20. A wireless communication network for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a wide area network, the wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of wireless transceivers configured to receive a sensor data signal from one of the plurality of remote devices and transmit an original data message using a predefined wireless communication protocol, the original data message comprising the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal, and further configured to receive the original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifier;

wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers is further configured to provide the original data messages and the repeated data messages to a primary wireless communication network associated with an automated monitoring system.

21. The wireless communication network of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of repeaters having unique identifiers, each of the plurality of repeaters in communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and configured to receive the original data message transmitted by the at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the sensor data signal from the original data message and the unique identifier corresponding to the repeater.

22. The wireless communication network of claim 20, wherein the at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers is further configured to receive a command message for one of the plurality of wireless transceivers from the primary wireless communication network and transmit the command message to the one of the plurality of wireless transceivers.

23. The wireless communication network of claim 20, 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.

24. The wireless communication network of claim 23, 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;

a current packet indicator which identifies the current packet; and

a message number identifying the current message.

25. The wireless communication network of claim 20, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers are further configured to receive signals via Bluetooth technology.

26. The wireless communication network of claim 20, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers are further configured to receive signals via IEEE standard 802.11(b).

27. A method for enabling customers to monitor remote devices via a wide area network (WAN), the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless communication network that enables each of a plurality of customers to monitor at least one remote device via a wide area network, the wireless communication network comprising;

a plurality of wireless transceivers each integrated with one of the plurality of remote devices and having a unique identifier and configured to receive a sensor data signal from the remote device and transmit an original data message using a predefined wireless communication protocol, the original data message comprising the corresponding unique identifier for the originating wireless transceiver, each wireless transceiver further configured to receive the original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data messaging using the predefined communication protocol, the repeated data message including the original sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifiers for the originating wireless transceiver and the repeating wireless transceiver; and

a site controller in communication with at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers, the site controller configured to receive the original data messages and the repeated data messages, identify the remote device associated with the corresponding sensor data signal, and provide information related to the sensor data signal to a WAN for delivery to a host computer; and

providing an organization access to the wireless communication network.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of receiving compensation for providing the organization access to the wireless communication network.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of providing the organization access to the wireless communication network comprises enabling at least one remote device corresponding to a customer of the organization to communicate with the wireless communication network so that the remote device may be monitored via the WAN.