Sensor networks for monitoring pipelines and power lines
First Claim
1. A sensor network for monitoring utility power lines, the network comprising:
- (a) first and second sensors disposed for monitoring utility power lines, each sensor being configured to acquire data related to the utility power lines and wirelessly communicate sensor data;
(b) a first remote sensor interface (RSI) configured to,(i) receive the sensor data communicated from the sensors, and(ii) transmit data relating to the received sensor data; and
(c) a data communications device configured to receive the data transmitted by the first RSI and transmit data related to the sensor data directly or indirectly to a network external to the sensor network;
(d) wherein the sensor network comprises a common designation network;
(e) wherein each of the first and second sensors are spatially separated from the first RSI along an extent of one or more of the power lines; and
(f) wherein each RSI transmitting data related to the sensor data such that said data propagates along the utility power lines further adds additional information to said data, the additional information comprising an identification of the respective RSI such that the pathway through the common designation network is provided to the external network together with the data related to the sensor data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor network for monitoring utility power lines comprises a sensor disposed for monitoring utility power lines, the sensor capable of acquiring data related to the utility power lines and communicating sensor data; a first remote sensor interface (RSI) comprising a data communications device capable of receiving the sensor data communicated from the sensor, and transmitting data relating to the received sensor data; and a data communications device capable of receiving the data transmitted by the first RSI and transmitting data related to the sensor data directly or indirectly to a network external to the sensor network. The sensor network comprises a common designation network.
361 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sensor network for monitoring utility power lines, the network comprising:
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(a) first and second sensors disposed for monitoring utility power lines, each sensor being configured to acquire data related to the utility power lines and wirelessly communicate sensor data; (b) a first remote sensor interface (RSI) configured to, (i) receive the sensor data communicated from the sensors, and (ii) transmit data relating to the received sensor data; and (c) a data communications device configured to receive the data transmitted by the first RSI and transmit data related to the sensor data directly or indirectly to a network external to the sensor network; (d) wherein the sensor network comprises a common designation network; (e) wherein each of the first and second sensors are spatially separated from the first RSI along an extent of one or more of the power lines; and (f) wherein each RSI transmitting data related to the sensor data such that said data propagates along the utility power lines further adds additional information to said data, the additional information comprising an identification of the respective RSI such that the pathway through the common designation network is provided to the external network together with the data related to the sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sensor network for monitoring utility power lines, the network comprising:
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(a) first and second sensors disposed for monitoring utility power lines, each sensor being configured to acquire data related to the utility power lines and wirelessly communicate sensor data; (b) a first remote sensor interface (RSI) configured to, (i) receive the sensor data communicated from the sensors, and (ii) transmit data relating to the received sensor data; and (c) a data communications device configured to receive the data transmitted by the first RSI and transmit data related to the sensor data directly or indirectly to a network external to the sensor network; (d) wherein the sensor network comprises a common designation network; and (e) wherein each of the first and second sensors are spatially separated from the first RSI along an extent of one or more of the powerlines; (f) wherein the common designation network is formed by a plurality of spatially separated RSIs disposed along the utility power lines for monitoring of the utility power lines, each of the plurality of RSIs forming a node in the common designation network; and
further comprising a second plurality of spatially separated RSIs disposed along the utility power lines for monitoring of the utility power lines, each of the second plurality of RSIs forming a node in a second common designation network, wherein the first RSI is configured to transmit data relating to the received sensor data over one of the common designation networks to the exclusion of the other common designation network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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14. A sensor network for monitoring utility power lines, the network comprising:
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(a) first and second sensors disposed for monitoring utility power lines, each sensor being configured to acquire data related to the utility power lines and wirelessly communicate sensor data; (b) a first remote sensor interface (RSI) configured to, (i) receive the sensor data communicated from the sensors, and (ii) transmit data relating to the received sensor data; and (c) a data communications device configured to receive the data transmitted by the first RSI and transmit data related to the sensor data directly or indirectly to a network external to the sensor network; (d) wherein the sensor network comprises a common designation network; and (e) wherein each of the first and second sensors are spatially separated from the first RSI along an extent of one or more of the powerlines; (f) wherein the common designation network is formed by a plurality of spatially separated RSIs disposed along the utility power lines for monitoring of the utility power lines, each of the plurality of RSIs forming a node in the common designation network; and
further comprising a second plurality of spatially separated RSIs disposed along the utility power lines for monitoring of the utility power lines, each of the second plurality of RSIs forming a node in a second common designation network, wherein the first RSI is configured to transmit data relating to the received sensor data over both of the common designation networks.
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Specification