Sensor networks for pipeline monitoring
First Claim
1. A sensor network for monitoring of a pipeline, the network comprising:
- (a) first and second sensors disposed for monitoring of a pipeline, each sensor being configured to acquire data related to the pipeline 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 the pipeline; and
(f) wherein each RSI transmitting data related to the sensor data such that said data propagates along the pipeline 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 of a pipeline comprises a sensor disposed for monitoring of a pipeline, the sensor capable of acquiring data related to the pipeline 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.
159 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A sensor network for monitoring of a pipeline, the network comprising:
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(a) first and second sensors disposed for monitoring of a pipeline, each sensor being configured to acquire data related to the pipeline 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 the pipeline; and (f) wherein each RSI transmitting data related to the sensor data such that said data propagates along the pipeline 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, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for monitoring of a pipeline that includes (i) a plurality of sensors disposed generally along an extent of the pipeline for monitoring of the pipeline, (ii) a plurality of remote sensor interfaces disposed generally along an extent of the pipeline and constituting nodes of a communications network, and (iii) a data communications device disposed within transmission range of at least one of the remote sensor interfaces of the plurality of remote sensor interfaces for receiving data from the communications network and communicating data to a network external to the communications network, the method including the steps of:
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(a) acquiring, by the sensor, sensor data related to the pipeline; (b) wirelessly communicating, from the sensor to a remote sensor interface of the plurality of remote sensor interfaces, data that relates to the sensor data; (c) after step (b), communicating data that relates to the sensor data through the communications network to the data communications device, wherein each remote sensor interface of the plurality of remote sensor interfaces that transmits said data does so by transmitting said data to a furthermost remote sensor interface within transmission range thereof; (d) after step (c), receiving, by the data communications device, from the communications network, said data that relates to the sensor data; and (e) after step (d), communicating, by the data communications device, data that is related to the sensor data to the external network; (f) wherein each remote sensor interface of the plurality of remote sensor interfaces that transmits said data further adds additional information to said data, the additional information comprising an identification of the respective remote sensor interface such that the pathway through the communications network is provided to the external network together with said data related to the sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification