Systems and methods for controlling communication between a host computer and communication devices

• US 8,930,571 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2010
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Julian
• Application Number:
  US12/689,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-219, 709238-244, 370351-430
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25198 Brouter: transfers data from wireless to wired networks, router: wired to wired
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• 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: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• 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 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A site controller adapted to be used in an automated monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a first communication network is provided. The site controller is configured for controlling communication with the host computer and a plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network associated with the plurality of remote devices. Briefly described, in one embodiment, the site controller comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with the plurality of communication devices via the second communication network; a network interface device configured to communicate with the host computer via the first communication network; and logic configured to: manage communication with each of the plurality of communication devices, via a first communication protocol; and manage communication with the host computer via a second communication protocol.

Claims

1. A site controller adapted to be used in an automated monitoring system configured for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a first communication network, the site controller configured for controlling communication with the host computer and a plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network associated with the plurality of remote devices, wherein the second communication network comprises a first communication device associated with a first remote device and a second communication device associated with a second remote device, the site controller comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with the plurality of communication devices via the second communication network;

a network interface device configured to communicate with the host computer via the first communication network; and

logic configured to;

manage communication with each of the plurality of communication devices, via a first communication protocol, based on one or more communication paths for each of the plurality of communication devices and the identification of each of the plurality of communication devices in the one or more communication paths, each communication path comprising one or more communication devices involved in the communication link between the transceiver and each of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the communication path for the second communication device comprises the first communication device;

manage communication with the host computer via a second communication protocol;

poll one or more of the remote devices according to a predetermined schedule by transmitting a status message to one or more remote devices requesting current operating status of the remote device, wherein the operating status comprises information indicative of a condition monitored or controlled by the remote device independent of other remote devices and communication devices, and

determine and store upstream and downstream communication paths for each of the plurality of communication devices in the second communication network.

2. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the logic is software and further comprising a microcontroller for implementing the logic.

3. The site controller of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices are wireless communication devices, the plurality of wireless communication devices being disposed throughout a geographic area such that the antenna patterns associated with the plurality of wireless communication devices overlap to create a coverage area that defines the second communication network.

4. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the first communication network is a wide area network and the second communication protocol comprises TCP/IP.

5. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the first communication protocol comprises a data packet, the data packet comprising:

a to address;

a from address; and

a command number comprising a function code.

6. The site controller of claim 5, wherein the data packet further comprises:

a data field;

a checksum field;

a packet number field;

a packet length field;

a packet maximum field; and

a message number field.

7. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is selected from the group consisting of a dial-up modem, an ISDN card, a DSL modem, and a LAN card.

8. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to determine the one or more communication paths for each of the communication devices by receiving initialization commands from the plurality of communication devices.

9. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the logic configured to manage communication with each of the plurality of communication devices comprises one or more look-up tables residing in a memory.

10. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to receive a first message generated by one of the plurality of communication devices via the second communication network, the first message comprising a first communication device identifier associated with the one of the plurality of communication devices associated with one of the plurality of remote devices that generated the first message and a predetermined function code corresponding to a data signal provided by the one of the plurality of remote devices associated with the one of the plurality of communication devices that generated the message.

11. The site controller of claim 10, wherein the logic is further configured to determine, based on the first communication device identifier, the one of the communication devices that generated the first data signal.

12. The site controller of claim 11, wherein the logic is further configured to translate the first message into a second message configured for transmission to the host computer via the first communication network.

13. The site controller of claim 11, wherein the first message further comprises a second communication identifier associated with an intermediate communication device corresponding to the current communication path through which the first message was received by the transceiver.

14. The site controller of claim 13, wherein the logic is further configured to determine, based on the second communication device identifier, the intermediate communication device.

15. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the operating status comprises information representative of whether the remote device is operational.

16. The site controller of claim 1, wherein the site controller is further configured to maintain a database of operating statuses received from the remote devices for transmission to a host computer upon receiving a request from the host computer.

17. A site controller for controlling communication with a host computer connected to a first communication network and a plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network associated with a plurality of remote devices that are to be monitored and controlled by the host computer, wherein the second communication network comprises a first communication device associated with a first remote device and a second communication device associated with a second remote device, the site controller comprising:

a means for communicating with the plurality of communication devices via the second communication network;

a means for communicating with the host computer via the first communication network; and

a means for managing communication with the host computer via a second communication protocol,

wherein the site controller is configured to poll the remote devices according to a predetermined schedule by transmitting a status message to one or more of the remote devices requesting the remote device to transmit a message containing current operating status of the remote device, wherein the operating status comprises information indicative of a condition monitored or controlled by the remote device independent of the other remote devices and communication devices,

wherein the site controller is further configured to manage downstream communication from the site controller to the plurality of communication devices in the second communication network and up-stream communication from the plurality of communication devices in the second communication network to the site controller based upon a network map comprising one or more down-stream and up-stream communication paths between each communication device in the plurality of communication devices and the site controller, and

wherein the site controller is further configured to determine and store upstream and downstream communication paths for each of the plurality of communication devices in the second communication network.

18. The site controller of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices are wireless communication devices, the plurality of wireless communication devices being disposed throughout a geographic area such that the antenna patterns associated with the plurality of wireless communication devices overlap to create a coverage area that defines the second communication network.

19. The site controller of claim 17, wherein the first communication network is a wide area network and the second communication protocol comprises TCP/IP.

20. The site controller of claim 17, wherein the first communication protocol comprises a data packet, the data packet comprising:

a means for identifying intended recipients;

a means for identifying the sender;

a means for indicating a command;

a means for data transfer;

a means for indicating potential error;

a means for indicating a length of a packet;

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

a means for identifying a message;

a means for alerting the recipients to an incoming packet; and

a means for indicating an end of a packet.

21. The site controller of claim 17, wherein the site controller is further configured to receive initialization commands from the plurality of communication devices.

22. The site controller of claim 17, wherein the site controller is further configured to maintain a database of operating statuses received from the remote devices for transmission to a host computer upon receiving a request from the host computer.