초록 ▼

A method and system for transmitting, receiving, and collecting information related to a plurality of working components, such as street lamps, allows for efficient and effective monitoring and controlling of working components through short-distance radio communications at low power levels. In a pr

A method and system for transmitting, receiving, and collecting information related to a plurality of working components, such as street lamps, allows for efficient and effective monitoring and controlling of working components through short-distance radio communications at low power levels. In a preferred implementation of the present invention, a communications network includes a plurality of transceiver modules, each of which is secured and operably connected to a working component. These transceiver modules transmit and receive radio communications or "messages" representative of the status of the working component from one another in a controlled manner, with each message ultimately being directed to an area control module. At the area control module, the messages are collected and transferred to a network support server, which analyzes the information and data contained in such messages, and then transfers such information and data to control and display units through a computer network for review by end users. The control and display units further allow for control of the working components by initiating transmission of radio communications containing instructions or programming code to one or more particular transceiver modules.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, and from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of: attaching and operably connecting a l

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, and from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of: attaching and operably connecting a low power transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver; and positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of working components in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location; wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module, and wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the area control module; and said area control module communicating said message to the central location. 2. A method as recited in claim 1, in which a control message containing instructions can be initiated from the central location, communicated to the area control module for subsequent transmission to one or more intended transceiver modules, said area control module transmitting the message to one or more receiving transceiver modules within its transmission range, each of the receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the receiving transceiver module is on a designated path between the area control module and the one or more intended transceiver modules. 3. A method as recited in claim 2, in which the one or more intended transceiver modules, upon receipt of the control message, execute the instructions contained therein. 4. A method as recited in claim 3, in which each transceiver module further includes at least one actuation component for manipulating the operation of the working component based on instructions contained in the control message. 5. A method as recited in claim 2, in which said predetermined event is the receipt of a control message. 6. A method as recited in claim 1, in which each transceiver module further includes one or more sensors for sensing various operational parameters representative of the status of the working component to which the transceiver module is secured, each such sensor communicating the status information to the microcontroller of the transceiver module for interpretation by a diagnostics processor integral to the microcontroller and then subsequent transmission through the radio transceiver. 7. A method as recited in claim 6, in which each transceiver module further includes at least one actuation component for manipulating the operation of the working component in response to the status information communicated to the microcontroller from the one or more sensors. 8. A method as recited in claim 6, in which said predetermined event is the receipt of certain status information by the microcontroller. 9. A method as recited in claim 1, in which said predetermined event is a prompt based on a predetermined schedule. 10. A method as recited in claim 1, in which the microcontroller of each said transceiver module executes embedded code stored in an associated memory for coordinating function and control of the transceiver module. 11. A method as recited in claim 10, in which a unique code is stored in the associated memory for identifying the particular transceiver module. 12. A method as recited in claim 10, in which information and data associated with the maintenance and operation of the working component is also stored in the associated memory. 13. A method as recited in claim 1, in which the radio transceivers associated with each transceiver module operate in an unlicensed band. 14. A method as recited in claim 1, in which the radio transceivers associated with each transceiver module operate at power levels no more than 500 mW. 15. A method as recited in claim 1, in which the microcontroller of the transceiver module has an integral clock function. 16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system monitored by the utility comprises a street lighting unit, a water, electric, or gas meter, or a water pump. 17. A system for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, comprising: a plurality of low power transceiver modules, each such transceiver module being secured and operably connected to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, each such transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver; and at least one area control module positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of transceiver modules in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module and itself dynamically initiates update of the best path to the area control module; a network support server in communication with said area control module; and one or more display and control units in communication with said network support server; wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said designated path until the message is received at the area control module; said area control module communicating said message to the network support server; and said network support server analyzing said message, and communicating the status information contained therein to the one or more display and control units for review by an end user. 18. A system as recited in claim 17, in which the end user can initiate a control message containing instructions through the display and control units, said message being communicated to the area control module through the network support server for subsequent transmission to one or more intended transceiver modules, said area control module transmitting the message to one or more receiving transceiver modules within its transmission range, each of the receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the receiving transceiver module is on the best path between the area control module and the one or more intended transceiver modules. 19. A system as recited in claim 18, in which the one or more intended transceiver modules, upon receipt of the control message, execute the instructions contained therein. 20. A system as recited in claim 19, in which each transceiver module further includes at least one actuation component for manipulating the operation of the working component based on instructions contained in the control message. 21. A system as recited in claim 18, in which said predetermined event is the receipt of a control message. 22. A system as recited in claim 17, in which each transceiver module further includes one or more sensors for sensing various operational parameters representative of the status of the working component to which it is secured, each such sensor communicating such status information to the microcontroller of the transceiver module for interpretation by a diagnostics processor integral to the microcontroller and then subsequent transmission through the radio transceiver. 23. A system as recited in claim 22, in which each transceiver module further includes at least one actuation component for manipulating the operation of the working component in response to the status information communicated to the microcontroller from the one or more sensors. 24. A system as recited in claim 22, in which said predetermined event is the receipt of certain status information by the microcontroller. 25. A system as recited in claim 17, in which said predetermined event is a prompt based on a predetermined schedule. 26. A system as recited in claim 17, in which the microcontroller of each said transceiver module executes embedded code stored in an associated memory for coordinating function and control of the transceiver module. 27. A system as recited in claim 26, in which a unique code is stored in the associated memory for identifying the particular transceiver module. 28. A system as recited in claim 26 in which information and data associated with the maintenance and operation of the working component is also stored in the associated memory. 29. A system as recited in claim 17, in which the radio transceivers associated with each transceiver module operate in an unlicensed band. 30. A system as recited in claim 17, in which the radio transceivers associated with each transceiver module operate at power levels no more than 500 mW. 31. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the system monitored by the utility comprises a street lighting unit, a water, electric, or gas meter, or a water pump. 32. A communications network for the monitoring and control of a plurality of independent working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, comprising: a plurality of low power transceiver modules, each such transceiver module being secured and operably connected to one of said working components of the system monitored by a utility, each such transceiver module including at least a microcontroller for controlling operation and function of the transceiver module, and a radio transceiver; at least one area control module positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of transceiver modules in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module; a network support server in communication with said area control module; and one or more display and control units in communication with said network support server; wherein a diagnostics message from one of said transceiver modules containing status information associated with the working component to which said one transceiver module is secured is (a) transmitted through the radio transceiver associated with the transceiver module, (b) received by one or more neighboring transceiver modules, (c) selectively re-transmitted by receiving transceiver modules if determined to be on the best path until received by the area control module, and (d) communicated to the network support server by the area control module; said network support server analyzing said message, and communicating the status information contained therein to the one or more display and control units for review by an end user. 33. A communications network as recited in claim 32, wherein a control message initiated by the end user through one of the control and display units, and containing instructions for one or more intended transceiver modules, is (a) communicated to the network support server, (b) communicated from the network support server to the area control module, (c) transmitted by the area control module to one or more receiving transceiver modules within its transmission range, (d) selectively re-transmitted by the receiving transceiver modules if determined to be on a designated path until received by the one or more intended transceiver modules; each of the intended transceiver modules, upon receipt of the control message, executing the instructions contained therein. 34. A communication network as recited in claim 33, in which the control and display units are in communication with the network support server through an information network. 35. A communication network as recited in claim 34, in which the information network is the Internet. 36. A communications network as recited in claim 32, wherein the system monitored by the utility comprises a street lighting unit, a water, electric, or gas meter, or a water pump. 37. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, from each such working component to a network access point, comprising the steps of: attaching and operably connecting a low power transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller for controlling operation and function of the transceiver module, and a radio transceiver, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the network access point without any prior knowledge of the area control module; wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said neighboring transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the network access point; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the network access point. 38. A method as recited in claim 37, in which a control message containing instructions can be transmitted from the network access point to one or more intended transceiver modules by transmitting the message to one or more receiving transceiver modules within transmission range of the network access point, each of the receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the receiving transceiver module is on a designated path between the network access point and the one or more intended transceiver modules. 39. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the system monitored by the utility comprises a street lighting unit, a water, electric, or gas meter, or a water pump. 40. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of: attaching and operably connecting a transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by a utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver operating at a power level of no more than 500 mW; and positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of working components in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module; wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the area control module; and said area control module communicating said message to the central location. 41. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the system monitored by the utility comprises a street lighting unit, a water, electric, or gas meter, or a water pump. 42. A method for communicating information related to a plurality of working components of a system monitored by a utility arranged in a local cluster, from each such working component to a central location, comprising the steps of: attaching and operably connecting a low power transceiver module to each working component of the system monitored by the utility, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver operating in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz frequency band or the 2. 40 GHz to 2.48 GHz frequency band; and positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of working components in the local cluster, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location, wherein each working component in the local cluster itself initiates determination of an initial best path to the area control module without any prior knowledge of the area control module; wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event, the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the working component; the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules; each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on the best path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module; re-transmission of the message continuing along said best path until the message is received at the area control module; and said area control module communicating said message to the central location. 43. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the system monitored by the utility comprises a street lighting unit, a water, electric, or gas meter, or a water pump.