초록 ▼

A distributed intelligent system. The distributed network includes at least one gateway server configured for receiving meter data from one or more nodes of a distributed meter network and at least one subscriber station in communication with the at least one gateway server via a communication netwo

A distributed intelligent system. The distributed network includes at least one gateway server configured for receiving meter data from one or more nodes of a distributed meter network and at least one subscriber station in communication with the at least one gateway server via a communication network. The at least one gateway server is further configured to selectively distribute the received meter data to the at least one subscriber station in accordance with a policy.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for monitoring one or more nodes of a distributed meter network, comprising: at least one physically measurable characteristic meter device at each node for metering a meterable material and for generating a signal representative of a corresponding metering rate of the meterable material

1. A system for monitoring one or more nodes of a distributed meter network, comprising: at least one physically measurable characteristic meter device at each node for metering a meterable material and for generating a signal representative of a corresponding metering rate of the meterable material;a computation device at each node in communication with the at least one physically measurable characteristic meter device for computing meter data based upon the generated signal, wherein the meter data comprises data selected from the group consisting of: a flow rate of the meterable material and a flow total of the meterable material; andan autonomous intelligent network interface module (AINIM) at each node and in communication with the computation device, wherein the AINIM comprises at least one microcontroller having firmware stored thereon that, when executed, causes the at least one microcontroller to: autonomously and continuously collect meter data from the computation device during a first time period when the at least one microcontroller is unable to communicate with a remote computer via a communication network which uses at least one internet protocol,buffer meter data collected from the computation device during the first time period, and during a second time period when the at least one microcontroller is able to communicate with the remote computer via the communication network, distribute to the remote computer via the communication network and the at least one internet protocol at least a portion of the meter data collected from the computation device during the second time period and at least a portion of the buffered meter data. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one node of the distributed meter network is a discrete location at which the metered material is dispensed. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the discrete location comprises a point-of-sale (POS) location. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware of the at least one microcontroller, when executed, further causes the at least one microcontroller to autonomously adapt a rate with which the meter data is collected from the computation device based upon a characteristic of the meter data. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware of the at least one microcontroller, when executed, further causes the at least one microcontroller to continuously distribute meter data collected from the computation device during the second time period to the remote computer via the communication network concomitant with collection of the meter data by the at least one microcontroller. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware of the at least one microcontroller, when executed, further causes the at least one microcontroller to distribute collected meter data to the remote computer via the communication network in accordance with a policy, wherein the policy comprises one more predetermined conditions. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware of the at least one microcontroller, when executed, further causes the at least one microcontroller to: receive a dynamic IP address from a dynamic host protocol (DHCP) server responsive to connection of the AINIM to the communication network; initiate communication between the AINIM and the remote computer via the communication network based upon a static IP address associated with the remote computer and stored within the firmware of the at least one microcontroller; and register the dynamic IP address with the remote computer. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware of the at least one microcontroller, when executed, further causes the at least one microcontroller to perform the following responsive to an indication of a fault of the communication network: establish communication with another AINIM; determine one of an ability or inability of the another AINIM to communicate with the communication network; and reroute the buffered data to the remote computer via the another AINIM if an ability is determined. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises the Internet. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one microcontroller comprises a first microcontroller in communication with a second microcontroller, wherein autonomous and continuous collection of meter data from the computation device is performed by the first microcontroller, and wherein buffering of meter data collected during the first time period and distribution to the remote computer of meter data received from the computation device during the second time period and buffered meter data is performed by the second microcontroller. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the metered material comprises a fluid. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the liquid comprises a beverage. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote computer comprises at least one server, and wherein the firmware of the at least one microcontroller contains instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one microcontroller to respond to a request from the at least one server to provide it with meter data only after the microcontroller has initiated communications with the at least one server. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein when the meter data is provided from the at least one microcontroller to the server, the provision is done at a frequency that is adaptively changed based on a characteristic of the meter data. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one server is to communicate with at least one subscriber station via a communication network, and wherein the at least one server is to selectively distribute the received meter data to the at least one subscriber station when criteria of a policy implemented by the at least one server is satisfied. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein criteria of the policy defining a data need of the at least one subscriber station based on at least one of: a type of the metered material, a brand of the metered material, a geographic location of the one or more nodes, and a condition based on characteristic of the metered material. 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one server contains instructions that, when executed, cause an advertising message to be sent to at least one subscriber station based at least in part upon the meter data that is sent from the node to the at least one server. 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the physically measurable characteristic meter device comprises a flow meter. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one meter device is connected to the computation device via a wired connection. 21. The system of claim 1, wherein the computation device is connected to the AINIM via a wired connection.