Wireless communication enabled meter and network
A meter enabled for wireless communication and a wireless communication network are disclosed. A meter enabled for wireless communication comprises a metering device, a wireless communication system and an interface between the two. Meter data can be read, and the meter can be controlled via communication with a wireless network using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. A self-configuring wireless network is also disclosed. The wireless network includes a number of vnodes, and one or more VGATES. The vnodes are devices that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Vnodes are operative to form ad hoc piconet connections. The one or more VGATES comprise computer network gateways that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Thus, the VGATES enable the wireless array of vnodes to communicate with a private or public computer network to transmit data or receive commands. The network may also communicate with a VNOC system. VNOC is a universal communications adapter that enables the wireless array of vnodes to communicate (either directly or through a VGATE) with a central control facility via various wireless or wired communication media.
1. A self-configuring wireless network, comprising:
(I) a network cluster, comprising:
(a) a first network including a plurality of self-configuring, individually addressable virtual nodes in which individual virtual nodes are independently operative to (i) initiate and establish a wireless communication connection with any other self-configuring virtual node associated with the first network during a self-configuration process, (ii) store information regarding the identities and/or location of other self-configuring virtual nodes with which the node has established a communication connection, (iii) generate data and transmit the data to other virtual nodes with which the node has established a communication connection, and (iv) receive data from virtual nodes and forward the data to other virtual nodes with which the node has established a communication connection;
(b) a second network including a plurality of self-configuring, individually addressable virtual nodes in which individual virtual nodes are independently enabled with the capabilities to (i) initiate and establish a wireless communication connection with any other self-configuring virtual node associated with the second network during a self-configuration process, (ii) store information regarding the identities and/or location of other self-configuring virtual nodes with which the node has established a communication connection, (iii) generate data and transmit the data to other virtual nodes with which the node has established a communication connection, and (iv) receive data from virtual nodes and forward the data to other virtual nodes with which the node has established a communication connection;
(c) wherein the first network communicates with the second network via a wireless communication connection between at least virtual node associated with the first network and at least one virtual node associated with the second network;
(II) a virtual gate being communicatively coupled to the first and/or second network and configured to provide a communication access point between the network cluster and at least one external network; and
(III) a virtual network operations entity configured to facilitate communications between the network cluster, and at the least one external network.
2. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the self-configuration process is executed upon initialization of the self-configuring virtual nodes and/or upon a detected disruption in connectivity between the self-configuring virtual nodes.
3. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 ,
wherein in response to a disruption in the first network, at least one of the self-configuring virtual nodes of the first network establishes connectivity and becomes associated with the second network during its self-configuration process, and
wherein in response to a disruption in the second network, at least one of the self-configuring virtual nodes of the second network establishes connectivity and becomes associated with the first network during its self-configuration process.
4. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the individual self-configuring virtual nodes are further configured with the capability to maintain a routing table that comprises routing information, at any given instant in time, about other virtual nodes with which the individual nodes have established a communication connection.
5. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the individual self-configuring virtual nodes are further configured with the capability to execute a periodic polling procedure to poll other self-configuring virtual nodes with which the individual nodes have established a communication connection and check for messaging information.
6. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the individual self-configuring virtual nodes are further configured with the capability to encrypt communications with other self-configuring virtual nodes with which the individual nodes have established a communication connection.
7. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gate comprises a computer network gateway.
8. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gate wirelessly communicates with the at least one external network.
9. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gate communicates with the at least one external network via wired communication.
10. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gate comprises an intelligence module that stores geographic location of all virtual nodes within a pre-specified distance of the virtual gate such that the location of a specific virtual node may be is determined from the virtual gate.
11. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity comprises:
a communication interface configured to accommodate a plurality of communication protocols employed during communications between the network cluster and the at least one external network;
an event naming module configured to identify pre-specified events;
an event database configured to store information regarding the pre-specified events;
an event management module configured to process and manage occurrences of the pre-specified events; and
a communication management module configured to manage communication of the pre-specified events between the network cluster and the at least one external network.
12. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity further comprises a configuration management module that specifies one or more of interface information, protocol information, and pre-specified services.
13. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity further comprises a security management module that manages security of communications between the self-configuring wireless communication network and at least one external network.
14. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity further comprises an error and recovery management module that manages detection of, and recovery from, communication errors.
15. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity further comprises a replication redundancy management module that replicates attribute information regarding the self-configuration wireless communication network.
16. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity further comprises a billing module that tracks and bills usage of services provided by the self-configuring wireless communication network.
17. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity further comprises an audit and logging module.
18. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network operations entity further comprises a publication and subscription management module that manages the publication of the occurrences of the pre-specified events.
19. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface facilitates remote monitoring of at least one self-configuring virtual node of the network cluster.
20. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface includes a customer interface.
21. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 20 , wherein the customer interface comprises a web browser interface, electronic mail interface, a customized Internet Protocol application interface, a telephone interface, a modem interface, and/or a paging device interface.
22. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 21 , wherein the network interface comprises a Bluetooth interface, a cellular communication interface, a satellite communication interface, a MicroBurst interface, an Internet communication application interface, an OrbComm interface, a GSM interface, and/or a Cellemetry interface.
23. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1 , wherein the communications interface includes a network interface.