System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices
View Patent ↗The present invention is generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. Such a system may be configured to monitor utility meters in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein each wireless transmitter is integrated into a sensor adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer on a network. The dedicated computer, collects, compiles, and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal, the system further including means for applying the control signal at a designated actuator.
1. A system for remote data collection, assembly, storage, event detection and reporting and control, comprising:
a computer configured to execute at least one computer program that formats and stores select information for retrieval upon demand from a remotely located device, said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN);
a plurality of transceivers dispersed geographically at defined locations, each transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor and configured to receive select information and identification information transmitted from another nearby wireless transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor in a predetermined signal type and further configured to wirelessly retransmit in the predetermined signal type the select information, the identification information associated with the nearby wireless transceiver, and transceiver identification information associated with the transceiver making retransmission;
at least one gateway connected to the wide area network configured to receive and translate the select information, the identification information associated with the nearby wireless transceiver, and transceiver identification information associated with one or more retransmitting transceivers, said gateway further configured to further transmit the translated information to the computer over the WAN and
wherein at least one of said plurality of transceivers is also electrically interfaced with an actuator to control an actuated device in response to a condition sensed by a transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a keypad electrically interfaced to one or more of said plurality of transceivers configured to receive user input.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a keypad electrically interfaced to one or more of said plurality of transceivers configured to receive user input, wherein said user input corresponds to instructions for the actuator to control the actuated device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a command to control the actuated device by the actuator may be received locally at the at least one of said plurality of transceivers also electrically interfaced with the actuator or from a wireless transmission from another of the plurality of transceivers dispersed geographically at defined locations.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated device is a home appliance.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the home appliance is a home temperature control system.
7. A method for collecting information, providing data services, and controlling remote systems, comprising the steps of:
adaptively configuring at least one transmitter electrically interfaced with a sensor and an actuator wherein the transmitter generates an information signal consisting of a transmitter identification code and an information field,
wherein the information signal is received by another nearby transmitter electrically interfaced with one or both of a sensor and an actuator and repeated in the same signal type as received to additional transmitters each electrically interfaced with one or both of a sensor and an actuator for communicating the information signal to a gateway, the gateway providing access to a WAN;
translating the information signal within the gateway into a WAN compatible data transfer protocol;
transferring the information signal via the WAN to a computer wherein the computer is configured to manipulate and store data provided in the information signal; and
granting client access to the computer.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving a communication wirelessly at the transmitter electrically interfaced with a sensor and an actuator from another nearby transmitter an instruction to control the actuator.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the control of the actuator is either from a state of on to off or from a state of off to on.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the control of the actuator causes the actuator to operate at a changed level of operation.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving user input on a keypad electrically interfaced with the transmitter electrically interfaced with a sensor and an actuator, wherein receipt of user input on the keypad causes actuation of the actuator.
12. A system for remote data collection, assembly, storage, event detection and reporting and control, comprising:
a computer configured to execute at least one computer program that formats and stores select information for retrieval upon demand from a remotely located device, said computer integrated with a wide area network (WAN);
at least one geographically dispersed transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor configured to detect a predetermined condition, the transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor further configured to wirelessly transmit select information and identification information to another nearby transceiver in a predetermined signal type and to wirelessly retransmit in a predetermined signal type select information, identification information associated with the nearby transceiver, and transceiver identification information associated with the transceiver making retransmission;
at least one gateway connected to the WAN configured to receive and translate select information, identification information associated with the nearby transceiver, and transceiver identification information associated with one or more retransmitting transceivers, said gateway further configured to further transmit the translated information to the computer over the WAN; and
at least one geographically dispersed transceiver electrically interfaced with a actuation device and a sensor, the transceiver electrically interfaced with a actuation device and a sensor further configured to actuate the actuation device in response to the detected predetermined condition, wherein actuation of the actuation device is detected by one of the transceiver electrically interfaced with a actuation device and a sensor or another transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor.
13. A system of claim 12 , wherein a reporting communication acknowledging actuation of the actuation device originates from one of the transceiver electrically interfaced with a actuation device and a sensor or another transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor that is communicated to the computer over the WAN.
14. A system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one geographically dispersed transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor is configured to detect a predetermined condition relating to utility usage.
15. A system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one geographically dispersed transceiver electrically interfaced with a sensor is mobile.
16. A system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one geographically dispersed transceiver electrically interfaced with a actuation device and a sensor is mobile.