Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Communicating Operational Data As Pertains to a Self-Storage Facility
Each of a plurality of disparate facility components can be provided with a communications interface. That interface, in turn, can serve to facilitate communicating operational data between individual ones of such facility components and, for example, a central self-storage facility controller. This interface can comprise a wireless or a non-wireless interface as desired. These teachings will also accommodate the use of one or more wireless repeaters to support such an approach.
1 . A method comprising:
at a self-storage facility having a plurality of self-storage units that are each accessible via a corresponding movable barrier, wherein access to given ones of the self-storage units by corresponding end users is controllable by use of corresponding end user-controlled locks, and wherein the self-storage facility comprises at least three facility components selected from the categories of:
area lighting;
security cameras;
self-storage unit movable barrier overlocks;
a movable barrier at a point of entry for the self-storage facility;
door position sensors;
sensors;
that are configured to communicate with a central self-storage facility controller:
providing each of the facility components with a communications interface;
communicating operational data between the central self-storage facility controller and individual ones of the facility components.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the self-storage facility comprises at least four facility components selected from the categories of:
area lighting;
security cameras;
self-storage unit movable barrier overlocks;
a movable barrier at a point of entry for the self-storage facility;
door position sensors;
sensors;
that are configured to communicate with the central self-storage facility controller.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the self-storage facility comprises facility components selected from each of the categories of:
area lighting;
security cameras;
self-storage unit movable barrier overlocks;
a movable barrier at a point of entry for the self-storage facility;
door position sensors;
that are configured to communicate with the central self-storage facility controller.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communications interface comprises a non-wireless communications interface.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless communications interface.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein communicating operational data between the central self-storage facility controller and individual ones of the facility components comprises communicating the operational data via at least one wireless repeater.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein communicating the operational data via at least one wireless repeater comprises, for at least one of the facility components, serially communicating the operational data via at least two wireless repeaters.
8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the communications interface comprises a short-range communications interface.
9 . The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one wireless repeater comprises a part of a lighting fixture.
10 . The method of claim 5 wherein the wireless communications interface for at least one of the facility components comprises only a receiver.
11 . The method of claim 5 wherein the wireless communications interface for at least one of the facility components comprises only a transmitter.
12 . The method of claim 5 wherein the wireless communications interface for at least one of the facility components comprises a transceiver.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise at least one of:
a weight sensor;
a tamper sensor;
an audio sensor;
a chemical sensor;
a human-proximity sensor;
a weather condition sensor.
Apparatus
14 . An apparatus comprising: at a self-storage facility having a plurality of self-storage units that are each accessible via a corresponding movable barrier, wherein access to given ones of the self-storage units by corresponding end users is controllable by use of corresponding end user-controlled locks, and wherein the self-storage facility comprises at least three facility components selected from the categories of:
area lighting;
security cameras;
self-storage unit movable barrier overlocks;
a movable barrier at a point of entry for the self-storage facility;
door position sensors;
sensors;
that are configured to communicate with a central self-storage facility controller:
a discrete communications interface for each of the facility components;
and wherein the central self-storage facility controller is operably coupled to the communications interfaces to thereby communicate operational data between the central self-storage facility controller and individual ones of the facility components.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the self-storage facility comprises at least four facility components selected from the categories of:
area lighting;
security cameras;
self-storage unit movable barrier overlooks;
a movable barrier at a point of entry for the self-storage facility;
door position sensors;
sensors;
that are configured to communicate with the central self-storage facility controller.
16 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the self-storage facility comprises facility components selected from each of the categories of:
area lighting;
security cameras;
self-storage unit movable barrier overlooks;
a movable barrier at a point of entry for the self-storage facility;
door position sensors;
that are configured to communicate with the central self-storage facility controller.
17 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the communications interface comprises a non-wireless communications interface.
18 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the communications interface comprises a wireless communications interface.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the communications interface comprises a short-range wireless communications interface.