Preemptive maintenance for a client-server masquerading network
View Patent ↗A method for controlling communication between a remote device and a control server includes sending, over a long range radio communication link, to a number of remote devices, a number of reduced packets, each of the number of reduced packets causing each of the number of remote devices to generate a reduced response packet, the reduced response packet indicating a status of each of the number of remote devices, receiving, from a number of responding remote devices, a number of actual reduced response packets to identify when a remote device is in a report state, examining status data related to each of the number of remote devices, the status data comprising a number of attributes include a remote device reduced packet, a remote device reduced response packet, and a number of remote device attributes, when a fault is detected, generating a remote devices fault report, and transmitting, to a control server, a remote device fault report.
1. A method for controlling communication between a remote device and a control server, the method comprising:
receiving a first packet from the control server;
generating a first reduced packet by unencapsulating the first packet;
sending, over a long range radio communication link, the first reduced packet to the remote device;
receiving, over the long range radio communication link, a second reduced packet from the remote device;
generating a second packet by encapsulating the second reduced packet;
sending the second packet to the control server;
sending, over the long range radio communication link, a third reduced packet to the remote device, the third reduced packet causing the remote device to generate a third reduced response packet, the third reduced response packet indicating a status of the remote device;
detecting the status of the remote device based on the third reduced response packet or a lack of receipt of the third reduced response packet;
examining the status of the remote device;
detecting a fault based on the status;
generating a remote devices fault report; and
transmitting the remote device fault report to the control server.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a number of factors that influence communication with the remote device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein one factor of the number of factors is weather.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein one factor of the number of factors is the distance to the remote device.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein one factor of the number of factors is obstacles interfering with communication with the remote device.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a value of service performed by the remote device.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising examining the value of served performed by the remote device.
8. An apparatus for controlling remote devices, the apparatus comprising:
a processor;
a network interface, communicatively connected to the processor;
a long range radio communication interface communicatively connected to the processor;
a non-transitory storage medium communicatively connected to the processor, the non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive a first packet from a control server;
generate a first reduced packet by unencapsulating the first packet;
send, over a long range radio communication link, the first reduced packet to a remote device;
receive, over the long range radio communication link, a second reduced packet from the remote device;
generate a second packet by encapsulating the second reduced packet;
send the second packet to the control server;
send, over the long range radio communication interface, a third reduced packet to the remote device, the third reduced packet causing the remote device to generate a third reduced response packet, the third reduced response packet indicating a status of the remote device;
detect the status of the remote device based on the third reduced response packet or a lack of receipt of the third response packet;
examine the status of the remote device;
detect a fault based on the status; and
a transmit module, to transmit, to the control server using the network interface, a remote device fault report.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the long range radio communication interface communicates over distances longer than wifi communication.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the network interface and the long range radio communication interface use a single radio antenna for communication.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to identify factors that interfere with communication with the remote device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the factors that interfere with communication with the remote device are at least one of weather, distance, and radio communication obstacles.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to identify attributes of the remote device.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the remote device attributes include a type associated with the remote device.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the remote device attributes include a task performed by the remote device.
16. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to send a series of messages using the long range radio communication interface to reset the remote device.
17. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to send a series of messages using the long range radio communication interface to cause the remote device to amplify a radio response signal.
18. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to send a series of messages using the long range radio communication interface to cause the remote device to enter a stable state.