MULTI-ENTITY MANAGEMENT OF A NODE IN A WIRELESS NODE NETWORK
Methods and systems are described for monitoring a piece of equipment using a node network having multiple nodes and a server. A second node is associated with the equipment, can monitor equipment operations, and communicate directly with a first node but is unable to directly communicate with the server. The first node can directly communicate with the server and separately communicate with the second node. The first node associates with the second node when the first node detects a signal broadcast from the second node. The second node detects an actionable event related to the operation of the equipment, and transmits a message reporting the actionable event to the first node. The first node notifies the server about the actionable event. Thereafter, the server initiates a responsive action based upon the notification.
1 - 51 . (canceled)
52 . A method for monitoring a piece of equipment using a node network having at least a first node, a second node, and a server, the method comprising:
associating, by the second node, the second node and the first node when the second node detects a signal broadcast from the first node without requesting that the first node broadcast the signal, wherein the first node is associated with the piece of equipment and operative to monitor an operation of the piece of equipment and to communicate directly with the second node but is unable to directly communicate with the server, and wherein the second node is operative to directly communicate with the server and separately communicate with the first node;
detecting, by the first node, an actionable event related to the operation of the piece of equipment;
transmitting, by the first node to the second node, a message reporting the actionable event;
notifying the server by the second node about the actionable event; and
initiating, by the server, a responsive action based upon the notification.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the associating step further comprises establishing a passive association between the second node and the first node without requiring without requiring a prior authority granted by the server, wherein establishing the passive association generates association data stored on the second node that identifies the passive association between the second node and the first node.
54 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the associating step further comprises establishing an active association between the second node and the first node, the active association reflecting an authorized connection between the second node and the first node based upon an authority granted by the server, wherein establishing the active association generates association data stored on the second node that identifies the active association between the second node and the first node.
55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the authorized connection between the second node and the first node is preauthorized by the server to avoid the need for the second node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the first node.
56 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the piece of equipment comprises one from a group comprising medical equipment, office equipment, industrial equipment, manufacturing equipment, construction equipment, transportation equipment, laboratory equipment, sporting equipment, automotive equipment, marine equipment, and mining equipment.
57 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting, by the first node, a movement status related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
58 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting, by the first node, an activation status related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
59 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting, by the first node, a usage status related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
60 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of initiating the responsive action step further comprises updating a billing attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
61 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of initiating the responsive action step further comprises updating an inventory attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
62 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of initiating the responsive action step further comprises updating a maintenance attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
63 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of initiating the responsive action step further comprises updating a usage attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
64 . The method of claim 63 , wherein the usage attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment further comprises a usage time associated with an operator of the piece of equipment.
65 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the step of initiating the responsive action step further comprises updating a quality assurance attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
66 . The method of claim 52 further comprising the steps of tracking a location of the first node over time and refining the location of the first node based upon context data related to an operating environment of the piece of equipment and the first node.
67 . A system within a node network for monitoring a piece of equipment, the system comprising:
a server;
a second node operative to directly communicate with the server over a longer range communication path; and
a first node associated with the piece of equipment and operative to monitor an operation of the piece of equipment, the first node being further operative to wirelessly communicate directly with the second node over a shorter range communication path but is unable to directly communicate with the server;
wherein the first node is operative to
detect an actionable event related to the operation of the piece of equipment, and
transmit a message to the second node reporting the actionable event;
wherein the second node is operative to
associate with the first node upon detection of a signal broadcast from the first node without requesting that the first node broadcast the signal, and
notify the server about the actionable event reported in the message received from the first node, and
wherein the server is operative to
receive the notification from the second node regarding the actionable event, and
initiate a responsive action based upon the notification.
68 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the second node is further operative to associate with the first node by being operative to establish a passive association between the second node and the first node without requiring a prior authority granted by the server, wherein establishing the passive association generates association data stored on the second node that identifies the passive association between the second node and the first node.
69 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the second node is further operative to associate with the first node by being operative to establish an active association between the second node and the first node, the active association reflecting an authorized connection between the second node and the first node based upon an authority granted by the server, wherein establishing the active association generates association data stored on the second node that identifies the active association between the second node and the first node.
70 . The system of claim 69 , wherein the authorized connection between the second node and the first node is preauthorized by the server to avoid the need for the second node to request the authority from the server after detecting the signal broadcast from the first node.
71 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the piece of equipment comprises one from a group comprising medical equipment, office equipment, industrial equipment, manufacturing equipment, construction equipment, transportation equipment, laboratory equipment, sporting equipment, automotive equipment, marine equipment, and mining equipment.
72 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the first node is further operative to detect by being operative to detect a movement status related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
73 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the first node is further operative to detect by being operative to detect an activation status related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
74 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the first node is further operative to detect by being operative to detect a usage status related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
75 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the server is further operative to initiate the responsive action by being operative to update a billing attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
76 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the server is further operative to initiate the responsive action by being operative to update an inventory attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
77 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the server is further operative to initiate the responsive action by being operative to update a maintenance attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
78 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the server is further operative to initiate the responsive action by being operative to update a usage attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
79 . The system of claim 78 , wherein the usage attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment further comprises a usage time associated with an operator of the piece of equipment.
80 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the server is further operative to initiate the responsive action by being operative to update a quality assurance attribute related to the operation of the piece of equipment.
81 . The system of claim 67 , wherein the server is further operative to track a location of the first node over time and refine the location of the first node based upon context data related to an operating environment of the piece of equipment and the first node.