Infrared communication system and method
A wireless communications capability enables field personnel to communicate with a remote control console of a distributed system. A hand held communications unit generates console related messages that are coupled, via local devices to the remote console.
1. A communications method comprising:
establishing a plurality of spaced apart nodes coupled to one another and to a displaced, different control element via a medium, at least some of the nodes include at least one ambient condition sensor;
originating a wireless communication directed to one of the nodes from a location proximate to another of the spaced apart nodes;
receiving the communication at the one node;
determining a desired destination for the communication; and
transmitting the received communication to the desired destination;
wherein originating the wireless communication further comprises providing a wireless device for said wireless communication and includes establishing a record of the time and location of receipt of the wireless communication from the wireless device at the control element,indicative of the device's presence in a region adjacent to the one node.
2. A method as in claim 1 which includes: determining that the received communication is not directed to the receiving node.
3. A method as in claim 2 where transmitting is responsive to determining.
4. A method as in claim 1 which includes communicating with at least one common node.
5. A method as in claim 4 where the wireless communication is directed to the one common node.
6. A method as in claim 5 which includes forwarding the communication from the receiving node to the common node.
7. A method as in claim 4 where the wireless communication is directed to a node different than the receiving node.
8. A method as in claim 7 where the wireless communication is directed to the receiving node.
9. A method as in claim 7 where the wireless communication is directed to a plurality of different nodes.
10. A method as in claim 3 which includes sensing at least one type of ambient condition at a plurality of nodes.
11. A method as in claim 10 where sensing includes at least one of sensing a movement of a member from a first to a second position; sensing a presence of an individual, sensing a gas concentration, sensing a temperature, or sensing a smoke level.
12. A method as in claim 1 where transmitting includes transmitting between nodes using the medium, the medium is a wired medium.
13. A communications method comprising:
establishing a plurality of spaced apart nodes coupled to one another and to a different control element via a wired medium, at least some of the nodes include at least one ambient condition sensor;
originating a wireless communication from a wireless device directed to one of the nodes from a location proximate to another of the spaced apart nodes;
receiving the communication at the one node;
determining a desired destination for the communication;
transmitting, via the wired medium, the received communication to the desired destination; and
creating a record at the control element of the time and location of receipt of the wireless communication from the wireless device, indicative of the device's presence in a region adjacent to the one node.
14. A communications method as in claim 1 wherein the desired destination is the displaced, different control element.
15. A communications method as in claim 13 wherein the desired destination is the different control element.