Patent US1009627A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4896277A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4896277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of mapping refrigerated containers in a power line carrier based monitoring system
Assignee: Thermo King Corp
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Filing: 1988-05-03
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Granted: 1990-01-23
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Expires: 2008-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of mapping addresses of a plurality of refrigerated containers having remote monitoring units (RMUs) connected to a power line carrier based monitoring system which includes a master monitoring unit (MMU). The method adapts to the size of the expected number of containers to be mapped by any mapping command, to reduce the overall time to map either a large or small number of containers. The method includes the MMU selecting a modulo having a magnitude determined by the number of containers expected to be mapped, and the RMUs generating a random number within the range responsive to the modulo. The RMUs apply response messages to the power line, which include the addresses of the associated containers, at a time responsive to the magnitude of the random number.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard C. Vercellotti
- 👤 Arthur A. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/403; H02; H02J; H02J13/00; H02J13/13; H02J13/1311; H02J13/1313; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/54; H04B3/542; H04B2203/00; H04B2203/54; H04B2203/5404; H04B2203/5408; H04B2203/5429; H04B2203/5441; H04B2203/5458; H04B2203/5462; H04B2203/5483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of mapping addresses of a plurality of refrigerated containers having uniquely addressable remote monitoring units (RMUs) connected to a power line carrier based monitoring system which includes a master monitoring unit (MMU), wherein the MMU includes computer based means for mapping the RMUs with predetermined mapping commands, and the RMUs include computer based means for responding to the mapping commands, including means for generating a random number and means for preparing mapping response messages, comprising the steps of: mapping the RMUs of the refrigerated containers by the MMU with a predetermined first mapping command applied to the power line, responding to the first mapping command by the RMUs connected to the power line communication system, said mapping step including the steps of: selecting a modulo having a range determined by the number of containers expected to be mapped, and inserting the selected modulo into the first mapping command, said responding step including the steps of: generating a random number within the range of the modulo in the first mapping command, inserting the container's address into a mapping response message, and applying the mapping response message to the power line at a time responsive to the magnitude of the random number.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of mapping addresses of a plurality of refrigerated containers having uniquely addressable remote monitoring units (RMUs) connected to a power line carrier based monitoring system which includes a master monitoring unit (MMU), wherein the MMU includes computer based means for mapping the RMUs with predetermined mapping commands, and the RMUs include computer based means for responding to the mapping commands, including means for generating a random number and means for preparing mapping response messages, comprising the steps of: mapping the RMUs of the refrigerated containers by the MMU with a predetermined first mapping command applied to the power line, responding to the first mapping command by the RMUs connected to the power line communication system, said mapping step including the steps of: selecting a modulo having a range determined by the number of containers expected to be mapped, and inserting the selected modulo into the first mapping command, said responding step including the steps of: generating a random number within the range of the modulo in the first mapping command, inserting the container's address into a mapping response message, and applying the mapping response message to the power line at a time responsive to the magnitude of the random number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each RMU has a mapping flag which enables each RMU to initiate the step of applying a mapping response message to the power line only when set, and including the steps of setting and resetting the mapping flag in response to predetermined conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a predetermined condition which will set the mapping flag of a RMU is initial power-up of a RMU.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a predetermined condition which will set the mapping flag of a RMU is a self initiated reset.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a predetermined condition which will set the mapping flag of a RMU is a reset of RMU initiated by the MMU.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the mapping step includes the step of selecting a specific mapping command being one of said plurality of mapping commands, said first mapping command, when selected, being a general mapping command which requests that all RMUs provide a mapping response message, and wherein the step of mapping with the first mapping command is a predetermined condition which will set the mapping flags of all RMUs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of polling a selected RMU by the address of the associated container, and wherein a predetermined condition which will reset the mapping flag of a RMU is a polling step by the MMU which utilizes the address of the associated container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of polling a RMU of a selected container by the MMU using the selected container's address following the receipt by the MMU of a mapping response message, and including the step of resetting the mapping flag of the RMU associated with the specifically addressed container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of setting the mapping flag of a RMU which successfully responded to a prior mapping command after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined period of time starts each time a container is specifically addressed by the MMU.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the mapping step includes the step of selecting a specific mapping command from a plurality of mapping commands, with the first mapping command, when selected, requesting all RMUs to provide a mapping response message, and wherein the step of mapping with the first mapping command sets the mapping flags of all RMUs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of mapping commands includes a second mapping command, and including the steps of selecting a modulo for the second mapping command, inserting the modulo in the second mapping command, and mapping the refrigerated containers with the second mapping command, and including a responding step responsive to the step of mapping with the second mapping command which includes the step of generating a new random number within the range of the modulo in the second mapping command.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of mapping commands includes a third mapping command, and including the steps of: selecting a modulo for the third mapping command, inserting the modulo in the third mapping command, and mapping the refrigerated containers with the third mapping command, and including a responding step responsive to the step of mapping with the third mapping command which includes the step of reducing the magnitude of a previously generated random number within the new modulo without generating or decrementing a new random number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of mapping commands includes a fourth mapping command, and including the step of: mapping the refrigerated containers with the fourth mapping command, and including a responding step responsive to the step of mapping with the fourth mapping command which includes the step of decrementing a previously generated random number, and wherein the applying step is initiated when the random number has been decremented to zero by the decrementing step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of decrementing a random number will decrement the number past zero, enabling the applying step to be repeated when the the random number is again decremented to zero, if a prior applying step did not result in the resetting of he associated mapping flag.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step is initiated by a RMU when its associated random number is zero.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the polling step additionally includes the step of requesting the RMUs to decrement their random numbers, with each RMU decrementing its random number in response to said requesting step and initiating the applying step when its random number has been decremented to zero.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
116 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the MMU collects the addresses of containers which may have had like random numbers generated, by the step of mapping the refrigerated containers with a second mapping command having a modulo different than the modulo in the first mapping command, and wherein the RMUs respond to the second mapping command by the steps of generating a new random number within a range responsive to the modulo in the second mapping command, with any RMU having a set mapping flag preparing and applying a mapping response to the power line with the address of the associated container, when the new random number has been decremented to zero by the decrementing step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a modulo provides a number N which indicates the number of most significant bits to discard in the random and wherein the step of generating a random number within the range of the selected modulo includes the steps of: generating a random number in binary having a predetermined number of bits, and removing the N most significant bits from the generated random number.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of removing the N most significant bits from the generated random number indicated by the selected modulo includes the steps of: generating a mask of logic ones having the same number of bits as the random number, setting the N most significant bits of the mask to logic zero, and ANDing the modified mask and the random number.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-22 | 1993-07-24 | 1994-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-22 | 1997-07-24 | 1998-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-22 | 2001-07-24 | 2002-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |