US6035266A — Lamp monitoring and control system and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

A lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising: a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled to a respective lamp of the plurality of lamps to monitor and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field; and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 102 words

A lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising: a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled to a respective lamp of the plurality of lamps to monitor and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field; and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein the ID field includes a lamp monitoring and control unit ID.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein the ID field includes a base station ID.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring data further includes a data field.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 4, wherein the data field includes current data related to one of the plurality of lamps.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 4, wherein the data field includes voltage data related to one of the plurality of lamps.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units receives control information from at least one of said at least one base station.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units transmits the monitoring data to at least one of said at least one base station via an RF link.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 8, wherein the RF link is in a frequency range of 218-219 MHz.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein a group of said at least one base station is coupled together in a network topology.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

The lamp monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising: a main station, coupled to a group of said at least one base station, for receiving the monitoring data.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 122 words

A lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising: a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled to a respective lamp of the plurality of lamps to monitor and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field; and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data, wherein the monitoring data from the plurality of lamp monitoring and control units is staggered in time to avoid collisions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 122 words

A lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising: a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled to a respective lamp of the plurality of lamps to monitor and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field; and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data, wherein the monitoring data from the plurality of lamp monitoring and control units is staggered in time to avoid collisions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 122 words

A lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising: a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled to a respective lamp of the plurality of lamps to monitor and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field, and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data, wherein the monitoring data from the plurality of lamp monitoring and control units is staggered in frequency to avoid collisions.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 122 words

A lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising: a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled to a respective lamp of the plurality of lamps to monitor and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field, and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data, wherein the monitoring data from the plurality of lamp monitoring and control units is staggered in frequency to avoid collisions.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 41 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for each of the plurality of lamps; and individually transmitting the monitoring data for a particular lamp by broadcasting from the particular lamp.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 41 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for each of the plurality of lamps; and individually transmitting the monitoring data for a particular lamp by broadcasting from the particular lamp.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method for monitoring of claim 14, wherein the step of collecting comprises the sub-steps of: checking a daylight status and a lamp power to detect a first and a second status; energizing the lamp when the first status is detected; de-energizing the lamp when the second status is detected; and using one of the first and second status as the monitoring data.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 66 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for the lamps; and transmitting the monitoring data, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the sub-steps of: randomizing a reporting start delay time; further randomizing a reporting delta time; and redundantly sending the monitoring data in accordance with the reporting start delay time and the reporting delta time.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 66 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for the lamps; and transmitting the monitoring data, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the sub-steps of: randomizing a reporting start delay time; further randomizing a reporting delta time; and redundantly sending the monitoring data in accordance with the reporting start delay time and the reporting delta time.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 51 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for the lamps; and transmitting the monitoring data, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the sub-steps of: randomizing a randomized TX channel; and redundantly sending the monitoring data on the randomized TX channel.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 51 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for the lamps; and transmitting the monitoring data, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the sub-steps of: randomizing a randomized TX channel; and redundantly sending the monitoring data on the randomized TX channel.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 65 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for the lamps; and transmitting the monitoring data, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the sub-steps of: randomizing a TX channel; and redundantly sending the monitoring data a first and a last time on a fixed TX channel and all other times on the randomized TX channel.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 65 words

A method for monitoring the status of a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: collecting monitoring data for the lamps; and transmitting the monitoring data, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the sub-steps of: randomizing a TX channel; and redundantly sending the monitoring data a first and a last time on a fixed TX channel and all other times on the randomized TX channel.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method for monitoring of claim 16, wherein the step of randomizing is based on a serial number.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method for monitoring of claim 16, wherein the step of further randomizing is based on a serial number.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method for monitoring of claim 17, wherein the step of randomizing is based on a serial number.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of making a lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled a to at least one of the plurality of lamps for monitoring and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field; and coupling at least one base station to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of making a lamp monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of lamps, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled a to at least one of the plurality of lamps for monitoring and control, and each transmitting monitoring data having at least an ID field and a status field; and coupling at least one base station to a group of said plurality of lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-03-07	2003-09-06	2004-03-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-03-07	2007-09-06	2008-03-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-03-07	2011-09-06	2012-03-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Lamp monitoring and control system and method

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag