US6415245B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lamp monitoring and control system and method
Assignee: LIGHTRONICS
•
Filing: 1999-12-17
•
Granted: 2002-07-02
•
Expires: 2019-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for remotely monitoring and/or controlling an apparatus and specifically for remotely monitoring and/or controlling street lamps. The lamp monitoring and control system comprises lamp monitoring and control units, each coupled to a respective lamp 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 the lamp monitoring and control units, for receiving the monitoring data, wherein each of the base stations includes an ID and status processing unit for processing the ID field of the monitoring data.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry Williams
- 👤 Michael F. Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:35
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B47/00; H05B47/20; H05B47/21; H05B47/22; H05B47/10; H05B47/175; H05B47/198; H05B47/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A remote device monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices, comprising: a plurality of stationary remote device monitoring and control units, each attached to a respective remote device of the plurality of remote devices to monitor characteristics of the remote device and control the remote device, and each transmitting monitoring data derived from monitoring the characteristics of the respective remote device, and having at least an ID field and a status field; and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of remote device 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
128 words
A remote device monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices, comprising: a plurality of stationary remote device monitoring and control units, each attached to a respective remote device of the plurality of remote devices to monitor characteristics of the remote device and control the remote device, and each transmitting monitoring data derived from monitoring the characteristics of the respective remote device, and having at least an ID field and a status field; and at least one base station, coupled to a group of said plurality of remote device 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
24 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein the ID field includes a remote device monitoring and control unit ID.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein the ID field includes a base station ID.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring data further includes a data field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 4 , wherein the data field includes current data related to one of the plurality of remote devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 4 , wherein the data field includes voltage data related to one of the plurality of remote devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of remote device monitoring and control units receives control information from at least one of said at least one base station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of remote device 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
23 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 8 , wherein the RF link is in a frequency range of 218-219 MHz.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of remote device monitoring and control units transmits the monitoring data to at least one of said at least one base station via a wire link.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of remote device monitoring and control units transmits the monitoring data to at least one of said at least one base station via a coaxial cable link.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of remote device monitoring and control units transmits the monitoring data to at least one of said at least one base station via a fiber optic link.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The remote device 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 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The remote device 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 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring data from the plurality of remote device monitoring and control units is staggered in time to avoid collisions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring data from the plurality of remote device monitoring and control units is staggered in frequency to avoid collisions.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of making a remote device monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices, comprising: providing a plurality of stationary remote device monitoring and control units, each attached to at least one of the plurality of remote devices to monitor characteristics of the remote device and control the device, and each transmitting monitoring data, the monitoring data being derived from monitoring the characteristics of the respective remote device, and having at least an ID field and a status field; and coupling at least one base station to a group of said plurality of remote device 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 19
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of making a remote device monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices, comprising: providing a plurality of stationary remote device monitoring and control units, each attached to at least one of the plurality of remote devices to monitor characteristics of the remote device and control the device, and each transmitting monitoring data, the monitoring data being derived from monitoring the characteristics of the respective remote device, and having at least an ID field and a status field; and coupling at least one base station to a group of said plurality of remote device 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 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the ID field is indicative of a location of the respective remote device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of remote device monitoring and control units receives a signal originating away from the at least one of the plurality of remote device monitoring and control units.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the signal originates from the at least one base station.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for monitoring a plurality of remote devices, comprising: a plurality of remote device monitoring units, each of the plurality of remote device monitoring units configured to be mounted on a light fixture on a light pole and attach to a respective remote device of the plurality of remote devices, the respective remote device being on the light fixture, and each configured to automatically transmit 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 remote device monitoring units, for receiving the data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes a processing unit for processing at least a portion of the data.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
121 words
A system for monitoring a plurality of remote devices, comprising: a plurality of remote device monitoring units, each of the plurality of remote device monitoring units configured to be mounted on a light fixture on a light pole and attach to a respective remote device of the plurality of remote devices, the respective remote device being on the light fixture, and each configured to automatically transmit 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 remote device monitoring units, for receiving the data, wherein each of said at least one base station includes a processing unit for processing at least a portion of the data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the ID field is indicative of a location of the respective remote device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of remote device monitoring units receives a signal originating away from the at least one of the plurality of remote device monitoring units.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein the signal originates from the at least one base station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 1 , wherein the remote device comprises a street lamp mounted on a lamp pole substantially near a top the lamp pole.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of stationery remote device monitoring and control units is affixed to the corresponding street lamp.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of stationery remote device monitoring and control units is attached to a three prong connector of the corresponding street lamp.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the stationary remote device monitoring and control units is affixed to the respective remote device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the stationary remote device monitoring and control units is configured to receive signals from the respective remote device to which it is attached.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of remote devices comprises a street lamp mounted on a lamp pole.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein each of the plurality of stationery remote device monitoring control units is mounted to a corresponding one of the street lamps.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The remote device monitoring and control system of claim 30 , wherein each of the plurality of stationery remote device monitoring and control units is attached to a three prong connector of the corresponding street lamp.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein transmitting monitoring data comprises wireless transmission from the monitoring and control units to the at least one base station.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 17 , wherein each of the stationary remote device monitoring and control units is affixed to the respective remote device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 17 , wherein each of the stationary remote device monitoring and control units is configured to receive signals from the respective remote device to which it is attached.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the light fixture is located substantially near a top of the light pole.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of remote device monitoring units wirelessly transmits data to the least one base station.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the remote device is the light fixture.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein each of the stationary remote device monitoring units is affixed to the respective remote device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein each of the stationary remote device monitoring units is configured to receive signals from the respective remote device to which it is attached.
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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) | 2005-07-01 | 2005-12-31 | 2006-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-01 | 2009-12-31 | 2010-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-01 | 2013-12-31 | 2014-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |