The present invention is generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. In one aspect, a system is configured to monitor utility meters (613) in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters (614), each integrated into a sensor (612) adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers (221) that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway (210) to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer (260) on a network (230). The dedicated computer collects, compiles and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal to be applied at a designated actuator.

System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices

To provide interactivity, a public wireless packet data network is combined with a broadband digital broadcast network. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast network utilizes multiple transmitters at separately located sites simultaneously broadcasting the same multi-channel, multi-program signal. Broadcast waves from the transmitters propagate throughout substantially overlapping portions of the service area. Customer premises receiving systems include a receiving antenna and one or more digital entertainment terminals. The terminal includes a channel selector and digital receiver for capturing a digital transport stream from a selected channel. A processor converts selected program information from the transport stream for presentation, e.g. via a television set. The terminal also includes a CPU controlling the operation of the channel selector and the processor in response to user inputs. The CPU also communicates signaling information for interactive services via an RF packet data modem included in the terminal and the public wireless packet data network. In addition to the signaling for interactive services, the packet data network provides transport for data communications between other data devices.

Simulcasting digital video programs for broadcast and interactive services

The present invention is directed to a high speed packet switching network and, in particular to a method and system for minimizing the time to establish a connection between an origin and a destination node. Due to high dynamicity of the traffic on transmission links, it is important to select a routing path according to a fully up-to-date information on all network resources. The simpler approach is to calculate a new path for each new connection request. This solution may be very time consuming because there are as many path selection operations as connection set up operations. On another hand, the calculation of paths based on an exhaustive exploration of the network topology, is a complex operation which may also take an inordinate amount of resources in large networks. Many of connections originated from a network node flow to the same destination network node. It is therefore possible to take a serious benefit in reusing the same already calculated paths for several connections towards the same node. The path calculated at the time the connection is requested is recorded in a Routing Database and updated each time a modification occurs in the network. Furthermore, alternate paths for supporting non-disruptive path switch on failure or preemption, and new paths towards potential destination nodes can be calculated and stored when the connection set up process is idle. These last operations are executed in background with a low processing priority and in absence of connection request.

Method and system for minimizing the connection set up time in high speed packet switching networks

Wireless communication networks for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices are provided. Briefly, one embodiment of a wireless communication network may comprise a plurality of wireless transceivers having unique identifiers. Each of the plurality of wireless transceivers may be configured to receive a sensor data signal from one of the plurality of remote devices and transmit an orginal data message using a predefined wireless communication protocol. The original data message may comprise the corresponding unique identifier and sensor data signal. Each of the plurality of wireless transceivers may be configured to receive the original data message transmitted by one of the other wireless transceivers and transmit a repeated data message using the predefined communication protocol. The repeated data message may include the sensor data signal and the corresponding unique identifier. Furthermore, at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers may be further configured to provide the original data messages and the repeated data messages to a site controller connected to a wide area network. The site controller may be configured to manage communications between the wireless communication network and a host computer connected to the wide area network.

Wireless communication networks for providing remote monitoring of devices

A system and method for data communication connecting on-line networks with on-line and off-line computers. The present system provides for broadcast of up to the minute notification centric information thereby providing an instant call to action for users who are provided with the ability to instantaneously retrieve further detailed information. The notification centric portions of information is wirelessly broadcast to wireless receiving devices which are attached to computing devices. Upon receipt of the information at the personal computer, the user is notified through different multimedia alerts that there is an incoming message. Wirelessly broadcasted URL's, associated with the data, are embedded in data packets and provide an automated wired or wireless connection back to the information source for obtaining detailed data.

System and Method for Transmission of Data

A packet network routing method and system based on geographic coordinate identifiers is described. Each node in a network is uniquely identified by absolute geographical coordinates or by a code indicating absolute location in an external coordinate-based reference system (node coordinates), and such absolute geographical coordinates or the equivalent are employed as part of a packet identifier for each packet generated for use in making routing decisions. The node coordinates of a local node and its neighboring nodes and the packet coordinates are used by means at each node through which a packet is routed for determining a desired forwarding route of a data packet. The routing may be prioritized according to preselected criteria, preferably achieving maximum forward progress using the least amount of power. The packet routing protocol according to the invention requires no routing directory or table to perform data routing. Each node of the network collects in a table or is otherwise provided with information about the quality of communication between itself and its neighboring nodes. When a data packet has been received at a node, it is routed further through the network based on criteria derived from the history of communication between the local node and its neighbors.

Method for routing packets in a packet communication network

A packet network routing method and system based on geographic coordinate identifiers is described. Each node in a network is uniquely identified by absolute geographical coordinates or by a code indicating absolute location in an external coordinate-based reference system (node coordinates), and such absolute geographical coordinates or the equivalent are employed as part of a packet identifier for each packet generated for use in making routing decisions. The node coordinates of a local node and its neighboring nodes and the packet coordinates are used by means at each node through which a packet is routed for determining a desired forwarding route of a data packet. The routing may be prioritized according to preselected criteria, preferably achieving maximum forward progress using the least amount of power. The packet routing protocol according to the invention requires no routing directory or table to perform data routing.

Robert Lee Kalkwarf

Papers

Method for routing packets in a packet communication network

Method and system for routing packets in a packet communication network

Verfahren und System zur Leitweglenkung von Paketen in einem Paketübertragungsnetzwerk