Systems and methods for controlling communication between a host computer and communication devices

Abstract

A site controller adapted to be used in an automated monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a first communication network is provided. The site controller is configured for controlling communication with the host computer and a plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network associated with the plurality of remote devices. Briefly described, in one embodiment, the site controller comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with the plurality of communication devices via the second communication network; a network interface device configured to communicate with the host computer via the first communication network; and logic configured to: manage communication with each of the plurality of communication devices, via a first communication protocol, based on one or more communication paths for each of the plurality of communication devices, each communication path comprising one or more communication devices involved in the communication link between the transceiver and each of the plurality of communication devices; and manage communication with the host computer via a second communication protocol. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.

1 . A site controller for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer, the site controller comprising:
 a wireless transceiver;   a wide area network interface;   a processor; and   a memory, the memory comprising logical instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the site controller to:
 transmit, with the wireless transceiver, a control signal to a first wireless communication device in a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices, the control signal comprising data indicative of a request for the first wireless communication device to transmit an operating status of the first wireless communication device; 
 receive, with the wireless transceiver, a response signal from the first wireless communication device in the wireless network via a first communication path comprising at least one wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device in the plurality of wireless communication devices, the response signal comprising an identification code and an operating status of the first wireless communication device, the operating status of the first wireless communication device comprising data indicative of a condition monitored or controlled by the first wireless communication device, wherein the condition monitored or controlled by the first wireless communication device is independent of other wireless communication devices in the wireless network; 
 identify the first communication device associated with the response signal based on the identification code in the response signal; and 
 transmit, with the network interface, a data signal to a host computer on a wide area network, the data signal comprising data indicative of an identity of the first wireless communication device and the operating status of the first wireless communication device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The site controller of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises logical instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the site controller to receive, with the network interface, a request signal from the host computer comprising data indicative of a command for the site controller to transmit the operating status of the first wireless communication device to the host computer. 
     
     
         3 . The site controller of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises a look-up table with entries corresponding to the identity of each of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the wireless network. 
     
     
         4 . The site controller of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises a look-up table with entries corresponding to the location of each of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the wireless network. 
     
     
         5 . The site controller of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises a look-up table with entries corresponding to possible operating statuses of the plurality of wireless communication devices. 
     
     
         6 . The site controller of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises logical instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the site controller to transmit, with the wireless transceiver, a control signal to a first wireless communication device according to a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         7 . The site controller of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises logical instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the site controller to determine upstream and downstream communication paths for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices. 
     
     
         8 . A method for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer, the method comprising:
 transmitting, with a site controller, a control signal to a first wireless communication device in a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices, the control signal comprising data indicative of a request for the first wireless communication device to transmit an operating status of the first wireless communication device;   receiving, with the site controller, a response signal from the first wireless communication device in the wireless network via a first communication path comprising at least one wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device in the plurality of wireless communication devices, the response signal comprising an identification code and an operating status of the first wireless communication device, the operating status of the first wireless communication device comprising data indicative of a condition monitored or controlled by the first wireless communication device, wherein the condition monitored or controlled by the first wireless communication device is independent of other wireless communication devices in the wireless network;   identifying, with the site controller, the first communication device associated with the response signal based on the identification code in the response signal; and   transmitting, with the site controller, a data signal to a host computer on a wide area network, the data signal comprising data indicative of an identity of the first wireless communication device and the operating status of the first wireless communication device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving, with the site controller, a request signal from the host computer comprising data indicative of a command for the site controller to transmit the operating status of the first wireless communication device to the host computer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accessing, with the site controller, a look-up table stored in memory of the site controller, the look-up table having entries corresponding to the identity of each of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the wireless network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising accessing, with the site controller, a look-up table stored in memory of the site controller, the look-up table having entries corresponding to the location of each of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the wireless network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising accessing, with the site controller, a look-up table stored in memory of the site controller, the look-up table having entries corresponding to possible operating statuses of the plurality of wireless communication devices. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transmitting, with the site controller, a control signal to a first wireless communication device according to a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining, with the site controller, upstream and downstream communication paths for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices.