Hydrant monitoring system and method

Abstract

A method for transferring adverse event information from a plurality of remote hydrants to a municipal monitoring server comprises detecting an adverse event in a hydrant that relates to an adverse hydrant condition; transferring data representative of the adverse condition to a host server by routing the data along a predefined hopping path; and transferring the data from the host monitor to the municipal monitoring server. A system for detecting adverse events at a hydrant and event information to a municipal monitoring sever is also disclosed.

1 . A method for transferring adverse event information from a plurality of remote hydrants to a municipal monitoring server comprises:
 detecting an adverse event that occurs in one of the remote hydrants;   generating adverse event data representative of the adverse event;   transferring the adverse event data representative of the adverse condition from the one remote hydrant to a host server by routing the adverse event data along a wireless predefined hopping path independent of the hydrants; and   transferring the adverse event data from the host server to the municipal monitoring server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the adverse event is an event that would render the hydrant wholly or partially inoperative. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the adverse event includes at least one of the removal of a nozzle cap from the hydrant the presence of a predetermined level of fluid in the hydrant and tampering of the hydrant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of transferring the adverse event data to the host server includes adding to the adverse event data the wireless predefined hopping path. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  and further comprising removing the wireless predefined hopping path from the adverse event data at the host server prior to transferring the adverse event data to the municipal monitoring server. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the act of transferring the adverse event data from the host monitor to the municipal monitoring server takes place through a network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the host server is geographically remote from the municipal monitoring server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the remote hydrant has a hydrant monitor which has a sleep mode, and further comprising waking the hydrant monitor, and generating the data representative of the adverse condition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining that no adverse event has occurred in one of the remote hydrants; and 
 transferring data representative of the determination from the one remote hydrant to the host server and from the host server to the municipal monitoring server. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the steps of determining and transferring data representative of the determination occur at predetermined times. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the predetermined times are selected according to a user-defined schedule. 
     
     
         12 . A system for collecting data representative of events relating to an adverse condition in a fire hydrant that is outside of wireless communication proximity to a municipal monitoring server, comprising;
 a host server configured to communicate data packets with the municipal monitoring server;   a plurality of transmission communication units positioned in a geographic region outside of wireless communication proximity to a municipal monitoring server wherein at least one of the transmission communication units is spaced from and in wireless proximity to the fire hydrant and at least one other of the transmission communication units is in wireless proximity to the host server; and further wherein the plurality of transmission communication units are positioned so that there is at least one hopping path of wireless communication between the fire hydrant and the host server;   a detector mounted to the fire hydrant, wherein the detector is configured to detect an event in the hydrant of an adverse hydrant condition in the hydrant and to generate an adverse event signal in response to the adverse event;   a hydrant monitor mounted to the fire hydrant and connected to the detector for receiving a signal from the detector and configured to convert the adverse event signal from the detector into an event data packet and to wirelessly transmit the event data packet to the at least one of the transmission communication units in wireless proximity to the fire hydrant;   wherein the transmission communication units are configured to transmit the event data packet to the host server through a predefined hopping path for sending the same to the municipal monitoring server.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the transmission communication units are mounted to structural supports in positions that are inaccessible to the public. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein transmission communication units are mounted to structural supports that include utility poles and buildings. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein there are multiple hydrants geographically spaced from, but in wireless proximity to, at least one of the transmission communication units and each of the hydrants is equipped with one of the detectors and one hydrant monitors. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the host server is geographically remote from the municipal monitoring server and is configured to communicate with the municipal monitoring server through a network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein there are multiple detectors in the hydrant, each of which detectors is configured to detect an adverse event of a different adverse hydrant condition in the hydrant and to generate a different adverse event signal in response to the adverse event. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the hydrant monitor has a sleep mode, and the hydrant monitor is configured to wake up responsive to the adverse event signal and to convert the adverse event signal from the detector into an event data packet responsive thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the transmission communication units are configured to add the predefined hopping path to the event data packet. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the host server is configured to strip the predefined hopping path from the event data packet prior to sending the event data packet to the municipal monitoring server. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the municipal monitoring server defaults to a condition of no adverse event unless an event data packet is transmitted from the host server. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the hydrant monitor is further configured to wirelessly transmit a signal representing that no adverse event signal has been received from a detector at a given time. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the given time is predetermined according to a user-defined schedule. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the hydrant monitor is further configured to wirelessly transmit a signal representing that no adverse event signal has been received from a detector within a predetermined duration of time. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the predetermined duration of time is the preceding 24 hours. 
     
     
         26 . A method for transferring adverse event information from a plurality of remote hydrants to a municipal monitoring server comprises:
 detecting an adverse event in one of the plurality of remote hydrants that may relate to an adverse hydrant condition; and   transferring data representative of the adverse condition to the municipal monitoring server at least in part by routing the data along a wireless predefined hopping path of transmission communication units spaced from the plurality of remote hydrants.