Patent ID: 7349996
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a system having an applications controller, a plurality of sensors, and two or more wireless modules each having a wireless transceiver and a communications controller, a first one of said wireless modules coupled to said applications controller via a digital bus for communication therewith, each of said other wireless modules coupled to one or more of said sensors via an I/O bus, a method for enabling remote management of a plurality of sensors, comprising the steps of: receiving by said first one of said wireless modules a command from said applications controller; transmitting by said first one of said wireless modules said command to a predetermined one of said other wireless modules via a wireless link, said predetermined one determined based on said command; receiving by said predetermined one of said other wireless modules said command via said wireless link; communicating as a function of said command by said predetermined one of said other wireless modules with one or more of said sensors via said I/O bus; generating by said predetermined one of said other wireless modules a response based on said communicating; transmitting by said predetermined one of said other wireless modules said response to said first one of said two or more wireless modules via said wireless link; receiving by said first one of said two or more wireless modules said response; and forwarding by said first one of said two or more wireless modules said response to said applications controller via said digital bus, wherein said I/O bus comprises a plurality of channels connected directly to a respective one of said other wireless modules, and said command identifies a selected one of the plurality of channels by which to exchange data with an associated one of said sensors coupled to said selected channel.