Patent ID: 7650425
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: G01D,G05B,G08B,G08C,H04L,H04M,H04W,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling communication with a host computer connected to a first communication network and a plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network associated with a plurality of remote devices that are to be monitored and controlled by the host computer, the method comprising the steps of: sending a path determination message to a target communication device from a site controller through the second communication network prompting the target communication device to retransmit the path determination message to the site controller through the second communication network, generating a network map of all down-stream communication paths from the site controller to the target communication device and all up-stream communication paths from the target communication device to the site controller from the unique addresses of the communication devices that retransmitted the path determination message from the site controller to the target communication device or from the target communication device to the site controller, based on the network map, determining one or more up-stream and down-stream communication paths associated with each of the plurality of communication devices; managing communication with each of the plurality of communication devices and the identification of each of the plurality of communication devices in the one or more communication paths, via a first communication protocol, based on one or more of the communication paths associated with each of the plurality of communication devices; managing communication with the host computer via a second communication protocol; storing on the site controller a first look-up table for identifying each of the plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network; and storing on the site controller a second look-up table for identifying a function to be performed by the site controller based upon an analysis of a message received from any one of the plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network.