Patent ID: 7626508
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: E03F,G01F,G08B

Abstract:
1. A monitoring system, comprising: a plurality of monitoring devices disposed in sewer manholes, each of said monitoring devices comprising (i) a sensor configured to obtain depth measurements at periodic intervals, and (ii) a wireless transceiver; a plurality of wireless mesh nodes arranged in a distributed network, at least one of said mesh nodes in physical proximity to each of said monitoring devices for communicating wirelessly therewith, wherein at least some of said mesh nodes communicating with said monitoring devices are also configured to wirelessly communicate with one another; and at least one bridge node configured to communicate wirelessly with said mesh nodes, and to transfer information between said mesh nodes and a remote monitoring station; wherein said mesh nodes each comprise a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with other mesh nodes, at least one of said monitoring devices, and said bridge node, according to a multiplexing technique; wherein said mesh nodes convey depth measurement data from the monitoring devices to the remote monitoring station, and convey instructions or other information from the remote monitoring station to the monitoring devices; and wherein said bridge node comprises a first wireless transceiver for communicating with the mesh nodes according to a first protocol, and a gateway interface for communicating with said remote monitoring station via a second network.