Patent ID: 7327998
Filing Date: 2008-02-05
Classification: H04M,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a geographic view of nodes in a wireless network, comprising: receiving geographic location data and operating status data for the nodes in the wireless network comprising a collector and a plurality of meters that communicate wirelessly with the collector, each of the meters having a wireless communication path to the collector that is either a direct path or an indirect path through one or more intermediate meters that serve as repeaters, the wireless communication paths between each meter and the collector defining a layout of the network, the geographic location data comprising a digital land parcel for each node; associating each node with a corresponding geographic location by computing a center point of the node's digital land parcel and associating the node with the computed center point; and rendering a geographic view of the nodes overlaying an aerial photograph, the geographic view displaying each of the nodes at their corresponding geographic location on the aerial photograph, the geographic view further displaying the operating status data directly within the geographic view without first requiring interaction with an item in the geographic view.