Abstract:
A system comprises a plurality of instruments for gathering data and a network of mesh nodes communicably coupled to the plurality of instruments, the mesh nodes for obtaining the data from the instruments. The system also comprises a concentrator mesh node. The network of mesh nodes transmits the data to the concentrator mesh node while the concentrator mesh node is airborne. The concentrator mesh node receives the data and, when the concentrator mesh node is no longer airborne, the concentrator mesh node transfers the data to a destination via a network.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/868,980, filed Dec. 7, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Many applications require the collection of data from multiple sources spread out over a large geographical area. For example, in some applications, field monitoring equipment spread out over several square yards or even miles regularly logs data that needs to be harvested and processed. Collecting data over such large geographical areas presents numerous logistical challenges. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0003]    For a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative mesh network system comprising a plurality of mesh nodes, in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows an illustrative mesh network system comprising a mesh analog module, a mesh digital module, a mesh RFID module, a mesh hub/concentrator module and another mesh concentrator module, in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows an illustrative mesh network system comprising mesh modules, in accordance with various embodiments; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows an illustrative mesh network system comprising an oil and/or gas pipeline data acquisition and control system, in accordance with various embodiments; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows an illustrative mesh network system comprising a pipeline data acquisition system, in accordance with various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE 
       [0009]    Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, companies may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections. The term “connection” refers to any path via which a signal may pass. For example, the term “connection” includes, without limitation, wires, traces and other types of electrical conductors, optical devices, etc. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be illustrative of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment. 
         [0011]    Mesh technology comprises a decentralized network formed between individual wireless transceivers (or “nodes”). This type of decentralized network infrastructure is inexpensive, reliable and resilient. Each node may function as a repeater, receiving and transmitting data from one node to another. Mesh networks are considerably reliable because each node can connect to several different nodes, and if one node drops out of the network (thereby damaging a particular data route), another data route (comprising a different combination of nodes) may be used in lieu of the damaged route. Each node is programmed to process received data in a specific way: the node may pass the data to another node, or the node may retain the received data. A node that is programmed to retain data is defined as a “destination” or “concentrator” node and often provides gateway services to other data sources or data sinks (a data sink may be defined as a device that receives information data, control commands or other signals from a source (e.g., a connection to the Internet, SCADA systems, control computer, etc.)). 
         [0012]    The mesh network disclosed herein is able to transmit and receive commands and/or data (e.g., empirical data) to and from entities external to the network. Transceivers used in the mesh network for such communications include wireless mesh ultra-low power (ULP) transceivers. The ULP transceiver preferably operates in the license-free industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) 433, 868, and 915 MHz frequency bands, and uses Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK), Automatic Frequency Control (AFC), data interleaving and broadcast channel (BCH) Forward Error Correction techniques to provide optimal performance over the operating lifetime. The transceiver protocol stack has point-to-point, point-to-multipoint (broadcast polling) and repeater modes, tree, star and mesh network topologies, self-configuration and dynamic routing algorithm optimized for ULP networks, relaxed synchronization message passing and a programmable standby-receive duty cycle (˜10 milliseconds to ˜10 seconds range). Each mesh transceiver comprises an identifier unique to the network, similar to a media access control (MAC) address. A data packet from a node preferably contains the node ID. Commands and data also may be directed to a particular node by specifying the node ID as the destination. 
         [0013]    In accordance with embodiments of the invention, one or more nodes in the mesh network collects data and transfers the collected data to other nodes and/or to a concentrator node. The concentrator node (sometimes referred to as a “gateway” node) may be located on the earth or above the earth. For example, the concentrator/gateway node may be located within an aircraft (e.g., an airplane, blimp, helicopter, hot air balloon), a satellite (e.g., geostationary, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite), or on a transmission tower, electric utility pole, or any other suitable location for collecting data from the nodes en masse. In some embodiments, multiple concentrator nodes may be used. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative mesh network system  100  comprising a plurality of mesh nodes. Specifically, the nodes include a mesh analog module  102 , a mesh digital module  104 , a mesh RFID module  106 , a mesh hub/concentrator module  108  and a concentrator/gateway module  110  contained within an aircraft  112  (preferably a manned aircraft). Each of the modules  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  and  110  comprises a power supply (preferably engaged in ultra-low power (ULP) consumption techniques), processor logic, memory, a transceiver and an antenna. These components are used to collect, process, transmit and receive data to and from other mesh nodes. Each of these modules collects data from its environment (as described below) and transmits the collected data either directly or indirectly to the concentrator/gateway module  110  in the aircraft  112 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 1 , mesh analog module  102  transmits data directly to the concentrator/gateway module  110 . The mesh digital module  104  and the mesh RFID module  106 , however, transmit their data to the mesh concentrator module  108 . In turn, the mesh concentrator module  108  receives the data and transmits the received data, along with any of its own data, to the concentrator/gateway module  110 . The concentrator/gateway module  110  receives the data and stores the data in memory. When the aircraft  112  lands, the module  110  is communicably coupled to a network (e.g., the Internet) and the data stored in the module  110  is transferred to a desired destination. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows an illustrative mesh network system  200  comprising a mesh analog module  202 , a mesh digital module  204 , a mesh RFID module  206 , a mesh concentrator module  208  and a concentrator module  210 . The module  210  couples to a satellite transceiver  212 . In turn, the satellite transceiver  212  communicates with a satellite  214  (e.g., a geostationary or LEO satellite), and the satellite  214  communicates with a satellite data center  216 . In operation, the modules  202 ,  204 ,  206  and  208  collect data from their surroundings (as described below) and transfer the collected data either directly or indirectly to the concentrator module  210 . The concentrator module  210  receives the data and transmits the data to the satellite  214  via the satellite transceiver  212 . In turn, the satellite  214  receives the data from the transceiver  212  and transmits the received data to the satellite data center  216 . The satellite data center  216  preferably couples to a network connection (e.g., an Internet connection) by which the data center  216  transfers information to a predetermined destination (e.g., a Web site or another server not part of the data center  216 ). 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows an illustrative mesh network system  300  comprising mesh modules  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308  and  310 . As in systems  100  and  200  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  and  308  collect data from their surroundings (described below) and transmit the data (directly or indirectly) to the concentrator module  310 . In turn, the concentrator module  310  transmits the received data, via the wireless transceiver  312 , to a transmission tower  314 . The tower  314  may be associated with any suitable wireless communication technique, including global system for mobile communications (GSM) and code division multiple access (CDMA). The tower  314  receives the data from the transceiver  312  and broadcasts the data to one or more predetermined destinations using GSM, CDMA or other suitable techniques. 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  shows an illustrative mesh network system  400  comprising an oil and/or gas pipeline  402 . The pipeline may be coupled to various types of instrumentation used to maintain proper pipeline functionality, including a pipeline rectifier  406 , gas compressor  410 , valve  414 , hazardous materials container  420  and a half cell  424 . The operation of each of these instruments is monitored by a mesh node. Specifically, the rectifier  406  is monitored by the mesh analog modules  404 ; the gas compressor  410  is monitored by mesh digital module  408 ; the valve  414  is monitored by the mesh digital module  412 ; the hazardous materials container  420  is monitored by mesh RFID module  416  and/or mesh analog module  418 ; and the half cell  424  is monitored by the mesh analog module  422 . Each of these mesh nodes collects data from its respective instrument and, after having collected the data, transmits the data to the concentrator/gateway module  426 . The concentrator/gateway receives the data from the mesh nodes and transmits the data to a satellite  428 . The satellite  428  receives the data and transmits the data, e.g., to a satellite data center such as that described in  FIG. 2 . The scope of disclosure is not limited to using a satellite  428 . Any suitable data collection/gateway module may be used. Instrumentation and techniques for monitoring oil and gas pipelines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,027,957 and 5,785,842, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0018]      FIG. 5  shows an illustrative mesh network system  500  comprising a pipeline  502 . The pipeline  502  comprises multiple pipeline test points  504 . Each test point  504  comprises one or more instruments, such as those described in  FIG. 4 . Each test point  504  couples to a mesh node, such as the mesh analog modules  506  shown in  FIG. 5 . Each mesh node collects data from its respective instrument (or test point  504 ) and transmits the data either directly or indirectly to the gateway module  508  contained in aircraft  510 . For example, some mesh nodes transmit data directly to the gateway module  508 , whereas other mesh nodes transmit data to a mesh hub module  512 . In turn, the mesh hub module  512  gathers data and transmits the data to the gateway module  508  in the aircraft  510 . The gateway module  508  stores the received data until the aircraft  510  lands, whereupon the data is extracted and transmitted to a predetermined destination as described in  FIG. 1 . The scope of disclosure is not limited to using aircraft  510 . Any suitable means suitable for carrying the gateway module  508  may be used. In some embodiments, the mesh nodes are mobile. 
         [0019]    As described above, each mesh analog module collects data from an associated instrument. In some embodiments, each mesh analog module calculates values for a wide range of voltage inputs. Inputs may range from 0.0001 Volts to 1000 Volts of direct current (DC), rectified DC, or alternating current (AC) in harsh environments. 
         [0020]    One or more of the nodes described above may be powered with primary batteries, a solar panel/rechargeable battery system, or a permanent A/C or D/C power source. When powered with permanent power source, backup primary batteries are available in the event of a power outage. When operating off solar or a permanent power source, the node maintains a persistent Internet connection. The persistent connection allows a user to quickly retrieve data and to send commands or data to individual nodes via the node. If a node is using primary or backup batteries, the node enters a power saving state. In this state, the node may connect to the Internet and transmits data to and receives data from a data center on a preprogrammed schedule. A node can include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to provide precise latitude and longitude coordinates at the time data is transmitted and accurate updates to the system&#39;s real time clock. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the mesh networks may include computer software that protects equipment during periods of high lightning activity and in areas likely to cause electrical surges. A remote server monitors real-time lightning strike data to determine a lightning threat assessment. The threat assessment takes into account the time, intensity and location of a lightning strike with respect to the location of equipment connected to the mesh network. If the threat assessment is high, the remote server sends a threat command to the appropriate mesh gateway/concentrator associated with some or all of the equipment at risk to disconnect from any surge path (e.g., a pipeline). In turn, the mesh gateway broadcasts a command to a disconnect switch on the equipment through a mesh node. The disconnect switch is a high current, high isolation type of switch that may be in the form of a relay or other type of electromechanical switch. When the threat assessment has returned to a non-threatening level, a command is broadcast to reconnect the equipment as it was connected prior to the threat command. 
         [0022]    The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.