Patent ID: 7081815

Claim:
A method of remotely monitoring the status of multiple fire extinguishers, the method comprising: coupling sensors to respective fire extinguishers in sensing relation to the fire extinguishers, the sensors each being configured to sense a parameter of the fire extinguisher to which it is coupled; associating transmitters with respective fire extinguishers, the transmitters being configured to selectively transmit information identifying the fire extinguisher with which the transmitter is associated and to selectively transmit information indicative of the sensed parameter; providing a receiver in selective wireless communications with the transmitters; providing a computer coupled to the receiver, the computer being configured to maintain testing schedules for respective fire extinguishers and being configured to provide an output when it is time for an extinguisher to be inspected, tested, or undergo maintenance, the computer also being configured to selectively store information from a plurality of the transmitters; and using a radio frequency identification device to define one of the transmitters and to also define a sensor to sense if the associated fire extinguisher is moved, the radio frequency identification device including a conductor configured to be broken in response to movement of the associated fire extinguisher.