Patent ID: 7113106

Claim:
A monitoring node comprising: a processor; a transceiver in communication with the processor for receiving signals and for transmitting signals, the signals transmitted and received via a wireless communication medium; a transducer, in communication with the processor for sensing a first physical parameter and for providing a first signal, including data, relating to the first physical parameter; the processor for identifying a received second signal as one destined for the monitoring node and other than destined for the monitoring node, and when the identification is indicative of the second signal being destined for other than the monitoring node, relaying the received second signal via the transceiver, and when the identification is indicative of the second signal being destined for the monitoring node, providing an indication to the receiving party of the received signal; the processor for generating a third signal for transmission, wherein the third signal includes at least the first signal including data relating to the first physical parameter; and wherein the monitoring node executes an ad-hoc communications protocol to communicate with at least one other monitoring node to form an ad-hoc network.