Patent ID: 7853210

Claim:
A method for using a short range wireless communications device for communicating between sensor elements associated with each container and a sensor controller element, the method comprising: prior to or during installation, preprogramming the sensor elements with a sensor configuration table containing certain key parameters; triggering transmission from the sensor controller element, such that the sensor element transmits and said sensor controller element receives a message with pertinent information related to a sensor configuration; sending a message from the sensor element requesting to be accepted into the network; performing diagnostics with the sensor controller element on the requesting sensor element; should diagnostics be successful, transmitting from the controller element a message and receiving the message at said sensor element indicating that the sensor element has been accepted into the system and is commissioned for operation; and, transmitting a message from the sensor controller element and receiving an acknowledgement at a central monitoring station indicating that a new sensor has been integrated into the container and that the new sensor is ready for operation.