Wireless communication enabled meter and network

摘要

A meter enabled for wireless communication and a wireless communication network are disclosed. A meter enabled for wireless communication comprises a metering device, a wireless communication system and an interface between the two. Meter data can be read, and the meter can be controlled via communication with a wireless network using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. A self-configuring wireless network is also disclosed. The wireless network includes a number of vnodes, and one or more VGATES. The vnodes are devices that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Vnodes are operative to form ad hoc piconet connections. The one or more VGATES comprise computer network gateways that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Thus, the VGATES enable the wireless array of vnodes to communicate with a private or public computer network to transmit data or receive commands. The network may also communicate with a VNOC system. VNOC is a universal communications adapter that enables the wireless array of vnodes to communicate (either directly or through a VGATE) with a central control facility via various wireless or wired communication media.

主权项

1. A wireless network, comprising:
a group of wireless network nodes, wherein each node of the group of wireless network nodes determines one or more respective nodes of the group of wireless network nodes to connect with, and wherein the group of wireless network nodes is configured to form an organized network; and one or more gateways communicatively coupled to the group of wireless network nodes to provide a respective communication access point between the one or more respective nodes of the group of wireless network nodes and an external network, wherein access by the one or more respective nodes to the external network is facilitated by one or more routes from the one or more respective nodes to the one or more gateways defined by the organized network.