# US 11,445,572 B2 · IoT gateway for remote natural gas compression systems

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- Number: US 11,445,572 B2
- Document ID: US11445572B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/097,070
- Filed: 2020-11-13
- Published: 2021-05-20
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-14
- Assignees: FW Murphy Production Controls, LLC
- Applicants: FW Murphy Production Controls, LLC
- Inventors: Trevor Harper; Kennon Guglielmo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445572B2

## CPC

- F02D 29/04: peculiar to engines driving pumps
- H04W 88/16: Gateway arrangements
- F02D 19/027: {Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position}
- F02D 41/0027: {the fuel being gaseous (non-electrical control F02D19/02)}
- F04D 27/001: {Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring}
- F04D 29/002: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- G06F 8/64: {Retargetable}
- H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)}
- H04L 67/5682: Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
- H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information
- H04W 40/22: using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
- H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service
- H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals
- F02D 41/266: {the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue}
- F02D 2250/00: Engine control related to specific problems or objectives
- G16Y 10/35: Utilities, e.g. electricity, gas or water
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network
- H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
- H04L 2012/40228: {Modbus}
- H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G16Y: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE INTERNET OF THINGS [IoT]

## Abstract

An Internet of Things (IoT) gateway integrated into a real-time monitoring system for skid-mounted natural gas compression systems. The IoT gateway enables remote monitoring, troubleshooting, and diagnosing of natural gas compression systems by providing access to cellular and satellite communication networks for communicating operational data to one or more remote servers. The IoT gateway can be configured to select a communication network based on an order of priority and other various criteria. The order of priority and the selection criteria may be updated over the air. The IoT gateway can be further configured to receive and relay software and other updates to one or more components of the natural gas compression system. The IoT gateway is configured to meet various regulatory compliance standards and is explosion proof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An Internet of Things (IoT) gateway configured to provide communication protocols and to enable remote monitoring of a natural gas compression system for event and diagnostic support, the natural gas compression system including a natural gas compressor and a natural gas compressor panel, the IoT gateway comprising:
a) a cover and a bottom enclosure, the cover including walls that interface with the bottom enclosure;
b) a first printed circuit board (PCB) positioned inside the cover, wherein the first PCB includes two cellular antennas, each being adapted to provide a cellular communication network connection;
c) a satellite module adapted to provide connection to a satellite communication network;
d) a second PCB having a microprocessor mounted thereon;
e) a seal positioned at the interface between the cover walls and the bottom enclosure, the seal being configured to prevent intrusion of moisture into an interior of the IoT gateway;
f) a gasket positioned on the bottom enclosure, the gasket being configured to prevent intrusion of moisture into the interior of the IoT gateway;
g) a shield covering the top and sides of the microprocessor, the shield being arranged and configured to protect the microprocessor from electromagnetic interference;
h) one or more connection sockets positioned on an exterior portion of the cover, wherein at least one of the one or more connection sockets enables a wired connection to the natural gas compression panel, the wired connection being adapted and configured to enable communication of data between the IoT gateway and the natural gas compression panel;
i) wherein the microprocessor is adapted and configured to:
1) determine which communication networks are enabled;
2) determine an order of priority of the communication networks based on pre-set criteria;
3) test each communication network in accordance with the determined order of priority of the communication networks, wherein each communication network is tested a maximum number of times; and
4) select a communication network and use the selected communication network for a pre-set duration of time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further adapted and configured to detect whether Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) data is populated for each communication network such that when SIM data is detected for a communication network, that communication network is determined to be enabled.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 1, wherein criteria for determining the order of priority of the communication networks includes cost, signal strength, and signal quality.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 3, wherein the communication network having a lowest cost is a first choice by default under the pre-set criteria for the order of priority.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further adapted and configured to enable over-the-air reconfiguration of the order of priority criteria.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is further adapted and configured to determine whether the communication network having the lowest cost is unreliable such that a communication network having a higher cost is selected based in part on reliability of the signal strength and/or signal quality.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 1, wherein the IoT gateway is configured to be explosion proof and meet regulatory compliance certifications, including Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Class 1, Division 2.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 1, wherein:
a) the IoT gateway is adapted and configured to provide wired communication via an integrated ethernet port;
b) the IoT gateway is further adapted and configured to provide wireless communication via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a radio-translucent plastic.

### Claim 10

An Internet of Things (IoT) gateway configured to provide communication protocols and to enable remote monitoring of a natural gas compression system for event and diagnostic support, the natural gas compression system including a natural gas compressor and a natural gas compressor panel, the IoT gateway comprising:
a) a cover and a bottom enclosure, the cover including walls that interface with the bottom enclosure;
b) a first printed circuit board (PCB) surface positioned inside the cover;
c) a first cellular antenna and a second cellular antenna, each of the first and second antennas being mounted to the first PCB surface, the first cellular antenna being adapted to provide a communication network connection to a first cellular communication network, and the second cellular antenna being adapted to provide a communication network connection to a second cellular communication network;
d) a satellite module adapted to provide connection to a satellite communication network;
e) a second PCB surface having a microprocessor mounted thereon;
f) a seal positioned at the interface between the cover walls and the bottom enclosure, the seal being configured to prevent intrusion of moisture into an interior of the IoT gateway;
g) a gasket positioned on the bottom enclosure, the gasket being configured to prevent intrusion of moisture into the interior of the IoT gateway;
h) a shield positioned between the first PCB surface and the microprocessor, the shield being arranged and configured to protect the microprocessor from electromagnetic interference;
i) one or more connection sockets positioned on an exterior portion of the cover, wherein at least one of the one or more connection sockets enables a wired connection to the natural gas compression panel, the wired connection being adapted and configured to enable communication of data between the IoT gateway and the natural gas compression panel;
j) wherein the microprocessor is adapted and configured to:
1) determine which of the first cellular communication network, the second cellular communication network, and the satellite communication network are enabled;
2) determine an order of priority for the first cellular communication network, the second cellular communication network, and the satellite communication network;
3) test each of the first cellular communication network, the second cellular communication network, and the satellite communication network in accordance with the determined order of priority for each of the communication networks, wherein each communication network is tested a maximum number of times; and
4) select a communication network and use the selected communication network for communication between the IoT gateway and a remote back office server.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 10, wherein the microprocessor, in case of a signal failure of the previously selected communication network, is further adapted and configured to determine which communication networks are enabled, determine the order of priority for the communication networks, test each enabled network, and select a communication network, and use the selected communication network after the signal failure of the previously selected communication network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 10, wherein criteria for determining the order of priority for the communication networks includes cost, signal strength, and signal quality.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is further adapted and configured to enable over-the-air reprioritization of the order of priority criteria.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is further adapted and configured to determine whether the communication network having the lowest cost has unreliable signal strength and/or signal quality such that a communication network having a higher cost is selected based in part on reliability of the signal strength and/or signal quality.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 10, wherein the IoT gateway is adapted and configured to receive and relay over-the-air updates to one or more components of the natural gas compression system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 10, wherein the IoT gateway is configured to comply with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Class 1, Division 2 certification standards.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 10, wherein the IoT gateway is configured to be International Protection (IP) 67 compliant.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 10, wherein the cover comprises a radio-translucent plastic.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The IoT gateway as defined in claim 10, wherein the one or more connection sockets includes a Deutsch-style pin connector that enable an operative connection of the IoT gateway to the natural gas compressor panel.

### Claim 20

A method for facilitating communication between a natural gas compression system and a remote server through use of an Internet of Things (IoT) gateway, wherein the communication is accomplished through cellular and/or satellite communication networks, the method comprising:
a) providing an IOT gateway, wherein the IOT gateway includes:
1) a first printed circuit board (PCB) having two cellular antennas configured for providing access to two different cellular communication networks;
2) a second PCB having a microprocessor mounted thereon; and
3) a satellite module configured for providing access to a satellite communication network;
b) determining, by the microprocessor, which of the cellular and satellite communication networks are enabled;
c) determining, by the microprocessor, an order of priority of the cellular and satellite communication networks;
d) testing, by the microprocessor, each cellular and satellite communication network connection in accordance with the determined order of priority of the cellular and satellite communication networks, wherein each communication network is tested a maximum number of times;
e) suspending, for a preset duration, further testing of each cellular and satellite communication network when a connection is not successful after each communication network has been tested for the maximum number of times;
f) selecting, by the microprocessor, one of the communication networks based on the order of priority and testing of each communication network;
g) using the selected communication network to send data to and/or receive data from a remote server, wherein the selected communication network is used for a preset duration; and
h) when the preset duration of use of the selected communication network has elapsed, testing each communication network to determine whether to switch to a communication network other than the selected communication network.