Network edge controller and remote field service system

A communication system supporting processing of communications regarding tracking, location and status of field assets, comprising:

• a first computer server on a home network, said first computer server having processors with functionality to receive and process tracking, location and status information signals relating to field assets, said first computer server coupled to a home agent and a first gateway server for communication outside the home network;
• a second computer server on a foreign network, said second computer server being coupled to a controller unit, said controller unit being coupled to a second gateway server for communication outside the foreign network and said controller unit being coupled to one or more antennas that receive radio transmitted signals from radio tags, each of said radio tags being associated with a field asset and said controller unit using said radio transmitted signals received by the antennas to produce tracking, location and status information signals that are communicated to the first computer server on the home network,
• said controller unit having functional capabilities that include a data collection engine that controls and supports scanning operations and collection of data by and through the controller unit, a data communication engine that controls and supports communication and data transmission operations by and through the controller unit;
• and an radio reader and multiplexer module that receives and manages the communications with multiple radio signals using a multiplexed antenna configuration.

A method of transmitting communications regarding tracking, location and status of field assets, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first computer server on a home network, said first computer server coupled to a first gateway, said first computer server having processors;
• supporting communications to and from the home network using said first gateway server;
• providing a second computer server on a foreign network, said second computer server being coupled to a controller unit and a second gateway server, said second gateway server being used to support communication outside the foreign network;
• coupling one or more antennas to said controller unit, said one or more antennas being capable of receiving radio transmitted signals from radio tags;
• receiving radio transmitted signals from radio tags at said one or more antennas, each of said radio tags being associated with a field asset, said radio transmitted signals being communicated to said controller unit;
• producing tracking, location and status information signals at the controller unit using said radio transmitted signals received from the antennas;
• communicating said tracking, location and status information signals from said controller unit to the first computer server on the home network,
• receiving and processing tracking, location and status information signals relating to field assets using said processors at said first computer server, and,
• storing and maintaining information relating to said field assets.