Radio communication network for remote data generating stations

A communications network for collecting a plurality of network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices located within a geographic area, comprising:

• a plurality of network service modules, with each network service module of said plurality of network service modules including NSM-transmitter means for transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data generated by a respective physical device as an NSM-packet signal at a time pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period;
• a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced, with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two of said plurality of remote cell nodes, for receiving the transmitted NSM-packet signal by said at least two remote cell nodes, with each remote cell node including
• RCN-receiver means for receiving a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules, respectively, with the multiplicity of network service modules including a subset of said plurality of network service modules;
• RCN-memory means for storing the received multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• and
• RCN-transmitter means, responsive to a first polling signal, for transmitting the stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as an RCN-packet signal;
• a plurality of intermediate data terminals (IDT), with each intermediate data terminal including
• IDT-transmitter means for transmitting the first polling signal to said plurality of remote cell nodes;
• IDT-receiver means for receiving a multiplicity of RCN-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of remote cell nodes, respectively, with the multiplicity of remote cell nodes including a subset of said plurality of remote cell nodes;
• IDT-memory means for storing the received multiplicity of RCN-packet signals, with said IDT-transmitter means responsive to a second polling signal for transmitting the stored multiplicity of RCN-packet signals as an IDT-packet signal;
• and
• a central data terminal (CDT) having CDT-transmitter means for transmitting the second polling signal to said plurality of intermediate data terminals, CDT-receiver means for receiving a plurality of IDT-packet signals, CDT-processing means for decoding the plurality of IDT-packet signals as the plurality of NSM data, and CDT-memory means for storing the plurality of NSM data in a data base.

A method for collecting a plurality of network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two of said plurality, of remote cell nodes, for simultaneously receiving the plurality of NSM data by said at least two remote cell nodes, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data from each of the plurality of physical devices as an NSM-packet signal at a time selected pseudorandomly;
• receiving, at each remote cell node (RCN), a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules, respectively, with the multiplicity of network service modules including a subset of said plurality of network service modules;
• storing the received multiplicity of NSM-packet signals received at each of the plurality of remote cell nodes;
• polling the plurality of remote cell nodes with a plurality of polling signals, respectively, from an intermediate data terminal;
• transmitting from each of the plurality of remote cell nodes, responsive to the plurality of polling signals, the stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a plurality of RCN-packet signals, respectively;
• receiving the plurality of RCN-packet signals at the intermediate data terminal (IDT);
• storing the received plurality of RCN-packet signals at the intermediate data terminal;
• transmitting, responsive to a second polling signal, from a plurality of intermediate data terminals, the plurality of stored RCN-packet signals as a plurality of IDT-packet signals, respectively;
• and
• receiving the plurality of IDT-packet signals at a central data terminal (CDT).

A communications network for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices located within a geographic area, comprising:

• a plurality of network service modules, with each network service module of said plurality of network service modules coupled to a respective physical device of said plurality of physical devices, with each network service module of said plurality of network service modules including an NSM transmitter for transmitting by wireless radio the respective NSM data from the respective physical device as an NSM-packet signal;
• a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of said plurality of network service modules within a range of at least one remote cell node, with each remote cell node including an RCN receiver for receiving a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules, with the multiplicity of network service modules including a subset of the plurality of network service modules, and RCN-transmitter means for transmitting the multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as an RCN-packet signal;
• and
• a central data terminal (CDT) having CDT-receiver means for receiving a plurality of RCN-packet signals, a CDT processor for decoding the plurality of RCN-packet signals as the NSM data, and a CDT memory for storing the NSM data in a data base.

A communications network for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices located within a geographic area, comprising:

• a plurality of network service modules for generating a plurality of NSM-packet signal, respectively, with each network service module including NSM-transmitter means for transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data generated by a respective physical device as an NSM-packet signal;
• a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two remote cell nodes for receiving a transmitted NSM-packet signal by said at least two remote cell nodes, with each remote cell node including RCN-receiver means for receiving a NSM-packet signal transmitted from a network service module, RCN-memory means for storing a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals, and RCN-transmitter means for transmitting the stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals from the RCN-memory means as an RCN-packet signal;
• an intermediate data terminal (IDT) including IDT-receiver means for receiving an RCN-packet signal transmitted from a remote cell node, IDT-memory means for storing a multiplicity of RCN-packet signals, and IDT-transmitter means for transmitting the stored multiplicity of RCN-packet signals as an IDT-packet signal;
• and
• a central data terminal (CDT) having CDT-receiver means for receiving a plurality of IDT-packet signals, CDT-processing means for decoding the plurality of IDT-packet signals as a plurality of NSM data, and CDT-memory means for storing the plurality of NSM data in a data base.

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by a plurality of remote cell nodes located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two remote cell nodes for receiving NSM-data by said at least two remote cell nodes, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving at the plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules;
• storing a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals at each of the plurality of remote cell nodes;
• transmitting from each of the plurality of remote cell nodes the stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a plurality of RCN-packet signals;
• and
• receiving the plurality of RCN-packet signals at a central data terminal (CDT).

The method as set forth in 65 further comprising the steps of:

• generating, in response to detecting an alarm condition at a network service module, an alarm signal;
• transmitting the alarm signal in an NSM-packet signal;
• and
• transmitting, in response to receiving the NSM-packet signal having the alarm signal, an RCN-packet signal having the alarm signal.

A method for collecting a plurality of network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two of said plurality of remote cell nodes, for simultaneously receiving the plurality of NSM data by said at least two remote cell nodes, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data from each of the plurality of physical devices as an NSM-packet signal at a time selected pseudorandomly;
• receiving, at each remote cell node (RCN), a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules, respectively, with the multiplicity of network service modules including a subset of said plurality of network service modules;
• storing the received multiplicity of NSM-packet signals at each of the plurality of remote cell nodes;
• polling, from a plurality of intermediate data terminals (IDT) using a plurality of polling signals, respectively, the plurality of remote cell nodes, with each of the plurality of intermediate data terminals polling a multiplicity of remote cell nodes, the multiplicity of remote cell nodes including a subset of the plurality of remote cell nodes;
• transmitting from each of the plurality of remote cell nodes, responsive to the plurality of polling signals, the stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as an RCN-packet signal;
• receiving a multiplicity of RCN-packet signals at each of the plurality of intermediate data terminals, with the multiplicity of RCN-packet signals including a subset of the plurality of RCN-packet signals;
• storing the received multiplicity of RCN-packet signals at each of the plurality of intermediate data terminals;
• polling, from a central data terminal using a second polling signal, the plurality of intermediate data terminals;
• transmitting from each of the plurality of intermediate data terminals, responsive to the second polling signal, the multiplicity of stored RCN-packet signals as an IDT-packet signal, respectively;
• receiving a plurality of IDT-packet signals at the central data terminal;
• and
• decoding, at the central data terminal, the plurality of IDT-packet signals as the plurality of NSM data.

A communications network for collecting a plurality of network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices located within a geographic area, comprising:

• a plurality of network service modules for generating a plurality of NSM-packet signals, respectively, with each network service module including NSM-transmitter means for transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data generated by a respective physical device as an NSM-packet signal;
• a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two remote cell nodes for receiving a transmitted NSM-packet signal by said at least two remote cell nodes, with each remote cell node including RCN-receiver means for receiving an NSM-packet signal transmitted from a network service module, RCN-memory means for storing the received NSM-packet signal, and RCN-transmitter means for transmitting the stored NSM-packet signal from the RCN-memory means as an RCN-packet signal;
• an intermediate data terminal (IDT) including IDT-receiver means for receiving the RCN-packet signal transmitted from each remote cell node, IDT-memory means for storing the received RCN-packet signal, and IDT-transmitter means for transmitting the stored RCN-packet signal as an IDT-packet signal;
• and
• a central data terminal (CDT) having CDT-receiver means for receiving the IDT-packet signal, CDT-processing means for decoding the received IDT-packet signal as a plurality of NSM data, and CDT-memory means for storing the plurality of NSM data in a data base.

A communications network for collecting a plurality of network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices located within a geographic area, comprising:

• a plurality of network service modules, with each network service module of said plurality of network service modules including NSM-transmitter means for transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data generated by a respective physical device as an NSM-packet signal at a time pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period;
• a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced, with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two of said plurality of remote cell nodes, for receiving the transmitted NSM-packet signal by said at least two remote cell nodes, with each remote cell node including
• RCN-receiver means for receiving a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules, respectively, with the multiplicity of network service modules including a subset of said plurality of network service modules;
• RCN-memory means for storing the received multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• and
• RCN-transmitter means, responsive to a first polling signal, for transmitting the stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as an RCN-packet signal;
• a plurality of intermediate data terminals (IDT), with each intermediate data terminal including
• IDT-transmitter means for transmitting the first polling signal to said plurality of remote cell nodes;
• IDT-receiver means for receiving a multiplicity of RCN-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of remote cell nodes, respectively, with the multiplicity of remote cell nodes including a subset of said plurality of remote cell nodes;
• IDT-processing means for decoding the multiplicity of RCN-packet signals as a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• IDT-memory means for storing the received multiplicity of RCN-packet signals, with said IDT-transmitter means responsive to a second polling signal for transmitting the stored multiplicity of RCN-packet signals as an IDT-packet signal;
• and
• a central data terminal (CDT) having CDT-transmitter means for transmitting the second polling signal to said plurality of intermediate data terminals, CDT-receiver means for receiving a plurality of IDT-packet signals, CDT-processing means for decoding the plurality of IDT-packet signals as the plurality of NSM data, and CDT-memory means for storing the plurality of NSM data in a data base.

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by a plurality of remote cell nodes located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two remote cell nodes for receiving NSM-data by said at least two remote cell nodes, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving at a remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• storing the NSM-packet signal;
• receiving at the remote cell node a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules;
• storing a plurality of NSM-packet signals at the remote cell node, the plurality of NSM-packet signals including the NSM-packet signal and the multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• transmitting from the remote cell node the stored plurality of NSM-packet signals as an RCN-packet signal;
• and
• receiving the RCN-packet signal at a central data terminal (CDT).

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by a plurality of remote cell nodes located within the geographic area and spaced with each network service module of the plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two remote cell nodes for receiving NSM-data by at least two remote cell nodes, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving, at a first remote cell node (RCN), the NSM-packet signal;
• storing the NSM-packet signal at the first remote cell node;
• receiving at the first remote cell node, a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules;
• storing a plurality of NSM-packet signals at the first remote cell node, the plurality of NSM-packet signals including the NSM-packet signal and the multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• transmitting, from the first remote cell node, the stored plurality of NSM-packet signals as an RCN-packet signal;
• and
• receiving the RCN-packet signal at a central data terminal (CDT).

A communications network for collecting a plurality of network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices located within a geographic area, comprising:

• a plurality of network service modules, with each network service module coupled to a respective physical device generating respective NSM data, with each network service module including an NSM transmitter for transmitting by wireless radio at a carrier frequency the respective NSM data from the respective physical device as an NSM-packet signal at a time pseudorandomly selected within a predetermined time period;
• a plurality of remote cell nodes (RCN) located within the geographic area and spaced, with each network service module of said plurality of network service modules within a range of at least two remote cell nodes of said plurality of remote cell nodes, for simultaneously receiving the transmitted NSM-packet signal by said at least two remote cell nodes of said plurality of remote cell nodes, with each remote cell node including
• an RCN receiver for receiving a multiplicity of NSM-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of network service modules, respectively, with the multiplicity of network service modules including a subset of said plurality of network service modules;
• and
• an RCN transmitter for transmitting by wireless radio the multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as an RCN-packet signal;
• a plurality of intermediate data terminals (IDT), with each intermediate data terminal including
• an IDT receiver for receiving a multiplicity of RCN-packet signals transmitted from a multiplicity of remote cell nodes, respectively, with the multiplicity of remote cell nodes including a subset of said plurality of remote cell nodes;
• and
• an IDT transmitter for transmitting the multiplicity of RCN-packet signals as an IDT-packet signal;
• and
• a central data terminal (CDT) having a a CDT receiver for receiving a plurality of IDT-packet signals, a CDT processor for decoding the plurality of IDT-packet signals as the plurality of NSM data, and a CDT memory for storing the plurality of NSM data in a data base.

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by at least two remote cell nodes located within the geographic area, for transferring the NSM data to at least one intermediate data terminal (IDT), and for eliminating redundant NSM data, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a first remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a second remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• storing, at the first remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• storing, at the second remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• polling the first remote cell node, from the intermediate data terminal, using a first polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the first polling signal, the first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a first RCN-packet signal;
• eavesdropping, by the second remote cell node, to the transmitted first RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted first RCN-packet signal at the intermediate data terminal;
• sending, responsive to receiving the transmitted first RCN-packet signal, an acknowledgement signal to the first remote cell node;
• eavesdropping, by the second remote cell node, to the transmitted acknowledgement signal;
• cancelling, at the second remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal from the second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a redundant signal;
• polling the second remote cell node, from the intermediate data terminal, using a second polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the second polling signal, the second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a second RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted second RCN-packet signal at the intermediate data terminal;
• and
• sending, responsive to receiving the transmitted second RCN-packet signal, an acknowledgement signal to the second remote cell node.

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by at least two remote cell nodes located within the geographic area, for transferring NSM data to at least one intermediate data terminal (IDT), and for eliminating redundant NSM data, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a first remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a second remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• storing, at the first remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• storing, at the second remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• transmitting, to the intermediate data terminal, the first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a first RCN-packet signal;
• monitoring, by the second remote cell node, the transmitted first RCN-packet signal;
• identifying redundant NSM data;
• and
• cancelling redundant NSM data.

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by at least two remote cell nodes located within the geographic area, for transferring NSM data to at least one intermediate data terminal (IDT), and for eliminating redundant NSM data, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a first remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a second remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• storing, at the first remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• storing, at the second remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• polling the first remote cell node, from the intermediate data terminal, using a first polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the first polling signal, the first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a first RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted first RCN-packet signal at the intermediate data terminal;
• polling the second remote cell node, from the intermediate data terminal, using a second polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the second polling signal, the second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a second RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted second RCN-packet signal at the intermediate data terminal;
• decoding, at the intermediate data terminal, the first RCN-packet signal as a first plurality of NSM data;
• decoding, at the intermediate data terminal, the second RCN-packet signal as a second plurality of NSM data;
• identifying redundant NSM data;
• and
• deleting the redundant NSM data.

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by at least two remote cell nodes located within the geographic area, for transferring the NSM data to a central data terminal (CDT), and for eliminating redundant NSM data, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a first remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a second remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• storing, at the first remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• storing, at the second remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• polling the first remote cell node, from the central data terminal, using a first polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the first polling signal, the first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a first RCN-packet signal;
• eavesdropping, by the second remote cell node, to the transmitted first RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted first RCN-packet signal at the central data terminal;
• sending, responsive to receiving the transmitted first RCN-packet signal, an acknowledgement signal to the first remote cell node;
• eavesdropping, by the second remote cell node, to the transmitted acknowledgement signal;
• deleting, at the second remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal from the second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• polling the second remote cell node, from the central data terminal, using a second polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the second polling signal, the second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a second RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted second RCN-packet signal at the central data terminal;
• and
• sending, responsive to receiving the transmitted second RCN-packet signal, an acknowledgement signal to the second remote cell node.

A method for collecting network service module (NSM) data generated by a plurality of physical devices coupled to a plurality of network service modules, respectively, located within a geographic area, by at least two remote cell nodes located within the geographic area, for transferring NSM data to at least one central data terminal (CDT), and for eliminating redundant NSM data, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting by wireless radio respective NSM data, generated by a respective physical device using a respective network service module, as an NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a first remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• receiving by a second remote cell node (RCN) the NSM-packet signal;
• storing, at the first remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• storing, at the second remote cell node, the NSM-packet signal as part of a second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals;
• polling the first remote cell node, from the central data terminal, using a first polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the first polling signal, the first stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a first RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted first RCN-packet signal at the central data terminal;
• polling the second remote cell node, from the central data terminal, using a second polling signal;
• transmitting, responsive to the second polling signal, the second stored multiplicity of NSM-packet signals as a second RCN-packet signal;
• receiving the transmitted second RCN-packet signal at the central data terminal;
• decoding, at the central data terminal, the first RCN-packet signal as a first plurality of NSM data;
• decoding, at the central data terminal, the second RCN-packet signal as a second plurality of NSM data;
• and
• deleting the redundant NSM data.