Method and system for transmitting, receiving, and collecting information related to a plurality of working components

A system for communicating information related to a plurality of street lamps, comprising:

• a plurality of transceiver modules, each such transceiver module being secured and operably connected to a street lamp, each such transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver operating at a power level of no more than 500 mW;
• and
• at least one area control module positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of transceiver modules, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver;
• a network support server in communication with said area control module;
• and
• one or more display and control units in communication with said network support server;
• wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event,
• the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the street lamp;
• the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules;
• each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on a designated path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module;
• re-transmission of the message continuing along said designated path until the message is received at the area control module;
• said area control module communicating said message to the network support server;
• and
• said network support server analyzing said message, and communicating the status information contained therein to the one or more display and control units for review by an end user.

A communications network for the monitoring and control of a plurality of independent street lamps, comprising:

• a plurality of transceiver modules, each such transceiver module being secured and operably connected to one of said street lamps, each such transceiver module including at least a microcontroller for controlling operation and function of the transceiver module, and a radio transceiver;
• at least one area control module positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of transceiver modules, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver;
• a network support server in communication with said area control module;
• and
• one or more display and control units in communication with said network support server through an information network;
• wherein a diagnostics message from one of said transceiver modules containing status information associated with the street lamp to which said one transceiver module is secured is (a) transmitted through the radio transceiver associated with the transceiver module, (b) received by one or more neighboring transceiver modules, (c) selectively re-transmitted by receiving transceiver modules until received by the area control module, and (d) communicated to the network support server by the area control module;
• said network support server analyzing said message, and communicating the status information contained therein to the one or more display and control units for review by an end user.

A method for communicating information related to a plurality of street lamps from each such street lamp to a central location, comprising the steps of:

• attaching and operably connecting a transceiver module to each street lamp, said transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver operating in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz frequency band or the 2.40 GHz to 2.48 GHz frequency band;
• and
• positioning an area control module in the vicinity of the plurality of street lamps, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver, and said area control module being in communication with said central location;
• wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event,
• the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the street lamp;
• the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules;
• each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on a designated path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module;
• re-transmission of the message continuing along said designated path until the message is received at the area control module;
• and
• said area control module communicating said message to the central location.

A system for communicating information related to a plurality of street lamps, comprising:

• a plurality of transceiver modules, each such transceiver module being secured and operably connected to a street lamp, each such transceiver module including at least a microcontroller and a radio transceiver operating in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz frequency band or the 2.40 GHz to 2.48 GHz frequency band;
• and
• at least one area control module positioned in the vicinity of the plurality of transceiver modules, said area control module including at least a microprocessor and a radio transceiver;
• a network support server in communication with said area control module;
• and
• one or more display and control units in communication with said network support server;
• wherein, upon occurrence of a predetermined event,
• the microcontroller associated with one of said transceiver modules initiating transmission of a message through the radio transceiver, said message containing the identification of and the status of the street lamp;
• the message being received by the radio transceivers associated with one or more neighboring transceiver modules;
• each of said receiving transceiver modules making a decision as to whether to re-transmit said message based on a determination of whether the transceiver module is on a designated path between the transceiver module from which the message originated and the area control module;
• re-transmission of the message continuing along said designated path until the message is received at the area control module;
• said area control module communicating said message to the network support server;
• and
• said network support server analyzing said message, and communicating the status information contained therein to the one or more display and control units for review by an end user.