Method and apparatus for inexpensively monitoring and controlling remotely distributed appliances

A system for monitoring and controlling distributed appliances, the system comprising:

• a server;
• and
• a cluster of modules in communication with the server via a first network, the cluster of modules comprising at least one first module and at least one second module arranged to communicate with one another via a second network,
• the second module to communicate appliance data and instructions between an appliance and the server, through the first module, using a first communications mode;
• and
• the second module to use a second communications mode to reroute the appliance data and instructions to the server if the first module is inoperable.

A system for monitoring and controlling distributed appliances, the system comprising:

• a server;
• and
• a cluster of modules in communication with the server via a first network, the cluster of modules comprising at least one first module and at least one second module arranged to communicate with one another via a second network,
• the second module to
• collect data from an associated appliance capable of sending data in response to a command from the server,
• store the data, and
• communicate the data to the first module over the second network;
• the first module to
• receive the data from the second module, store the data, and communicate the data to the server over the first network;
• and
• the server to
• receive the data from the first module,
• store the data, and
• use the data to determine instructions to send the second module for control of the appliance.

A system for monitoring and controlling distributed appliances, the system comprising:

• a server;
• and
• a cluster of modules in communication with the server via a first network, the cluster of modules comprising at least one first module and at least one second module arranged to communicate with one another via a second network,
• the second module to
• using a first communication protocol, collect data from an associated appliance capable of sending data in response to a command from the server,
• store the data, and
• communicate the data to the first module over the second network using a second communication protocol;
• the first module to
• receive the data from second module using the second communication protocol,
• store the data, and
• communicate the data to the server over the first network using a third communication protocol;
• and
• the server to
• receive the data from the first module using the third communication protocol,
• store the data, and
• use the data to determine instructions to send the second module for control of the appliance;
• such that the appliance data and instructions are communicated between the appliance and the server using a first communication mode,
• at least one of the first, second, and third communication protocols is different from the others and is a user datagram protocol, and
• the first module or the second module is configured to use a second communications mode to reroute the appliance data and instructions if the first module is inoperable.

The system for monitoring and controlling distributed appliances, the system comprising:

• a server;
• and
• a cluster of modules in communication with the server via a first network, the cluster of modules comprising at least one first module and at least one second module arranged to communicate with one another via a second network,
• the second module to
• using a first communication protocol, collect data from an associated appliance that sends the data autonomously,
• store the data, and
• communicate the data to the first module over the second network using a second communication protocol;
• the first module to
• receive the data from the second module using the second communication protocol,
• store the data, and
• communicate the data to the server over the first network using a third communication protocol;
• and
• the server to
• receive the data from the first module using the third communication protocol,
• store the data, and
• use the data to determine instructions to send the second module for control of the appliance;
• such that the appliance data and instructions are communicated between the appliance and the server using a first communication mode,
• at least one of the first, second, and third communication protocols is different from the others and is a user datagram protocol, and
• the first module or the second module is configured to use a second communications mode to reroute the appliance data and instructions if the first module is inoperable.

A system for monitoring and controlling distributed appliances, the system comprising:

• a server;
• and
• a cluster of modules in communication with the server via a first network, the cluster of modules comprising at least one first module and at least one second module arranged to communicate with one another via a second network,
• the second module to
• collect data from an associated appliance that sends the data autonomously,
• store the data, and
• communicate the data to the first module over the second network;
• the first module to
• receive the data from the second module, store the data, and communicate the data to the server over the first network;
• and
• the server to
• receive the data from the first module,
• store the data, and
• use the data to determine instructions to send the second module for control of the appliance.