Patent · US Active

Automation apparatuses, systems and methods

US9888081B1 · kind B1 · utility

14Cited by
17References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 18, 2015
Grant dateFeb 6, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 11, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W84/22
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Automation is effected for various remote circuits. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, environmental characteristics are monitored at each of a plurality of remote systems located at different geographical regions (e.g., remote agricultural systems, or other equipment) and controlled by one or more local/master systems. Data indicative of the monitored environmental characteristic is communicated and used for controlling operational equipment, based upon operational instructions communicated from the master system. These communications are carried out by monitoring communication characteristics of communications paths between the master system and the remote systems, with some communication paths including one or more of the remote systems via which communications are passed (e.g., relayed). One of the communication paths is selected based upon the monitored communication characteristics, and used for communicating the operational instructions with the remote systems.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.