Intelligent wireless multicast network

Abstract

Disclosed is a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system using a spread spectrum or licensed frequency data radio network and communication method therefore allowing multiple slave hosts and slave devices or remove terminal unit (RTU) the ability to communicate data connectivity in a wireless environment.

1 . A wireless data communication system, comprising:
 a plurality of remote terminal units (RTUs);   a plurality of satellite hosts;   a master host unit wirelessly coupled to the plurality of satellite hosts and the plurality of RTUs;   wherein the master host periodically scans for data from either the plurality of RTUs or from the plurality of satellite hosts;   and wherein the scanning period of the master host is substantially shorter than the amount of time associated with the data being scanned.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the data being scanned represents at least one day worth of data. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the data being scanned relate to the gas or oil wells, and wherein the at least one measurement comprises pressure and flow volume measurements. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless data communication system performs remote control of the RTUs. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 4 , wherein the data being scanned is used to determine the remote control operations of the RTUs. 
     
     
         6 . A wireless data communication system, comprising:
 a plurality of remote terminal units (RTUs);   a plurality of satellite hosts;   a master host unit wirelessly coupled to the plurality of satellite hosts and the plurality of RTUs;   wherein data from either the plurality of RTUs or from the plurality of satellite hosts is first received by the master host; and   wherein during periods of non-peak data transmissions in the communication system, the master host re-broadcasts the data received from either the plurality of RTUs or from the plurality of satellite hosts prior to being transmitted to its intended location.   
     
     
         7 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-peak periods correspond to situations where the master host is able to poll the plurality of satellite hosts for data. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 6 , wherein data from the master host is selectively omitted by the plurality of satellite hosts or the plurality of RTUs. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 7 , wherein, in the event that the data received by the master host corresponds to at least one alarm condition, the data is not re-broadcast. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of satellite hosts scan the RTUs during periods of peak data transmission. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 6 , wherein the data communication system is implemented in gas or oil wells. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of satellite hosts make at least one measurement related to the gas or oil wells, and wherein the at least one measurement comprises a pressure measurement and a flow volume measurement. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the master host computer comprises a spread spectrum or licensed frequency data radio. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless data communication system performs remote control of the RTUs. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 14 , wherein the remote control of the RTUs includes incrementally opening and closing valves in gas or oil wells. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless data communication system of  claim 15 , wherein during periods of peak data transmissions, the master host refrains from scanning for data transmissions. 
     
     
         17 . A method of communicating in a wireless data communication system, the method comprising the acts of:
 coupling a plurality of remote terminal units (RTUs) to a master host;   coupling a plurality of satellite hosts to a master host;   receiving data from either the plurality of RTUs or from the plurality of satellite hosts with the master host prior to other components in the data communication system; and   wherein, during periods of non-peak data transmissions in the data communication system, re-broadcasting data received from either the plurality of RTUs or from the plurality of satellite hosts.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the act of selectively omitting the act of re-broadcasting by the master host. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein in the event that the data received by the master host corresponds to at least one alarm condition, the act of re-broadcasting is omitted. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of satellite hosts scan the RTUs during periods of peak data transmission. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the data communication system is implemented in gas or oil wells. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the act of making at least one measurement related to the gas or oil wells with the satellite hosts, and wherein the at least one measurement comprises a pressure measurement and a flow volume measurement. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the master host computer comprises a spread spectrum or licensed frequency data radio. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the act of performing remote control of the RTUs with the master host computer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the act of performing remote control of the RTUs includes the act of incrementally opening and closing valves in gas or oil wells. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the master host refrains from scanning for data transmissions during periods of peak data transmissions.