System and method for controlling communication between a host computer and communication devices associated with remote devices in an automated monitoring system

This invention describes a central control system designed to manage how a main computer communicates with many remote wireless devices, such as smart meters or sensors, spread across a geographic area. The system's core function is to determine and manage the best communication path to each remote device, potentially hopping through other devices in a wireless network, while using standard internet protocols for the main computer connection. The claims specifically narrow this to a method involving sending a path determination message to a target device within a wireless network.