Wireless security network and communication methods

• US 10,235,852 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gordon, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alizada, Omeed
• Application Number:
  US15/475,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20180061219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply

Abstract

A security network provides reduced power consumption and more robust communication of messages in comparison to conventional wireless systems. Reducing power consumption as discussed herein ensures that the security system is able to operate for a long duration of time, potentially with minimal or no power from an electrical grid. Additionally, redundant communication paths as discussed herein provide a more robust way of selectively forwarding security data to a remote server. The availability of multiple communication paths ensures that a respective remote target recipient such as a server resource or remote communication device operated by a user can be notified of a trigger event during power failure conditions, such as when certain communication functionality of a security system is disabled.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a remote communication device; and

a manager resource circuit assembly, the manager resource circuit assembly comprising;

manager resource communication hardware operable to wirelessly communicate with the remote communication device in response to receipt, by the manager resource circuit assembly, of a first command to control operation of a remote communication device;

a first communication interface, wherein the manager resource communication hardware is operable to wirelessly convey a second command to transmit a data payload, wherein the second command is wirelessly conveyed through the first communication interface to the remote communication device; and

a second communication interface, wherein the manager resource communication hardware is operable to supply power to the second communication interface in anticipation of wirelessly receiving the data payload over the second communication interface from the remote communication device.

2. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the remote communication device comprises a first remote wireless communication interface, the remote communication device being operable to supply power to the first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device in response to receiving the second command from the manager resource communication hardware through the first communication interface of the manager resource circuit assembly.

3. The communication system as in claim 2, wherein the remote communication device is operable to power the first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device to establish a wireless communication link between the first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device and the second communication interface of the manager resource circuit assembly.

4. The communication system as in claim 3, wherein the remote communication device is operable to:

i) capture images in a monitored region in response to receiving the second command, and

ii) convey the captured images as the data payload over the second communication interface to the manager resource communication hardware.

5. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the first command is generated by a source in communication with the manager resource circuit assembly, the source generating the first command to control the remote communication device.

6. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein a first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device is maintained in a deactivated state to save energy prior to receiving the second command transmitted from the first communication interface.

7. The communication system as in claim 6, wherein the remote communication device is operable to transition the first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device from the deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving the second command, the activated state of the first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device supporting communications with the second communication interface.

8. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the first communication interface is operable to communicate with the remote communication device over a first set of carrier frequencies to synchronize the remote communication device with the manager resource communication hardware in the manager resource circuit assembly;

and

wherein the second communication interface is operable to communicate with a first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device over a second set of carrier frequencies, the second set of carrier frequencies non-overlapping with respect to the first set of carrier frequencies.

9. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the first communication interface is operable to communicate with the remote communication device over a time-slotted communication channel;

and

wherein a first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device is operable to establish a wireless communication link with the second communication interface of the manager resource circuit assembly in response to receiving the second command over the time-slotted communication channel.

10. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the manager resource communication hardware is operable to transmit wireless communications in a first time slot over a time-slotted communication channel to synchronize the remote communication device with the manager resource communication hardware;

and

wherein the manager resource communication hardware is operable to receive wireless communications over the first communication interface in a second time slot over the time-slotted communication channel from the remote communication device.

11. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein receipt of the second command at the remote communication device prompts the remote communication device to establish a wireless communication link between a first remote wireless communication interface in the remote communication device to the second communication interface of the manager resource circuit assembly.

12. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein receipt of the second command at the remote communication device prompts the remote communication device to communicate with the second communication interface to establish a wireless communication link.

13. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the manager resource communication hardware is operable to supply power to a third wireless communication interface of the manager resource circuit assembly in response to receiving the first command, the manager resource communication hardware further operable to communicate the data payload received from the remote communication device over the third wireless communication interface of the manager resource circuit assembly to a target recipient.

14. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the manager resource circuit assembly is powered only by battery;

and

wherein the remote communication device is a security sensor device.

21. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the manager resource communication hardware is operable to supply power to the second communication interface in anticipation of wirelessly receiving over the second communication interface sensor data collected by the remote communication device.

22. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein:

the remote communication device comprises a camera; and

the manager resource communication hardware is operable to supply power to the second communication interface in anticipation of wirelessly receiving over the second communication interface image data collected by the camera of the remote communication device.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a first command to control a remote communication device; and

in response to receiving the first command;

wirelessly conveying a second command to transmit a data payload, wherein the second command is wirelessly conveyed through a first communication interface to the remote communication device, and

supplying power to a second communication interface in anticipation of wirelessly receiving the data payload over the second communication interface from the remote communication device.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the second command conveyed through the first communication interface to the remote communication device notifies the remote communication device to communicate the data payload to the second communication interface.

17. The method as in claim 15, wherein the remote communication device establish a wireless communication link between the remote communication device and the second communication interface in response to receiving the second command.

18. The method as in claim 16, wherein the remote communication device is operable to:

i) capture images in a monitored region in response to receiving the second command, and ii) convey the captured images as the data payload over the second communication interface, the method further comprising;

receiving the data payload from the remote communication device over the second communication interface.

19. The method as in claim 15, wherein the second command indicates to activate a first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device, the first remote wireless communication interface of the remote communication device maintained in a deactivated state to save energy prior to receiving the second command.

20. Non-transitory computer-readable storage hardware having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to:

receive a first command to control a remote communication device; and

in response to receiving the first command;

wirelessly convey a second command to transmit a data payload, wherein the second command is wirelessly conveyed through a first communication interface to the remote communication device, and

supply power to a second communication interface in anticipation of wirelessly receiving the data payload over the second communication interface from the remote communication device.