Energy harvesting nodes in a mesh network
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) wireless energy-harvesting device comprising an energy-harvesting mechanism, a message generation facility, and a transmission facility; and
an RF wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of RF mesh network nodes, wherein at least a first of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes is at least intermittently communicatively coupled to the RF wireless energy-harvesting device;
wherein the RF wireless energy-harvesting device is configured to;
generate electrical energy from a harvesting action of the energy-harvesting mechanism;
generate a broadcast message through the message generation facility; and
transmit the broadcast message through the transmission facility;
wherein the first of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes is configured to receive the broadcast message and transmit the broadcast message as a network message to at least a second of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes;
wherein the energy-harvesting device is further configured to;
set a device timer for a period of time;
transition to a low-power mode until the device timer reaches the end of the period of time; and
transition from the low-power mode to an operational mode and monitor for reception of a reply message from one of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes; and
wherein the energy-harvesting device is further configured to embed a time value into the broadcast message that corresponds to the period of time set in the device timer.
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Abstract
In embodiments of the present disclosure improved capabilities are described for an RF wireless energy-harvesting device comprising an energy-harvesting mechanism, a message generation facility, and a transmission facility, wherein the RF wireless energy-harvesting device generates electrical energy through the energy harvesting mechanism from a harvesting action, generates a message through the message generation facility, and transmits the message through the transmission facility to a second wireless device, wherein the second wireless device is a second RF wireless energy-harvesting device, a networked device, a mesh network node, or the like.
218 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a radio frequency (RF) wireless energy-harvesting device comprising an energy-harvesting mechanism, a message generation facility, and a transmission facility; and an RF wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of RF mesh network nodes, wherein at least a first of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes is at least intermittently communicatively coupled to the RF wireless energy-harvesting device; wherein the RF wireless energy-harvesting device is configured to; generate electrical energy from a harvesting action of the energy-harvesting mechanism; generate a broadcast message through the message generation facility; and transmit the broadcast message through the transmission facility; wherein the first of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes is configured to receive the broadcast message and transmit the broadcast message as a network message to at least a second of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes; wherein the energy-harvesting device is further configured to; set a device timer for a period of time; transition to a low-power mode until the device timer reaches the end of the period of time; and transition from the low-power mode to an operational mode and monitor for reception of a reply message from one of the plurality of RF mesh network nodes; and wherein the energy-harvesting device is further configured to embed a time value into the broadcast message that corresponds to the period of time set in the device timer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system, comprising:
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an RF wireless energy-harvesting device comprising an energy-harvesting mechanism, a message generation facility, and a transmission facility, wherein the RF wireless energy-harvesting device is configured to; generate electrical energy from a harvesting action of the energy-harvesting mechanism; generate messages through the message generation facility; and transmit messages through the transmission facility to at least one RF wireless device; wherein the RF wireless energy-harvesting device is further configured to; set a device timer for a period of time; transition to a low-power mode until the device timer reaches the end of the period of time; and transition from the low-power mode to an operational mode and monitor for reception of a reply message; and wherein the RF wireless energy-harvesting device is further configured to embed a time value into the broadcast message that corresponds to the period of time set in the device timer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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generating electrical energy on a first wireless device in response to a physical action; setting a device timer for a period of time within the first wireless device; generating a message on the first wireless device in response to the physical action and the generated electrical energy, wherein the generating the message comprises embedding a time value in the message that corresponds to the period of time set in the device timer; and transmitting the generated message to a second wireless device; transitioning the first wireless device into a low-power mode after the transmitting; and transitioning the first wireless device from the low-power mode to an operational mode after an expiration of the time value in the low-power mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification