Network sensor system and protocol

• US 20070051872A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaak, Inc. (Arlo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avaak, Inc. (Arlo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Messinger, Gioia, Goldberg, Bar-Giora
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/208.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00896 using a low-power mode, e.g. standby
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A network sensor system and protocol is provided. The network sensor system includes a sensor node that has a sensor for collecting high-resolution data, and a radio for transmitting that data to a central hub. The sensor node communicates to the hub with a wireless data link, and operators solely from a battery. Accordingly, the sensor node is autonomous, and has no wire connections, so may be discreetly and simply installed. The sensor node is normally operated in a power-saving sleep mode, and is minimally activated only for required periods of time. The sensor node may be activated responsive to a low power timer, or from another locally generated interrupt. The sensor node also implements power-saving transfer protocols to further reduce power needs. Many sensor nodes may be associated with a single central hub, and larger networked sensor systems may be arranged.

Claims

1. A network imager, comprising:

a sensor;

a radio constructed to be normally deactivated;

a low power timer coupled to the radio and constructed to activate the radio from time to time;

a memory;

a processor;

a battery providing full operational power for the sensor, radio, memory and processor.

2. The network camera according to claim 1, wherein the low power timer is provided by the processor.

3. The network camera according to claim 1, wherein the processor normally operates in a sleep mode, and is activated responsive to the low power timer.

4. The network camera according to claim 1, further including:

a pilot signal generator; and

wherein the pilot signal generator operates responsive to the low power timer.

5. The network camera according to claim 1, further including:

an acknowledgment circuit arranged to enter a listen mode responsive to the low power timer;

the acknowledgment circuit coupled to the radio and constructed to deactivate the radio when no acknowledgement signal is received during the listen mode.

6. The network camera according to claim 5, wherein the acknowledgment circuit is constructed so that the listen mode is active for a short period of time.

7. The network camera according to claim 5, wherein the acknowledgment circuit is constructed so that the listen mode is only active for a time period of about 5 ms to about 20 ms.

8. The network camera according to claim 1, wherein the battery is arranged to provide less than about 10 microamps while the radio is deactivated.

9. The network camera according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is constructed as a CMOS imager.

10. The network camera according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is constructed as a CCD imager.

11. The network camera according to claim 1, wherein the low power timer provides imprecise time control to randomize the time when the low power timer activates the radio.

12. A method for controlling a wireless imager, comprising:

operating the wireless imager in a sleep mode;

receiving an interrupt while the wireless imager is in sleep mode;

activating the wireless imager responsive to the interrupt;

transmitting a request signal;

entering a listen mode for no longer than a listen period;

waiting for an acknowledgement signal; and

placing the wireless imager in sleep mode if no acknowledgment signal is received during the listen period.

13. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 12, wherein the interrupt is received from a sensor.

14. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 12, wherein the interrupt is received from a low power timer.

15. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 14, wherein the interrupt is received from the low power time at a rate less than about every 1 minute.

16. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 14, wherein the interrupt is received from the low power time at a rate less than about every 10 minutes.

17. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 12, wherein the listen period is about 5 ms to about 20 ms.

18. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 12, further including receiving the acknowledgement signal during the listen period.

19. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 18, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and

capturing an image responsive to the instruction.

20. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 18, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and

transmitting an image file responsive to the instruction.

21. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 18, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and

placing the wireless imager in sleep mode responsive to the instruction.

22. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 18, further including the steps of:

receiving new settings from a hub controller; and

storing the new settings in the wireless imager.

23. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 12, wherein the activating step includes activating a radio.

24. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 12, wherein the activating step includes activating a processor.

25. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 12, wherein the interrupts are generated in a random pattern.

26. A monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless battery powered camera hubs;

a central hub constructed to wirelessly communicate with the camera hubs;

each camera normally in a sleep mode and, from time to time, entering a listen mode for a short listening period; and

the central hub being constructed to transmit a command signal to one or more of the cameras operating in listen mode.

27. The monitoring system according to claim 26, wherein each radio, prior to entering the listening mode, transmits a request signal, and the central hub is constructed to transmit an acknowledgement signal responsive to a received request signal.

28. The monitoring system according to claim 26, wherein each radio enters the listening mode in a random pattern.

29. The monitoring system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the radios enters the listening mode responsive to an interrupt generated by a low power timer.

30. The monitoring system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the radios enters the listening mode responsive to an interrupt generated according to data received from a sensor.

31. A method for controlling a wireless imager, comprising:

operating a low power timer while the wireless imager is in a sleep mode;

receiving an interrupt from the low power timer;

activating the wireless imager;

entering a listen mode for no longer than a defined period of time;

waiting for a signal from a hub; and

placing the wireless imager in sleep mode if no signal is received during the defined period of time.