Self-contained wireless security sensor collective system and method

• US 20080238651A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kucharyson, Richard P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• 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 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of sensors and a monitoring system that are capable of wireless communication. A first of the sensors senses information relating to a specified condition and sends a wireless message with information relating to the specified condition to a second of the sensors. The first sensor also sends another wireless message relating to the specified condition to the monitoring system. The second sensor may also sense information relating to the specified condition, and the message sent to the monitoring system may include information derived from the information sensed by both the sensors. The second sensor may modify its functionality in response to the wireless message sent by the first sensor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of sensors capable of wireless communication; and

a monitoring system capable of wireless communication;

wherein;

a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is operable to sense information relating to a specified condition and send a first wireless message relating to the sensed information to a second sensor of the plurality of sensors; and

one of the first and second sensors is operable to send a second wireless message relating to the sensed information to the monitoring system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the second sensor is operable to sense information relating to the specified condition; and

the second wireless message comprises information derived from the information sensed by both the first and second sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising first and second relays capable of wireless communication, wherein:

the first relay is operable to receive the first wireless message and transmit the first wireless message to the second sensor; and

the second relay is operable to receive the second wireless message and transmit the second wireless message to the monitoring system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is operable to modify its functionality in response to the first wireless message.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless message is sent using a first communication protocol and the second wireless message is sent using a second communication protocol.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is operable to select the second sensor from the plurality of sensors according to stored information relating to an environment being sensed.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the stored information comprises information relating to geographical positions of the first and second sensors and geographical regions of the environment sensed by the first and second sensors.

8. A sensor comprising:

a sensing device;

a wireless communication interface; and

a controller operable to;

receive information relating to a specified condition via the sensing device;

send a first wireless message to a second sensor via the wireless interface, the first wireless message relating to the sensed information; and

send a second wireless message to a monitoring system via the wireless interface, the second wireless message relating to the sensed information.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein:

the controller is further operable to receive a third wireless message via the wireless interface relating to information sensed by the second sensor, the information relating to the specified condition; and

the second wireless message comprises information derived from the information sensed by both the first and second sensors.

10. The sensor of claim 9, wherein:

the first wireless message is sent to the second sensor via a first relay capable of wireless communication; and

the second wireless message is sent to the monitoring system via a second relay capable of wireless communication.

11. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the first wireless message is operable to cause the second sensor to modify its functionality.

12. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the first wireless message is sent using a first communication protocol and the second wireless message is sent using a second communication protocol.

13. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to select the second sensor from a plurality of sensors according to stored information relating to an environment being sensed.

14. The sensor of claim 13, wherein the stored information comprises information relating to geographical positions of the first and second sensors and geographical regions of the environment sensed by the first and second sensors.

15. A method comprising:

sensing information relating to a specified condition, the information sensed by a first sensor of a plurality of sensors capable of wireless communication;

sending a first wireless message relating to the sensed information from the first sensor to a second sensor of the plurality of sensors; and

sending a second wireless message relating to the sensed information to a monitoring system capable of wireless communication.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sensing information relating to the specified condition in the second sensor of the plurality of sensors, wherein the second wireless message comprises information derived from the information sensed by both the first and second sensors.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

sending the first wireless message further comprises;

sending the first wireless message from the first sensor to a first relay capable of wireless communication; and

sending the first wireless message from the first relay to the second sensor; and

sending the second wireless message further comprises;

sending the second wireless message to a second relay capable of wireless communication; and

sending the second wireless message from the second relay to the monitoring system.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising modifying the functionality of the second sensor in response to the first wireless message.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first wireless message is sent using a first communication protocol and the second wireless message is sent using a second communication protocol.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting the second sensor from the plurality of sensors according to stored information relating to an environment being sensed.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the stored information comprises information relating to geographical positions of the first and second sensors and geographical regions of the environment sensed by the first and second sensors.