COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR LOW-POWER NETWORK APPLICATIONS AND A NETWORK OF SENSORS USING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A communication process operating on a synchronized network of low-power sensors, comprising:
- operating a first set of low-power sensors in a low-power sleep mode, each sensor having a network address;
generating a gateway beacon using a gateway device, the gateway beacon being transmitted in a first time slice of a network time frame;
periodically opening a short listen window in each of the sensors in the first set of low-power sensors, each respective listen window opening a short time period before the gateway beacon is expected and set to close a short period of time after the gateway beacon was expected;
extracting, at each sensor in the first set of sensors, network address information from the gateway beacon;
determining, at each respective sensor in the first set of sensors, if the network address information includes that respective sensor'"'"'s network address;
returning to sleep mode each senor in the first set of sensors not having its respective network address included in the network address information; and
executing an action for each senor in the first set of sensors having its respective network address included in the network address information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network sensor system is provided that is capable of extremely low-power operation. The network sensor system implements a communication protocol that allows the sensors to operate at most times in a sleep mode, where only a low-power time is active. In this way, each sensor'"'"'s receiver, transmitter, and support circuitry are operated only when strictly necessary. The network has a defined network time frame, and each device maintains and adjusts its own clock and relationship with the network time. In this way, each sensor is aware about when it may be sent a message, and opens a short listen window only when such a message is expected. If no message is received, or if the message is addressed to another sensor, the sensor goes back to sleep. The sensor'"'"'s transmitter is only activated in the case where the message 1) is received during the listen period, 2) is addressed to the sensor, and 3) requires a transmission action. Otherwise, the transmitter remains deactivated.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A communication process operating on a synchronized network of low-power sensors, comprising:
-
operating a first set of low-power sensors in a low-power sleep mode, each sensor having a network address; generating a gateway beacon using a gateway device, the gateway beacon being transmitted in a first time slice of a network time frame; periodically opening a short listen window in each of the sensors in the first set of low-power sensors, each respective listen window opening a short time period before the gateway beacon is expected and set to close a short period of time after the gateway beacon was expected; extracting, at each sensor in the first set of sensors, network address information from the gateway beacon; determining, at each respective sensor in the first set of sensors, if the network address information includes that respective sensor'"'"'s network address; returning to sleep mode each senor in the first set of sensors not having its respective network address included in the network address information; and executing an action for each senor in the first set of sensors having its respective network address included in the network address information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A process for transmitting sensor information, the sensor having an associated receiver and transmitter, comprising:
-
operating, at most times, the sensor in a low power sleep mode where the receiver and transmitter are deactivated; opening, from time to time, a short listen window when the receiver is activated and monitors for a beacon; returning to sleep mode if no beacon is detected in the listen window; and activating the transmitter and transmitting the sensor information responsive to receiving the beacon; returning to sleep mode after the sensor information has been transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification