Wireless Diplay sensor communication network
First Claim
1. A wireless sensor communication network for monitoring a plurality of wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices deployed in an environment, said wireless sensor communication network comprising:
- a network management computer system having a first processor in communication with a first communication interface coupled to a first communication medium, and supporting the transmission and reception of data packets over the wireless sensor communication network so as to monitor and manage said wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices, wirelessly connected to said wireless sensor communication network;
a network gateway device, supporting said first communication interface and being coupled to said first communication medium through said first communication interface, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said first communication medium and communicating with said network management computer system using said first communication interface and a first set of communication protocols, and said network gateway device also supporting a second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a second communication medium using said second communication interface and a second set of communication protocols, wherein said second set of communication protocols include a wireless network layer protocol;
one or more wireless network routers, each said wireless network router supporting said second communication interface and being interfaced with said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium;
a plurality of wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices, each said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device having a programmed processor and supporting said second communication interface and being capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols so that the data packets can be accessed and used by the processor in each wireless electronic-ink display sensor device; and
a network coordinator for supporting said second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, wherein said network controller establishes and maintains a wireless interconnected mesh of said wireless network routers, according to said wireless network layer protocol, and interconnecting said plurality of wireless electronic-ink display devices and other said network-managed wireless electronic-ink display sensors on said wireless sensor communication network;
wherein each said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device further comprising an addressable electronic-ink based display module including a layer of bi-stable display medium disposed between a backplane driving structure and an electrically-conductive optically-clear layer, and providing a display surface on which to display graphics;
a power source module including an electrochemical battery, for producing a power level, and a power management module for managing the power level within said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device; and
a processor for controlling operations within said wireless electronic-ink display device;
a RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF data packet signals, an RF antenna structure, and an impedance matching structure interfacing said RF transceiver and said RF antenna structure;
a sensor module for sensing a parameter or condition associated with the ambient environment in which said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device is located, generating environmental data representative of said sensed parameter or condition, from which environmental data packets are generated by said processor;
wherein said processor, said RF transceiver and said RF antenna cooperate to transmit environmental data packets over said second communication medium, for reception by said network management computer network, andwherein said processor and said addressable electronic-ink based display module cooperate to display said environmental data on said display surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless sensor communication network supporting a plurality of electronic-ink display sensor devices adapted for use in environments where a local source of electrical power is not available at the point of sensing/monitoring, and there is a need to display sensed data at the point of sensing/monitoring, and minimize the level of servicing required to maintain the wireless sensors. The wireless sensor communication network includes a network gateway device, one or more wireless network routers, a plurality of wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices, and a network coordinator. Each wireless electronic-ink display sensor device comprises: an addressable electronic-ink based display module providing a display surface on which to display graphics. Each wireless electronic-ink display sensor device also includes a power source module including an electrochemical battery, and also a sensor module for sensing a parameter or condition associated with the ambient environment in which the wireless electronic-ink display sensor device is located, generating environmental data representative of the sensed parameter or condition, from which environmental data packets are generated by an onboard programmed processor. The programmed processor, a RF transceiver and a RF antenna cooperate to transmit environmental data packets over the second communication medium, for reception by a network management computer network, and wherein the programmed processor and the addressable electronic-ink based display module cooperate to display the environmental data on the display surface.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A wireless sensor communication network for monitoring a plurality of wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices deployed in an environment, said wireless sensor communication network comprising:
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a network management computer system having a first processor in communication with a first communication interface coupled to a first communication medium, and supporting the transmission and reception of data packets over the wireless sensor communication network so as to monitor and manage said wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices, wirelessly connected to said wireless sensor communication network; a network gateway device, supporting said first communication interface and being coupled to said first communication medium through said first communication interface, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said first communication medium and communicating with said network management computer system using said first communication interface and a first set of communication protocols, and said network gateway device also supporting a second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a second communication medium using said second communication interface and a second set of communication protocols, wherein said second set of communication protocols include a wireless network layer protocol; one or more wireless network routers, each said wireless network router supporting said second communication interface and being interfaced with said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, and capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium; a plurality of wireless electronic-ink display sensor devices, each said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device having a programmed processor and supporting said second communication interface and being capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols so that the data packets can be accessed and used by the processor in each wireless electronic-ink display sensor device; and a network coordinator for supporting said second communication interface and being capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over said second communication medium using said second communication interface and said second set of communication protocols, wherein said network controller establishes and maintains a wireless interconnected mesh of said wireless network routers, according to said wireless network layer protocol, and interconnecting said plurality of wireless electronic-ink display devices and other said network-managed wireless electronic-ink display sensors on said wireless sensor communication network; wherein each said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device further comprising an addressable electronic-ink based display module including a layer of bi-stable display medium disposed between a backplane driving structure and an electrically-conductive optically-clear layer, and providing a display surface on which to display graphics; a power source module including an electrochemical battery, for producing a power level, and a power management module for managing the power level within said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device; and a processor for controlling operations within said wireless electronic-ink display device; a RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF data packet signals, an RF antenna structure, and an impedance matching structure interfacing said RF transceiver and said RF antenna structure; a sensor module for sensing a parameter or condition associated with the ambient environment in which said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device is located, generating environmental data representative of said sensed parameter or condition, from which environmental data packets are generated by said processor; wherein said processor, said RF transceiver and said RF antenna cooperate to transmit environmental data packets over said second communication medium, for reception by said network management computer network, and wherein said processor and said addressable electronic-ink based display module cooperate to display said environmental data on said display surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wireless electronic-ink display sensor device for use in a wireless sensor communication network, comprising:
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an addressable electronic-ink based display module including a layer of bi-stable display medium disposed between a backplane driving structure and an electrically-conductive optically-clear layer, and providing a display surface on which to display graphics; a power source module including an electro-chemical battery; a programmed processor for controlling operations within said wireless electronic-ink display device; a RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF data packet signals; an RF antenna structure, an impedance matching structure interfacing said RF transceiver and said RF antenna structure; a power management module for managing the power levels within said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device; and a sensor module for sensing a parameter or condition associated with the ambient environment in which said wireless electronic-ink based display sensor device is located, generating environmental data representative of said sensed parameter or condition; wherein said programmed processor, said RF transceiver and said RF antenna cooperate to transmit said environmental data over a wireless communication medium and to a destination device connected to said wireless sensor communication network to which said wireless electronic-ink display sensor device is wirelessly connected. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification