SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS USING WIRELESS SENSOR NODES

• US 20110002241A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Phan, Nguyet
• Granted Patent: US 8,484,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer

Abstract

A wireless sensor node may be wirelessly registered with a first central node and may be automatically configured based at least in part on wireless communications with the first central node. The same wireless sensor node may subsequently be wirelessly registered with a second central node and may be automatically reconfigured based at least in part on wireless communications with the second central node. Environmental characteristics are detected using the wireless sensor node.

Claims

1. A method of operating a system to monitor environmental characteristics comprising:

wirelessly registering a wireless sensor node with a first central node;

automatically configuring the wireless sensor node based at least in part on wireless communications with the first central node;

wirelessly registering the wireless sensor node with a second central node;

automatically reconfiguring the wireless sensor node based at least in part on wireless communications with the second central node; and

detecting environmental characteristics using the wireless sensor node.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically configuring the wireless sensor node comprises setting a first limit associated with the detected environmental characteristics.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein automatically reconfiguring the wireless sensor node comprises setting a second limit differing from the first limit associated with the detected environmental characteristics.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving data representative of the first limit at the wireless sensor node from the first central node; and

receiving data representative of the second limit at the wireless sensor node from the second central node.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

notifying the first central node when the detected environmental characteristics exceed the first limit; and

notifying the second central node when the detected environmental characteristics exceed the second limit.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning the wireless sensor node in a first region associated with the first central node; and

moving the wireless sensor node from the first region to a second region associated with the second central node.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first region is associated with both the first central node and the second central node, and the second region is associated with the second central node and not the first central node.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first central node wirelessly receives data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics from the wireless sensor node and wirelessly transmits the data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics to the second central node.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics to the first central node; and

transmitting data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics to the second central node.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the detected environmental characteristics include at least one of time, weight, pressure, temperature, humidity, light, mildew, radiation and chemical presence.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first central node is associated with a first shipping container, and the second central node is associated with a second shipping container.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the detected environmental characteristics are associated with items stored in the first shipping container and the second shipping container.

13. A system to monitor a plurality of locations, the system comprising:

a first central node having;

a first central node processor that executes instructions; and

a first central node memory that stores instructions that cause the first central node processor to;

wirelessly register wireless sensor nodes; and

receive data indicative of environmental characteristics detected by the registered wireless sensor nodes;

a second central node having;

a second central node processor that executes instructions; and

a second central node memory that stores instructions that cause the second central node processor to;

wirelessly register wireless sensor nodes; and

receive data indicative of environmental characteristics detected by the registered wireless sensor nodes; and

a wireless sensor node having;

a sensor that detects environmental characteristics;

a sensor node processor that executes instructions; and

a sensor node memory that stores instructions that cause the sensor node processor to;

automatically configure the wireless sensor node based at least in part on wireless communications with the first central node;

automatically reconfigure the wireless sensor node based at least in part on wireless communications with the second central node; and

detect environmental characteristics.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first central node is associated with a first shipping container, and the second central node is associated with a second shipping container.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor node memory stores further instructions that cause the sensor node processor to:

set a first limit associated with the detected environmental characteristics when automatically configuring the wireless sensor node; and

set a second limit associated with the detected environmental characteristics differing from the first limit when automatically reconfiguring the wireless sensor node.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the sensor node memory stores further instructions that cause the sensor node processor to:

notify the first central node when the detected environmental characteristics exceed the first limit; and

notify the second central node when the detected environmental characteristics exceed the second limit.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the first central node memory stores further instructions that cause the first central node processor to:

transmit the data indicative of the environmental characteristics to the second central node.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor node memory stores further instructions that cause the sensor node processor to:

transmit data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics to the first central node; and

transmit data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics to the second central node.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor is configured to detect environmental characteristics including at least one of time, weight, pressure, temperature, humidity, light, mildew, radiation and chemical presence.

20. A wireless sensor node to monitor environmental characteristics comprising:

a sensor that detects environmental characteristics;

a sensor node processor that executes instructions; and

a sensor node memory that stores instructions that cause the sensor node processor to;

wirelessly register with a first central node;

automatically configure the wireless sensor node based at least in part on wireless communications with the first central node;

wirelessly register with a second central node;

automatically reconfigure the wireless sensor node based at least in part on wireless communications with the second central node; and

detect environmental characteristics.

21. The wireless sensor node of claim 20 wherein the sensor node memory stores further instructions that cause the sensor node processor to:

set a first limit associated with the detected environmental characteristics when automatically configuring the wireless sensor node; and

set a second limit associated with the detected environmental characteristics differing from the first limit when automatically reconfiguring the wireless sensor node.

22. The wireless sensor node of claim 21 wherein the sensor node memory stores further instructions that cause the sensor node processor to:

notify the first central node when the detected environmental characteristics exceed the first limit; and

notify the second central node when the detected environmental characteristics exceed the second limit.

23. The wireless sensor node of claim 20 wherein the sensor node memory stores further instructions that cause the sensor node processor to:

transmit data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics to the first central node; and

transmit data indicative of the detected environmental characteristics to the second central node.

24. The wireless sensor node of claim 20 wherein the sensor is configured to detect environmental characteristics including at least one of time, weight, pressure, temperature, humidity, light, mildew and chemical presence.