ADAPTIVE NETWORK AND METHOD

• US 20120166848A1
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aceinna Transducer Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Broad, Alan, Kapur, Rahul, Prabhu, Jaidev, Turon, Martin Albert, Xu, Ning, Yang, Xin, Miller, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 8,707,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• 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 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of the proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module. One of the modules is operable as a leaf node having a sleep mode to conserve energy and an interactive mode. The central computer can send a message to the leaf node commanding it to stay awake in order to receive subsequent communications.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. An adaptive network including a control module and a plurality of interactive modules adaptively communicating with the control module, the network comprising:

at least one of the plurality of modules operable in a sleep mode and in an interactive mode as a leaf node in the network to selectively transmit a first message to the control module via communication channels between one or more of the plurality of modules in the network; and

said control module being responsive to the first message received thereby to transmit a second message acknowledging receipt of the first message and commanding said at least one module not to revert to sleep mode.

18. The adaptive network according to claim 17 wherein the control module retains a previously received command for transmission to said at least one module in response to receipt of said first message from said at least one module.

36. The adaptive network of claim 17, wherein the leaf node, when in the sleep mode, only responds to broadcast signals containing a specific identifier corresponding to the leaf node.

37. The adaptive network of claim 17, wherein the leaf node is configured to identify an adjacent module as having a best radio link and store information representing the identified adjacent module prior to entering the sleep mode.

38. The adaptive network of claim 37, wherein the leaf node is further configured to re-establish a communication channel with the identified adjacent module, using the stored information, upon awakening from the sleep mode of operation.

19. A method for operating a self-adaptive network including a control module and a plurality of interactive modules adaptively communicating with the control module in which at least one of the plurality of modules is operable in a sleep mode and in an interactive mode as a leaf node in the network, the method comprising:

selectively transmitting a first message from said at least one module to the control module via communication channels between one or more of the plurality of modules and the control module; and

transmitting from the control module, in response to receipt of the first message, a second message acknowledging receipt of the first message and commanding said at least one module to stay awake.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the control module retaining a previously received command and transmitting the retained command to the at least one module in response to receiving said first message from said at least one module.

39. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

said at least one module operating in the sleep mode only responding to broadcast signals containing a specific identifier corresponding to the leaf node.

40. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

said at least one module operating as the leaf node identifying an adjacent module as having a best radio link and storing information representing the identified adjacent node prior to entering the sleep mode of operation.

41. The method according to claim 40, further comprising:

upon awakening from sleep mode, said at least one module attempting to re-establish a communication channel with the identified adjacent module using the stored information prior to attempting to communicate with any other module in the network.

42. The method according to claim 40, further comprising:

upon awakening from sleep mode, said at least one module re-establishing a communication channel with the identified adjacent module using the stored information.

21-35. -35. (canceled)

43. An interactive module for operation in an adaptive network of modules, wherein the interactive module is configured to:

operate in a sleep mode or in an interactive mode of operation;

respond only to broadcast signals containing a specific identifier when operating in the sleep mode; and

prior to entering the sleep mode, identify an adjacent module as having a best radio link and store information representing the identified adjacent module.

44. The interactive module of claim 43, further configured to:

upon awakening from sleep mode, establish a communication channel with the identified adjacent module using the stored information.

45. The interactive module of claim 43, further configured to:

upon awakening from sleep mode, attempt to establish a communication channel with the identified adjacent module using the stored information prior to attempting to communicate with any other module in the network.

46. The interactive module of claim 43, further configured to:

receive a first message from a control module; and

in response to receipt of the first message, not revert to sleep mode.

47. The interactive module of claim 46, further configured to:

revert to sleep mode upon receipt of a command to do so;

or

revert to sleep mode upon completion of a commanded operation.