METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRESERVING THE POWER SOURCE LIFE OF A WIRELESS END NODE PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT IN A TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION SYSTEM

• US 20140018015A1
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE), Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: SANDERS, Russell Lee, LEASURE, Mark Daniel, VITKUS, Kim, JOHNSON, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/848,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018015A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00 Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices heating, cooling or ventilating devices providing other air treatment, the other treatment being relevant, B60H3/00; ventilating solely by opening windows, doors, roof parts, or the like B60J; heating or ventilating devices for vehicle seats B60N2/56; vehicle window or windscreen cleaners using air, e.g. defrosters, B60S1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00014 for load cargos on load transporting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for preserving the power source life of a wireless end node prior to deployment in a wireless communication system are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes operating the wireless end node in a long term storage mode prior to deploying the wireless end node in a wireless communication system in order to reduce current being drawn from a power source of the wireless end node. The method also includes the wireless end node detecting an interrupt request to pair the wireless end node to a wireless communication system. Also, the method includes the controller of the wireless end node switching from a long term storage mode to a normal operation mode when the wireless end node is paired to a wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A method for preserving the power source life of a wireless end node prior to deployment in a wireless communication system comprising:

operating the wireless end node in a long term storage mode prior to deploying the wireless end node in a wireless communication system in order to reduce current being drawn from a power source of the wireless end node;

the wireless end node detecting an interrupt request to pair the wireless end node to a wireless communication system;

a controller of the wireless end node switching from a long term storage mode to a normal operation mode when the wireless end node is paired to a wireless communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

during the long term storage mode, powering the controller of the wireless end node after a sleep timer of the wireless end node determines a long term storage time period has lapsed to determine a power source level of a power source of the wireless end node;

the controller determining the power source level of the power source;

the controller comparing the power source level of the power source to an acceptable power source level threshold stored in a memory storage of the wireless end node; and

indicating a low level power source when the controller determines that the power source level of the power source is below the acceptable power source level threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the long term storage time period is 24 hours.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the acceptable power source level threshold is 2.9 volts for a 3.6 volt battery.

5. The method of claim 2, blinking a red color light emitting diode light of the wireless end node to indicate the low level power source when the controller determines that the power source level of the power source is below the acceptable power source level threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller determining whether the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system; and

the controller setting the wireless end node to operate in the long term storage mode when the controller determines that the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controller determines whether the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system every 24 hours.

8. A wireless end node for a wireless communication system comprising:

a power source;

an electrical assembly connected to the power source, the electrical assembly including;

a controller configured to manage, command, direct and regulate the behavior of the wireless end node and configured to switch operation of the wireless end node between a long term storage mode that reduces current being drawn from the power source and a normal operation mode, the controller including a sleep timer configured to count down a long term storage time period;

wherein the controller is configured to operate the wireless end node in the long term storage mode prior to deploying the wireless end node in a wireless communication system and is configured to switch from the long term storage mode to the normal operation mode when the wireless end node is paired to the wireless communication system.

9. The wireless end node of claim 8, wherein the electrical assembly further includes a memory storage,

wherein, when the wireless end node is operating in the long term storage mode and the sleep timer of the wireless end node counts down the long term storage time period, the controller is configured to power up, determine the power source level of the power source, and compare the power source level of the power source to an acceptable power source level threshold stored in the memory storage, and

wherein the wireless end node is configured to indicate a low level power source when the controller determines that the power source level of the power source is below the acceptable power source level threshold.

10. The wireless end node of claim 8, wherein the long term storage time period is 24 hours.

11. The wireless end node of claim 9, wherein the acceptable power source level threshold is 2.9 volts for a 3.6 volt battery.

12. The wireless end node of claim 9, wherein the electrical assembly further includes a light emitting diode light, and

wherein the light emitting diode light is configured to blink a red color light to indicate the low level power source when the controller determines that the power source level of the power source is below the acceptable power source level threshold.

13. The wireless end node of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system, and

wherein the controller is configured to set the wireless end node to operate in the long term storage mode when the controller determines that the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system.

14. The wireless end node of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system every 24 hours.

15. A wireless communication system for a mobile environment comprising:

one or more wireless end nodes, each of the one or more wireless end nodes including;

a power source;

an electrical assembly connected to the power source, the electrical assembly including;

a controller configured to manage, command, direct and regulate the behavior of the wireless end node and configured to switch operation of the wireless end node between a long term storage mode that reduces current being drawn from the power source and a normal operation mode, the controller including a sleep timer configured to count down a long term storage time period;

wherein the controller is configured to operate the wireless end node in the long term storage mode prior to deploying the wireless end node in a wireless communication system and is configured to switch from the long term storage mode to the normal operation mode when the wireless end node is paired to the wireless communication system;

a network coordinator connected to each of the one or more wireless end nodes.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the electrical assembly of each of the one or more wireless end nodes further includes a memory storage,

wherein, when the wireless end node is operating in the long term storage mode and the sleep timer of the wireless end node counts down the long term storage time period, the controller is configured to power up, determine the power source level of the power source, and compare the power source level of the power source to an acceptable power source level threshold stored in the memory storage, and

wherein the wireless end node is configured to indicate a low level power source when the controller determines that the power source level of the power source is below the acceptable power source level threshold.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the long term storage time period is 24 hours.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the acceptable power source level threshold is 2.9 volts for a 3.6 volt battery.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the electrical assembly of each of the one or more wireless end nodes further includes a light emitting diode light, and

wherein the light emitting diode light of each of the one or more wireless end nodes is configured to blink a red color light to indicate the low level power source when the controller determines that the power source level of the power source is below the acceptable power source level threshold.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the controller of each of the one or more wireless end nodes is configured to determine whether the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system, and

wherein the controller of each of the one or more wireless end nodes is configured to set the wireless end node to operate in the long term storage mode when the controller determines that the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system.

21. The wireless communication system of claim 20, wherein the controller of each of the one or more wireless end nodes is configured to determine whether the wireless end node is decommissioned from the wireless communication system every 24 hours.