Measuring Environmental Conditions Over a Defined Time Period Within a Wireless Sensor System

• US 20150061868A1
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 9,955,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• 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: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An arrangement for measuring environmental conditions in a wireless sensor system. A threshold value may be determined. An environmental condition sensor unit may measure, over a defined period of time, an environmental condition level. The measured environmental condition level may be compared to the determined threshold value. It may be determined whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value for the defined period of time. At least in part based on the determination of whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time, information indicative of the measured environmental condition level may be transmitted.

Claims

1. A method of measuring environmental conditions in a wireless sensor system, comprising:

determining a threshold value for an environmental condition sensor unit arranged in a wireless sensor device;

measuring, by the environmental condition sensor unit, over a defined period of time, an environmental condition level, wherein multiple measurements are made to determine the environmental condition level;

comparing, by the environmental condition sensor unit, the measured environmental condition level to the determined threshold value;

determining whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value for the defined period of time; and

transmitting, by the environmental condition sensor unit, at least in part based on the determination of whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time, information indicative of the measured environmental condition level.

2. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein the measured environmental condition level is selected from the group consisting of:

a measured humidity level, a measured carbon monoxide level, and a measured smoke level.

3. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein determining the defined threshold value for the environmental condition sensor unit comprises:

calculating a baseline environmental condition value based on environmental condition measurements from a plurality of environmental condition units.

4. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 3, wherein determining the defined threshold value for the environmental condition sensor unit further comprises:

increasing the baseline environmental condition value by a pre-established delta value to determine the defined threshold value.

5. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 3, wherein determining the defined threshold value for the environmental condition sensor unit further comprises:

increasing the baseline environmental condition value by a pre-established percentage of the baseline environmental condition value to determine the defined threshold value.

6. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein determining whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time comprises determining whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value for the entirety of the defined period of time.

7. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein transmitting, by the environmental condition sensor unit, the information indicative of the measured environmental condition level comprises:

transmitting, via a wireless transceiver of the environmental condition sensor unit, the information indicative of the measured environmental condition level.

8. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 7, wherein the information indicative of the measured environmental condition level is one or more quantitative environmental condition measurements.

9. The method of measuring environmental conditions in the wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein in response to determining whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time, entering into a continuous transmission mode, such that the information indicative of the measured environmental condition level is retransmitted until an acknowledgement of receipt is received by the environmental condition sensor unit.

10. A wireless sensor system, comprising:

a computerized system, configured to;

determine a threshold value for an environmental condition sensor unit arranged in a wireless sensor device; and

a first environmental condition sensor unit comprises a wireless transceiver, the first environmental condition sensor unit configured to;

wirelessly communicate with the computerized system via the wireless transceiver;

measure, over a defined period of time, an environmental condition level, wherein multiple measurements are made to determine the environmental condition level;

compare, the measured environmental condition level to the determined threshold value;

determine whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value for the defined period of time; and

wirelessly transmit, to the computerized system, at least in part based on the determination of whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time, information indicative of the measured environmental condition level.

11. The wireless sensor system of claim 10, the wireless sensor system further comprising:

a repeater unit that relays wireless communications between the environmental condition sensor unit and the computerized system using a spread-spectrum technique.

12. The wireless sensor system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second environmental condition sensor unit, configured to;

measure a second environmental condition level; and

wirelessly transmit, to the computerized system, information indicative of the measured environmental condition level.

13. The wireless sensor system of claim 10, wherein the first environmental condition sensor unit being configured to wirelessly transmit the information indicative of the measured environmental condition level over the defined period of time comprises the first environmental condition sensor unit being configured to wirelessly transmit one or more packets that comprise:

an address and a checksum.

14. The wireless sensor system of claim 13, wherein a first portion of the address is programmed into the first environmental condition sensor unit during manufacture and a second portion of the address is assigned when the first environmental condition sensor unit is installed.

15. The wireless sensor system of claim 13, wherein the first environmental condition sensor unit is further configured to include an authentication code for use in verifying authenticity in the one or more packets.

16. The wireless sensor system of claim 10, wherein the environmental condition sensor unit comprises an audio output device.

17. The wireless sensor system of claim 10, wherein the computerized system is further configured to maintain a stored record of environmental condition measurements received from the first environmental condition sensor unit.

18. The wireless sensor system of claim 10, wherein the computerized system is further configured to transmit an instruction to the first environmental condition sensor unit, wherein the instruction indicates a reporting interval at which environmental condition measurements are to be transmitted to the computerized system.

19. An apparatus for measuring environmental conditions, comprising:

means for determining a threshold value for an environmental condition sensor unit;

means for measuring over a defined period of time, an environmental condition level wherein multiple measurements are made to determine the environmental condition;

means for comparing the measured environmental condition level to the determined threshold value;

means for determining whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time; and

means for transmitting at least in part based on the determination of whether the measured environmental condition level exceeds the defined threshold value over the defined period of time, information indicative of the measured environmental condition level.

20. The apparatus for measuring environmental conditions of claim 19, further comprising:

means for checking for a fault condition following power up.