Meshed telemetry system using frequency hopping for intermittent transmission

• US 6,466,138 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Partyka, Andrzej
• Original Assignee: Partyka, Andrzej
• Inventors: Partyka, Andrzej
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/483,817
• Time in Patent Office: 1,004 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 340/870.11, 375/132, 375/136
• US Class Current: 340/870.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7143 Arrangements for generation of hop patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7156 Arrangements for sequence synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/71566 Tracking

Abstract

A plurality of cooperative telemetry systems is disclosed in which each telemetry system comprises a plurality of remote telemetry transmitters to intermittently transmit short duration messages indicative of the status of sensors associated with the remote telemetry transmitters and at least one telemetry collection unit including a radio transceiver. Each telemetry collection unit forms a node in a wireless network in which telemetry collection units cooperate with each other in order to increase reliability and lower the average cost of each telemetry system. Such network can communicate with a remote central monitoring station via one or more network interface units connected to a private or public wired or wireless network.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(1) a first telemetry collection unit comprising;

(i) a first receiver for receiving telemetry from each of a first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with said first telemetry collection unit and for receiving messages from a second telemetry collection unit, wherein said first receiver comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

(ii) a first transmitter, and

(2) a second telemetry collection unit comprising;

(i) a second receiver for receiving telemetry from each of a second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with said second telemetry collection unit and for receiving messages from said first telemetry collection unit, wherein said second receiver comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

(ii) a second transmitter;

wherein

each of said remote telemetry transmitters is for transmissions at varied frequencies independently of any other of said remote telemetry transmitters and independently of any of said telemetry collection units.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said first and said second transmitter transmit at varied frequencies; and

said first receiver includes logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from said second telemetry collection unit, and

said second receiver includes logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from said first telemetry collection unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said first transmitter is for transmitting, to said second telemetry collection unit, an identification code that is associated with at least one of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

said second transmitter is for transmitting, to said first telemetry collection unit, an identification code that is associated with at least one of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

said first receiver comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from said at least one of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

said second receiver comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from said at least one of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said first transmitter is for transmitting, to said second telemetry collection unit, at least part of data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency that is held in said first receiver, and

said second transmitter is for transmitting, to said first telemetry collection unit, at least part of data indicative of an expected time and frequency that is held in said second receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one of;

(a) a first network interface unit operatively coupled to said first telemetry collection unit, and (b) a second network interface unit operatively coupled to said second telemetry collection unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

(3) a third telemetry collection unit comprising;

(i) a third receiver for receiving telemetry from each of a third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with said third telemetry collection unit, wherein said third receiver comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of said third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and wherein each of said third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters is for transmissions at varied frequencies independently of any other of said remote telemetry transmitters and independently of any of said telemetry collection units,

(ii) a third transmitter for transmitting an alarm to said second telemetry collection unit, and

wherein said second telemetry collection unit, when operative, forwards said alarm to said first telemetry collection unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

said second receiver comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from at least one of said third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

said second receiver, when operative, receives an alarm from said at least one of said third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

said second telemetry collection unit, when operative, forwards said alarm to said first telemetry collection unit.

8. A method comprising:

holding, at a first telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of a first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated said first telemetry collection unit, and

receiving, at said first telemetry collection unit, telemetry from each of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

receiving, at said first telemetry collection unit, messages from a second telemetry collection unit; and

holding, at said second telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of a second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

receiving, at said first telemetry collection unit, telemetry from each of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

receiving, at said second telemetry collection unit, messages from said first telemetry collection unit, and

transmitting, at each of said remote telemetry transmitters, at varied frequencies independently of any other of said remote telemetry transmitters and independently of any of said telemetry collection units.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting at varied frequencies from said first telemetry collection unit, and

holding, at said second telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from said first telemetry collection unit, and

transmitting at varied frequencies from said second telemetry collection unit, and

holding, at said first telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from said second telemetry collection unit.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting, from said first telemetry collection unit to said second telemetry collection unit, an identification code that is associated with at least one of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

holding, at said second telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and frequency of at least one future transmission from said at least one of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

transmitting, from said second telemetry collection unit to said first telemetry collection unit, an identification code that is associated with at least one of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters; and

holding, at said first telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and frequency of at least one future transmission from said at least one of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting, by said first telemetry collection unit to said second telemetry collection unit, at least part of data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency that is held in said first telemetry collection unit, and

transmitting, by said second telemetry collection unit to said first telemetry collection unit, at least part of data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency that is held in said second telemetry collection unit.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising at least one of:

(a) transmitting via a first network interface unit from said first telemetry collection unit, and

(b) transmitting via a second network interface unit from said second telemetry collection unit.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

holding, at a third telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of a third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated said third telemetry collection unit, and

receiving at said third telemetry collection unit telemetry from each of said third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters; and

transmitting an alarm from said third telemetry collection unit to said second telemetry collection unit; and

transmitting said alarm form said second telemetry collection unit to first said telemetry collection unit.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

holding at said second telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and frequency of at least one future transmission from at least one of a third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with a third telemetry collection unit, and

receiving an alarm at said second telemetry unit from said at least one of said third plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

forwarding said alarm from said second telemetry collection unit to said first telemetry collection unit.

15. A telemetry collection unit comprising:

(i) a receiver for receiving telemetry from a first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with said telemetry collection unit and for receiving an alarm from a second telemetry collection unit, wherein

(a) each of said remote telemetry transmitters is for transmissions at varied frequencies at its own pace independently of any other of said remote telemetry transmitters and independently of any of said telemetry collection units, and wherein

(b) said receiver comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters; and

(ii) a transmitter for forwarding said alarm to at least one third telemetry collection unit.

16. The telemetry collection unit of claim 15 wherein

said transmitter transmits at varied frequencies, and

said receiver includes logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from at least one other telemetry collection unit.

17. The telemetry collection unit of claim 15 wherein

said receiver is for receiving a second alarm from at least one of a second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with said second telemetry collection unit;

and

said transmitter is for forwarding said second alarm to at least one third telemetry collection unit;

wherein

said receiver further comprises logic for holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from said at least one of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters, and

each of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters is for transmissions at varied frequencies at its own pace independently of any other of said remote telemetry transmitters and independently of any of said telemetry collection units.

18. The telemetry collection unit of claim 15 wherein

said receiver is for receiving, from a second telemetry collection unit, an identification code of at least one of a second plurality of remote telemetry transmitter that is associated with said second telemetry collection unit;

and

said transmitter is for transmitting an identification code of at least one of said first plurality remote telemetry transmitters to at least one other telemetry collection unit.

19. The telemetry collection unit of claim 15 wherein an alarm transmitted by said telemetry collection unit comprises an identification code for distinguishing alarms originated from different sources and at different instances.

20. The telemetry collection unit of claim 15 wherein said transmitter is for transmitting at least part of data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency that is held by said receiver to at least one other telemetry collection unit.

21. The telemetry collection unit of claim 15 wherein:

said telemetry collection unit is operatively coupled to a network interface unit to forward said alarm to a central monitoring facility.

22. A method of operating a telemetry collection unit comprising:

holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from each of a first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with said telemetry collection unit, wherein each of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters is for transmissions at varied frequencies at its own pace independently of any other of said remote telemetry transmitters and independently of said telemetry collection unit, and

receiving telemetry from each of said first plurality of remote telemetry transmitters in accordance with said data, and receiving an alarm from a second telemetry collection unit; and

forwarding said alarm to at least one third telemetry collection unit.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

transmitting from said telemetry collection unit at varied frequencies, and

holding, at said telemetry collection unit, data indicative of an expected time and frequency of at least one future transmission from at least one other telemetry collection unit.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

holding data indicative of an expected time and an expected frequency of at least one future transmission from at least one of a second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters that is associated with said second telemetry collection unit, and receiving a second alarm from said at least one of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters; and

forwarding said second alarm to at least one third telemetry collection unit;

wherein

each of said second plurality of remote telemetry transmitters is for transmissions at varied frequencies at its own pace independently of any other of said remote telemetry transmitters and independently of any of said telemetry collection units.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

receiving, from said second telemetry collection unit, an identification code of at least one of a second plurality of remote telemetry transmitter that is associated with said second telemetry collection unit; and

transmitting an identification code of at least one of said first plurality remote telemetry transmitters to at least one other telemetry collection unit.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

including in an alarm transmitted by said telemetry collection unit an identification code for distinguishing alarms originated from different sources and at different instances.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

transmitting, by said telemetry collection unit, at least part of data indicative of an expected time and frequency that is held by said telemetry collection unit to at least one other telemetry collection unit.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

forwarding said alarm to a central monitoring facility using a network interface unit.