Wireless repeater for sensor system
First Claim
1. A wireless repeater for an ambient sensor system, comprising:
- a first frequency-hopping transceiver configured to communicate with a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit having a sensor unit identification code used to identify transmissions from the sensor unit;
a second frequency-hopping transceiver configured to communicate with a base unit; and
a controller configured to control operation of said first transceiver and said second transceiver, said wireless repeater having a repeater identification, said controller configured to manage a sensor unit identification table that contains a list of sensor unit identification codes, where entries for said sensor unit identification table are received by said second transceiver from said base unit and identified by said repeater identification, said controller configured to control said first transceiver and said second transceiver to forward data from sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table, said controller configured to control said first transceiver and said second transceiver to forward data from said base unit that is addressed to sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from said base unit that is addressed to sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table, said controller configured to place said first transceiver and said second transceiver in a low-power mode when no transmissions are expected from said base unit or from sensor units listed in said sensor identification table.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low cost, robust, repeater for a wireless ambient sensor system that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The repeater includes a controller and first and second transceivers. The controller is configured to control operation of said first transceiver and said second transceiver. The wireless repeater includes a repeater identification. The controller is configured to manage a sensor unit identification table that contains a list of sensor unit identification codes, where entries for the sensor unit identification table are received by the second transceiver from the base unit and identified by the repeater identification. The controller controls the first transceiver and the second transceiver to forward data from sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table. The controller also controls the first transceiver and the second transceiver to forward data from the base unit that is addressed to sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from the base unit that is addressed to sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table. The controller places the first transceiver and the second transceiver in a low-power mode when no transmissions are expected from the base unit or from the sensor units listed in the sensor identification table.
156 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A wireless repeater for an ambient sensor system, comprising:
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a first frequency-hopping transceiver configured to communicate with a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit having a sensor unit identification code used to identify transmissions from the sensor unit; a second frequency-hopping transceiver configured to communicate with a base unit; and a controller configured to control operation of said first transceiver and said second transceiver, said wireless repeater having a repeater identification, said controller configured to manage a sensor unit identification table that contains a list of sensor unit identification codes, where entries for said sensor unit identification table are received by said second transceiver from said base unit and identified by said repeater identification, said controller configured to control said first transceiver and said second transceiver to forward data from sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table, said controller configured to control said first transceiver and said second transceiver to forward data from said base unit that is addressed to sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from said base unit that is addressed to sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table, said controller configured to place said first transceiver and said second transceiver in a low-power mode when no transmissions are expected from said base unit or from sensor units listed in said sensor identification table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless repeater for an ambient sensor system, comprising:
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first means for wireless frequency-hopping communication with a plurality of sensor units; second means for wireless frequency-hopping communication with a base unit; and a controller configured to control operation of said first means and said second means, said wireless repeater having a repeater identification, said controller configured to manage a sensor unit identification table that contains a list of sensor unit identification codes, where entries for said sensor unit identification table are received by said second means from said base unit and identified by said repeater identification, said controller configured to control said first means and said second means to forward data from sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table, said controller configured to control said first means and said second means to forward data from said base unit that is addressed to sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table and to ignore data from said base unit that is addressed to sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table, said controller configured to place said first means and said second means in a low-power mode when no transmissions are expected from said base unit or from sensor units listed in said sensor identification table. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of repeating data in a wireless repeater for an ambient sensor system, comprising:
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programming a repeater identification code; maintaining a sensor unit identification table that contains a list of sensor unit identification codes; received a sensor identification code from a base unit; entering said sensor identification code into said sensor unit identification table; controlling a first transceiver and a second transceiver to forward data from sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table; ignoring data from sensor units not listed in said sensor unit identification table; controlling said first transceiver and said second transceiver to forward data from said base unit that is addressed to sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table; placing said first transceiver and said second transceiver in a low-power mode when no transmissions are expected from said base unit or from sensor units listed in said sensor unit identification table. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification