Wireless sensor monitoring unit

• US 7,102,504 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/856,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521, 340/539.24, 340502-506, 340/628, 340/632, 340/514, 340/3.1, 340/3.4, 340/3.51, 340/3.52, 340/286.01, 340/286.05, 340/825.71
• US Class Current: 340/521
• 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 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

Abstract

A low cost, robust, wireless sensor system that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The system includes one or more intelligent sensor units and a base unit that can communicate with a large number of sensors. When one or more of the sensors detects an anomalous condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The base unit can contact a supervisor or other responsible person by a plurality of techniques, such as, telephone, pager, cellular telephone, Internet, etc. In one embodiment, one or more wireless repeaters are used between the sensors and the base unit to extend the range of the system and to allow the base unit to communicate with a larger number of sensors.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor monitoring unit, comprising:

a base unit configured to communicate with one or more sensor units, said monitoring computer configured to send a notification to a responsible party when data from one or more of said wireless sensor units corresponds to an abnormal condition , said monitoring computer configured to log data from one or more of said wireless sensor units when said data from one or more of said wireless sensor units corresponds to an abnormal condition, said base unit configured to send an acknowledgements to acknowledge receipt of sensor data from said one or more wireless sensor units, each of said one or more wireless sensor units comprising at least one sensor configured to measure an ambient condition, said wireless sensor unit configured to receive instructions;

said wireless sensor unit configured run self-diagnostic tests and, if said wireless sensor unit passes said self-diagnostic tests, then report data measured by said at least one sensor when said wireless sensor determines that data measured by said at least one sensor fails a threshold test, said one or more wireless sensor units operating in a low-power mode when not transmitting or receiving data, said one or more wireless sensors configured to run said self-diagnostic tests and to transmit status information at regular intervals, said intervals programmed according to commands from said wireless sensor monitoring unit.

2. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a smoke sensor.

3. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an air temperature sensor.

4. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a water-level sensor.

5. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a water-temperature sensor.

6. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a moisture sensor.

7. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a humidity sensor.

8. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a carbon monoxide sensor.

9. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a flammable gas sensor.

10. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a door-open sensor.

11. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a broken-window sensor.

12. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an intrusion sensor.

13. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a power-failure sensor.

14. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by telephone.

15. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by cellular telephone.

16. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by cellular text messaging.

17. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by pager.

18. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by Internet.

19. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by email.

20. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by Internet instant messaging.

21. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer comprises a diskless computer.

22. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said threshold test comprises a high threshold level.

23. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said threshold test comprises a low threshold level.

24. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said threshold test comprises an inner threshold range.

25. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said threshold test comprises an outer threshold range.

26. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said one or more wireless sensor units comprise a tamper sensor and an condition sensor.

27. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said one or more wireless sensor units are configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.

28. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said one or more wireless sensor units are configured to receive an instruction to change a sensor data reporting interval.

29. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer is configured to monitor status of each of said one or more wireless sensors.

30. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer communicates with said wireless sensor units through one or more repeaters.

31. The wireless sensor system of claim 30, wherein said one or more repeaters recognize said one or more sensor units by a first address code.

32. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer recognize said one or more sensor units by a first address code and a second address code.

33. The wireless sensor system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring computer displays historical sensor data from one or more of said wireless sensor units.