System and method for updating a network of remote sensors

• US 7,176,808 B1
• Filed: 11/11/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aceinna Transducer Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Crossbow Technology Incorporated (Moog Incorporated)
• Inventors: Broad, Alan S., Horton, Michael A., Miller, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/706,225
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.07, 707/100, 702/138, 370/331
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/20 Calibration, including self-calibrating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A method and system updates a network of sensors remotely through the use of a communication link. The sensors to be updated as well as data files to perform the updating are selected at a base station. The selected sensors are notified of the upcoming update by the base station and may accept or reject the update. The sensors that approve the update then receive data files through the communication link. The sensors notify the base station of any missing data files, which are then retransmitted to all sensors that may be missing data files from the first transmission. After the sensors receive all data files, the update is initiated.

Claims

1. A method of updating a network of a plurality of sensors from a remote base station, comprising:

selecting sensors to be updated along with data files;

alerting selected sensors of the upcoming update;

receiving at the remote base station the acceptance or rejection of the update from selected ones of the plurality of sensors;

transmitting the selected data files to the sensors that accept the updating data files; and

initiating update after all the selected data files are downloaded to each of the selected sensors.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at the base station notification from a sensor that data files are missing; and

retransmitting the data files to all sensors that are missing data files from the first transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating further comprises:

storing files in the sensors that are not being updated;

stopping sensor activity during updating;

restoring all files;

comparing files for completeness; and

resuming sensor activity after updating is complete.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating further comprises:

scheduling a time for the update.

5. A method of receiving and updating data files in a sensor remotely, comprising:

receiving a broadcast notification of an update of data files;

accepting or declining the data file update;

switching to active state if the data file update is accepted;

receiving data file;

inspecting data files for completeness;

requesting any missing data files;

listening for broadcasts of missing files;

storing data files not being updated once all data files are received;

stopping all sensor activity and initiating update; and

resuming all sensor activity after updating is complete.

6. A processor readable storage medium containing processor readable code for programming a processor of a sensor from a remote base station to perform a method comprising the steps of:

receiving a broadcast notification from the base station of an update of data files;

accepting or declining the data file update;

switching to active state if the data file update is accepted;

receiving data file;

inspecting data files for completion;

requesting any missing data files;

listening for broadcasts of missing files;

storing data files not being updated until all data files are received;

stopping all sensor activity and initiating update; and

resuming all sensor activity after updating is complete.

7. A processor readable storage medium containing processor readable code for programming a processor in a base station to update a network of a plurality of remote sensors to perform a method comprising the steps of:

selecting sensors to be updated with data files to perform the updating;

alerting selected sensors of the upcoming update;

receiving at the base station acceptance or rejection of the update from selected ones of the plurality of sensors;

transmitting from the base station the selected data files to the sensors to accept the updating data files; and

initiating update after all the selected data files are downloaded to each of the selected sensors.

8. The processor readable storage medium method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

receiving notification from a sensor that data files are missing; and

retransmitting the data files to all sensors that are missing data files from the first transmission.