Water measurement auto-networks

• US 7,324,901 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automated Control Technology Partners, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Colorado vNet, LLC
• Inventors: McDermid, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUNDU, SUJOY K
• Application Number:
  US11/183,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 702/55
• US Class Current: 702/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/266 measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes

Abstract

Water measurement auto-networks and methods of operation are disclosed herein. An exemplary method may include determining a water level at a first water measurement station in an auto-network. The method may also include reducing power to at least a transmitter at the first water measurement station to conserve battery power during an inactive state. The method may further include increasing power to the transmitter only at predetermined times to communicate the water measurement data to a second water measurement station in the auto-network.

Claims

1. A water measurement auto-network comprising:

a water measurement device determining water measurement data for a first water measurement station;

a transmitter operatively associated with the water measurement device at the first water measurement station, the transmitter operating in a sleep mode by default, wherein the transmitter is inactive other than during water level readings to conserve electrical power at the first water measurement station, and the transmitter waking up at predetermined times to take water level readings and communicate the water measurement data to a second water measurement station, wherein the transmitter wakes up based on an event.

2. The water measurement auto-network of claim 1 further comprising at least one precision time source for synchronizing time at the first water measurement station with time at the second water measurement station.

3. The water measurement auto-network of claim 2 wherein the precision time source extends battery life at the first and second water measurement stations by reducing activity overlap between the first and second water measurement stations.

4. The water measurement auto-network of claim 2 wherein the precision time source is a crystal time-based device.

5. The water measurement auto-network of claim 2 wherein the precision time source is a single chip autonomous GPS device.

6. The water measurement auto-network of claim 1 wherein the transmitter wakes up based on the water level at the first water measurement station.

7. The water measurement auto-network of claim 1 wherein the transmitter wakes up only if the water level at the first water measurement station changes by a predetermined value.

8. The auto-network of water measurement stations of claim 1 wherein the water measurement data includes the water level and a corresponding sample time.

9. The auto-network of water measurement stations of claim 1 wherein the first and second measurement stations toggle between an active state and an inactive state, the active state of the first measurement station overlapping in time with the active state of the second measurement station.

10. An auto-network of water measurement stations comprising:

at least a first and second water measurement station;

a water measurement device determining a water level for the first water measurement station, wherein the water measurement device determines the water level from a capacitance value based on a measured voltage;

a transmitter at the first water measurement station communicatively coupled with a receiver at the second water measurement station on a part-time basis to deliver water measurement data to the second measurement station; and

a power-saving system at the first water measurement station, the power-saving system operating the transmitter on the part-time basis by inactivating power to the transmitter, and the power-saving system reactivating power to the transmitter only at predetermined times in response to an event to communicate the water measurement data to the second water measurement station.

11. The auto-network of water measurement stations of claim 10 wherein the power-saving system further reduces power to the water measurement device, and the power-saving system increases power to the water measurement device only at predetermined times to collect water measurement data.

12. The auto-network of water measurement stations of claim 10 further comprising a power-saving system at the second water measurement station for operating the receiver on the part-time basis.

13. The auto-network of water measurement stations of claim 10 wherein the power-saving system at the second water measurement station reduces power to the receiver by default.

14. The auto-network of water measurement stations of claim 10 wherein the power-saving system at the second water measurement station increases power to the receiver only at predetermined times to receive the water measurement data from the first water measurement station.

15. The auto-network of water measurement stations of claim 10 further comprising a GPS device for synchronizing time at the first and second water measurement stations.

16. A method comprising:

determining a water level at a first water measurement station in an auto-network;

inactivating power to at least a transmitter at the first water measurement station to conserve battery power during an inactive state;

reactivating power to the transmitter only at predetermined times in response to an event to wake up the transmitter and to communicate the water measurement data to a second water measurement station in the auto-network;

storing the water measurement data at the second water measurement station; and

reducing power to a water measurement device at the first water measurement station during the inactive state; and

increasing power to the water measurement device only at predetermined times to collect water measurement data.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising synchronizing a clock at the first water measurement station with a clock at the second water measurement station to reduce overlap in operation of the first and second water measurement stations.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

reducing power to a receiver at the second water measurement station; and

increasing power to the receiver only at predetermined times to receive the water measurement data from the first water measurement station.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising relaying the water measurement data to at least a third water measurement station in the auto-network.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising waking the water measurement stations on a predetermined schedule.

21. A method comprising:

determining a water level at a first water measurement station in an auto-network;

inactivating power to at least a transmitter at the first water measurement station to conserve battery power during an inactive state;

activating power to the transmitter only at predetermined times in response to an event to communicate the water measurement data to a second water measurement station in the auto-network;

storing the water measurement data at the second water measurement station;

reducing power to a receiver at the second water measurement station after the event; and

increasing power to the receiver only at predetermined times to receive the water measurement data from the first water measurement station.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

reducing power to a water measurement device at the first water measurement station during the inactive state; and

increasing power to the water measurement device only at predetermined times to collect water measurement data.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising synchronizing a clock at the first water measurement station with a clock at the second water measurement station to reduce overlap in operation of the first and second water measurement stations.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising relaying the water measurement data to at least a third water measurement station in the auto-network.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising waking the water measurement stations on a predetermined schedule.