Network sensor system and protocol

• US 7,507,946 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaak, Inc. (Arlo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avaak, Inc. (Arlo Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Messinger, Gioia, Goldberg, Bar-Giora
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; John R
• Application Number:
  US11/847,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20080137578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 370/311, 710/260, 710/261, 710/266, 348/207.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.8, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00896 using a low-power mode, e.g. standby
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A network sensor system and protocol is provided. The network sensor system includes a sensor node that has a sensor for collecting high-resolution data, and a radio for transmitting that data to a central hub. The sensor node communicates to the hub with a wireless data link, and operators solely from a battery. Accordingly, the sensor node is autonomous, and has no wire connections, so may be discreetly and simply installed. The sensor node is normally operated in a power-saving sleep mode, and is minimally activated only for required periods of time. The sensor node may be activated responsive to a low power timer, or from another locally generated interrupt. The sensor node also implements power-saving transfer protocols to further reduce power needs. Many sensor nodes may be associated with a single central hub, and larger networked sensor systems may be arranged.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a wireless imager, comprising:

powering a wireless imager using only battery power;

operating the wireless imager in a sleep mode;

receiving an interrupt while the wireless imager is in sleep mode;

activating the wireless imager responsive to the interrupt;

entering a listen mode;

waiting a period of time in the listen mode; and

returning to the sleep mode after waiting in the listen mode.

2. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt is received from an internal sensor.

3. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt is received from a low power timer.

4. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 3, wherein the interrupt is received from the low power time at a rate less than about every 1 minute.

5. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 3, wherein the interrupt is received from the low power time at a rate less than about every 10 minutes.

6. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the listen period is about 1 ms to about 20 ms.

7. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, further including receiving an acknowledgement signal during the listen period.

8. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and

capturing one or more images responsive to the instruction.

9. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and

transmitting one or more image files responsive to the instruction.

10. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from another wireless imager on the network; and

transmitting an image file or many image files responsive to the instruction.

11. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and

placing the wireless imager in sleep mode responsive to the instruction.

12. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

receiving new settings from a hub controller; and

storing the new settings in the wireless imager.

13. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the activating step includes activating a radio.

14. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the activating step includes activating a processor.

15. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the interrupts are generated in a random pattern.

16. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the interrupts are generated at a predetermined time.

17. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the interrupts are generated on a periodic basis.

18. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, wherein the interrupts are generated according to a programmable time period.

19. A method for controlling a wireless imager, comprising:

operating a timer while the wireless imager is in a sleep mode;

receiving an interrupt from the timer;

activating the wireless imager;

entering a listen mode for no longer than a defined period of time;

waiting for a communication signal;

transmitting one or more images responsive to the communication signal; and

placing the wireless imager in sleep mode after transmission is completed.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the interrupts are received randomly.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the interrupts are received at a predetermined time.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the interrupts are received on a periodic basis.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the interrupts are received according to a programmable time period.