Method in a radio frequency addressable sensor for communicating sensor data to a wireless sensor reader

• US 7,538,658 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/930,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20080130536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1033- 1034, 340/10.1, 340 732- 737, 4553431-343
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10108 interrogating only those RFIDs that fulfill a predetermined requirement, e.g. selecting all RFIDs having the same speed and moving in a cloud like fashion, e.g. on the same train; interrogating only RFIDs having a certain predetermined temperature, e.g. in the same fridge, another possibility being the active ignoring of a group of tags that fulfill a predetermined requirement, equivalent to the Boolean NOT operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• 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 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method in a radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor for communicating sensor data to a wireless sensor reader for transmission over a communications network, wherein the RF addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements. The method includes (a) receiving signals from the wireless sensor reader; (b) obtaining analog sensor data from at least one sensor element; (c) converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data; (d) communicating the digital sensor data to the wireless sensor reader for transmission over the communications network; and (e) communicating additional information to the wireless sensor reader. Steps (a) and (d) include common designation network communications. The RF addressable sensor is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal. The RF addressable sensor includes (i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and (ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission.

Claims

1. A method in a radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor for communicating sensor data to a wireless sensor reader for transmission over a communications network, wherein the RF addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements, comprising:

(a) receiving signals from the wireless sensor reader;

(b) obtaining analog sensor data from at least one sensor element;

(c) converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data;

(d) communicating the digital sensor data to the wireless sensor reader for transmission over the communications network; and

(e) communicating additional information to the wireless sensor reader;

(f) wherein steps (a) and (d) comprise common designation network communications;

(g) wherein the RF addressable sensor is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(h) wherein the RF addressable sensor comprises,

(i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and

(ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the radio frequency addressable sensor, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional information includes a stored tag identification number, and wherein communicating the digital sensor data to the wireless sensor reader includes communicating the digital sensor data as a component of the tag identification number.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising prior to step (b) receiving a read sensor signal from the wireless sensor reader.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising prior to step (d) processing the digital sensor data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional information includes reference data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional information includes sensor processing information.

7. A method in a radio frequency (RF) addressable device for communicating via data packets sensor data to a two-way wireless data communication device for transmission over a communications network, wherein the RF addressable device includes one or more sensors, comprising:

(a) receiving signals from the two-way wireless data communication device;

(b) obtaining analog sensor data from at least one sensor;

(c) converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data;

(d) communicating the digital sensor data to the two-way wireless data communication device for transmission over the communications network; and

(e) communicating additional information to the two-way wireless data communication device;

(f) wherein steps (a) and (d) comprise common designation network communications;

(g) wherein the RF addressable device is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(h) wherein the RF addressable device comprises,

(i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and

(ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the RF addressable device, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the additional information includes a stored tag identification, and wherein communicating the digital sensor data to the two-way wireless data communication device includes communicating the digital sensor data as a component of the tag identification.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising prior to step (b) receiving a read sensor signal from the two-way wireless data communication device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising prior to step (d) processing the digital sensor data.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the additional information includes reference data.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the additional information includes sensor processing information.

13. A method in a radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor interface for communicating via data packets sensor derived information to a two-way wireless data communication device for transmission over an external network, wherein the RF addressable sensor interface includes one or more sensor components, comprising:

(a) receiving signals from the two-way wireless data communication device;

(b) obtaining analog sensor derived information from at least one sensor component;

(c) converting the analog sensor derived information to digital sensor derived information;

(d) communicating the digital sensor derived information to the two-way wireless data communication device for transmission over the external network;

(e) communicating additional information to the two-way wireless data communication device;

(f) wherein steps (a) and (d) comprise common designation network communications;

(g) wherein the RF addressable sensor interface is capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(h) wherein the RF addressable sensor interface comprises,

(i) a transmitter and a first receiver, and

(ii) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency transmission and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein representing a common designation in common designation network communications, the electronic signal in order to power up the RF addressable sensor interface, the second receiver being adapted to draw less current than the first receiver while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency transmission.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional information includes a stored identification, and wherein communicating the digital sensor derived information to the two-way wireless data communication device includes communicating the digital sensor derived information in association with the identification.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising prior to step (b) receiving a query command from the two-way wireless data communication device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising prior to step (d) processing the digital sensor derived information.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional information includes reference data.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional information includes sensor processing information.