Power-grid-powered agents for wireless communication systems

• US 7,551,939 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Acampora, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Application Number:
  US11/691,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455402-403, 455/422.1, 4554261-4262, 455572-574, 455/522, 455/69, 4553431-343, 370311-318, 370/328, 370/338, 340/693.1, 340/538, 340/7.29, 340/310.11, 709/248, 709/203
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/122 by minimising distances, e.g. by selecting a route with minimum of number of hops
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A radio link management system for a home or office substantially (i) an ad hoc network of agents wirelessly communicating among themselves, while (iii) clients wirelessly communicate with proximate agents. Control of the network may be centralized as network controller integrated with an agent, or may be distributed upon the network of agents. Some agent or agents, which may include an agent that is also the network controller, typically serves as a gateway device which connects to a worldwide communications network external to the home or office, normally by fiber or by wire.

Each agent is most commonly a small radio transceiver plus logic and power supply that mounts upon a wall and plugs directly into an AC power socket. Agents wirelessly communicate among themselves and with the controller—which may be centralized or distributed—in a bandwidth-efficient mode since prime power is not an issue. Each client, which is most commonly a battery-powered user device, wirelessly radio communicates with one or more proximately-located agents. Consistent with overall demand for the radio resource, parameters for radio communication are allocated ad hoc in a manner which is (a) client-dependent, and which (b) uses the least power from the battery-powered client. The agents establish an ad-hoc network among themselves, with routing among and between the agents being both multi-hop and “minimum hop” to conserve bandwidth. Accordingly both power and bandwidth are conserved, each as and where required and desired.

Claims

1. A wireless agent for use in a mesh network comprising a plurality of wireless agents, comprising:

a radio transceiver to wirelessly transmit and receive radio signals in the mesh network;

a power supply converting power from a power grid to power the radio transceiver; and

logic enabling the agent to wirelessly communicate by way of the radio transceiver with other wireless agents connected to the same power grid and to wirelessly communicate by way of the radio transceiver with associated ones of a plurality of clients powered from a portable power source, the wireless agent providing a communication pathway for the plurality of clients with at least one other wireless agent.

2. The wireless agent as recited in claim 1, comprising:

logic that controls time intervals allocated to communication among the plurality of wireless agents.

3. The wireless agent as recited in claim 2, comprising:

logic that controls time intervals allocated to communication among the plurality of clients and the plurality of wireless agents.

4. The wireless agent as recited in claim 3, wherein the radio transceiver is capable of communicating at least two frequencies, and wherein a first frequency of the at least two frequencies is reserved for communication with the plurality of wireless agents.

5. The wireless agent as recited in claim 4, wherein a second frequency of the at least two frequencies is reserved for communication with the plurality of clients.

6. The wireless agent as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless agent communicates with other wireless agents by way of a first communication code and communicates with the plurality of clients by way of a second communication code.

7. The wireless agent as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless agent is embedded in one of a telephone, a television, a keypad controller, a burglar alarm and an appliance.

8. The wireless agent as recited in claim 1, wherein the power grid is a power grid within a home.

9. The wireless agent as recited in claim 8, wherein the power supply is connected to a wall electrical outlet of the power grid.

10. The wireless agent as recited in claim 1 wherein the logic manages communications of clients within proximity as determined by a signal strength.

11. A wireless agent for use in a mesh network comprising a plurality of wireless agents, comprising:

a radio transceiver;

a power supply converting power from an outlet of a local power grid to power for the radio transceiver; and

logic enabling the agent to wirelessly communicate by way of the radio transceiver with other wireless agents connected to the same local power grid and to wirelessly communicate by way of the radio transceiver with associated ones of a plurality of clients powered from a portable power source wherein the wireless agent provides a communication pathway that conserves a communication bandwidth with at least one other wireless agent and conserves power for the plurality of clients.

12. The wireless agent as recited in claim 11, comprising:

logic that controls time intervals allocated to communication among the plurality of wireless agents.

13. The wireless agent as recited in claim 12 comprising:

logic that controls time intervals allocated to communication among the plurality of clients and the plurality of wireless agents.

14. The wireless agent as recited in claim 13 wherein the radio transceiver is capable of communicating at least two frequencies, and wherein a first frequency of the at least two frequencies is reserved for communication with the plurality of wireless agents.

15. The wireless agent as recited in claim 14 wherein a second frequency of the at least two frequencies is reserved for communication with the plurality of clients.

16. The wireless agent as recited in claim 11 wherein the wireless agent communicates with other wireless agents by way of a first communication code and communicates with the plurality of clients by way of a second communication code.

17. The wireless agent as recited in claim 11 wherein the wireless agent is embedded in one of a telephone, a television, a keypad controller, a burglar alarm and an appliance.

18. The wireless agent as recited in claim 11 wherein the power grid is a power grid for a home.

19. The wireless agent as recited in claim 18 wherein the outlet comprises a wall electrical outlet.

20. The wireless agent as recited in claim 11 wherein the logic manages communications of clients within proximity as determined by a signal strength.

21. A wireless agent for use in a mesh network comprising a plurality of wireless agents, comprising:

a radio transceiver;

a power supply converting power from an outlet of a local power grid to power for the radio transceiver;

logic enabling the agent to wirelessly communicate by way of the radio transceiver with other wireless agents connected to the same power grid and to wirelessly communicate by way of the radio transceiver with associated ones of a plurality of clients powered from a portable power source wherein the wireless agent provides a communication pathway that conserves communication bandwidth for the plurality of clients with at least one other wireless agent; and

logic enabling the agent to operate cooperatively with the plurality of wireless agents to register ones of the plurality of clients and to configure a communication path with other wireless agents when one of the plurality of clients is added to the mesh network.

22. The wireless agent as recited in claim 21, comprising:

logic that controls the time intervals allocated to communication among the plurality of wireless agents.

23. The wireless agent as recited in claim 22 comprising:

logic that controls time intervals allocated to communication among the plurality of clients and the plurality of wireless agents.

24. The wireless agent as recited in claim 23 wherein the radio transceiver is capable of communicating at least two frequencies, and wherein a first frequency of the at least two frequencies is reserved for communication with the plurality of wireless agents.

25. The wireless agent as recited in claim 24 wherein a second frequency of the at least two frequencies is reserved for communication with the plurality of clients.

26. The wireless agent as recited in claim 21 wherein the wireless agent communicates with other wireless agents by way of a first communication code and communicates with the plurality of clients by way of a second communication code.

27. The wireless agent as recited in claim 21 wherein the wireless agent is embedded in one of a telephone, a television, a keypad controller, a burglar alarm and an appliance.

28. The wireless agent as recited in claim 21 wherein the power grid is a power grid for a home.

29. The wireless agent as recited in claim 28 wherein the outlet comprises a wall outlet.

30. The wireless agent as recited in claim 21 wherein the logic manages communications of clients within proximity as determined by a signal strength.