Mote networks having directional antennas

• US 7,580,730 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendell; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/998,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20080171519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 455/13.3, 455/19, 455/25, 455/562.1, 455/575.7, 343/757
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125
• 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 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A mote network having and/or using one or more directional antennas.

Claims

1. A mote system comprising:

a mote having;

(i) at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit; and

(ii) a directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit.

2. The mote system of claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit further comprises:

a beam-forming antenna system.

3. The mote system of claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit further comprises:

a beam-steering antenna system.

4. The mote system of claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit further comprises:

an adaptive-antenna system.

5. The mote system of claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit further comprises:

an array antenna.

6. The mote system of claim 1, wherein said directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit further comprises:

an antenna steering unit.

7. The mote system of claim 6, wherein said antenna steering unit further comprises:

an electro-mechanical system.

8. The mote system of claim 6, wherein said antenna steering unit further comprises:

a micro-electro-mechanical system.

9. The mote system of claim 6, wherein said antenna steering unit further comprises:

an electromagnetic system.

10. The mote system of claim 1, further comprising:

said mote having said directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit.

11. The mote system of claim 10, further comprising:

a fastener configured to hold at least one of an animate or inanimate unit in physical contact with said mote having said directional antenna system operably coupled with said at least one of an antenna signal generation unit or an antenna signal detection unit.

12. A mote method of making comprising:

forming a mote body; and

emplacing a directional antenna proximate to the mote body.

13. The mote method of claim 12, wherein said forming a mote body further comprises:

forming at least a part of the mote body from a substrate.

14. The mote method of claim 12, wherein said emplacing a directional antenna proximate to the mote body further comprises:

forming at least a part of the directional antenna from a substrate.

15. The mote method of claim 12, wherein said emplacing a directional antenna proximate to the mote body further comprises:

affixing at least a part of the directional antenna to the mote body.

16. A mote method comprising:

integrating a directional antenna proximate to a mote body with at least one unit.

17. The mote method of claim 16, wherein said integrating a directional antenna proximate to a mote body with at least one unit further comprises:

at least one of affixing the mote body to or encasing the mote body in an inanimate structural component.

18. The mote method of claim 16, wherein said integrating a directional antenna proximate to a mote body with at least one unit further comprises:

at least one of affixing the mote body to or encasing the mote body in an animate structural component.