Logically distinct wireless data communication networks sharing gateway for communicating with external networks

• US 7,746,838 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2009
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US12/367,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 506 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/552.1, 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/312, 370/401, 370/402, 370/328, 370/338, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 340/7.21
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/20 using a distributed 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 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• 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 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted 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

An arrangement of logically distinct wireless data communication networks share a gateway for communicating with external networks. Each logically distinct network preferably is a class-based network, the nodes of which include a wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device. Each device filter wireless communications received by it for an identification within the communication of its class designation, or for a class, abstract class, or subclass corresponding to its class designation; and process the communication if found and do not process the communication if not found. The gateway wirelessly communicates with each logically distinct network by including the respective class designation for the network with which the communications are desired. The other class based networks do not process messages that are communicated to the desired class-based network, thereby avoiding unnecessary power consumption by the wireless devices.

Claims

1. An arrangement of a plurality of logically distinct wireless data communication networks sharing a gateway for communicating with external networks, comprising:

(a) a first common designation wireless data communication network (“

First CD Wireless Network”

), comprising a plurality of wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices, each wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the First CD Wireless Network

(i) representing a node of the First CD Wireless Network, and

(ii) having stored therein a first common designation of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device that is shared with each of the other wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the nodes of the First CD Wireless Network,

(iii) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of each node of the First CD Wireless Network is configured to filter received wireless communications for an identification, within each received communication, of the first common designation, and

(A) process each received communication if an identification of the first common designation is found therein, and

(B) not process each received communication if an identification of the first common designation is not found therein;

(b) a second common designation wireless data communication network (“

Second CD Wireless Network”

), comprising a plurality of wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices, each wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the Second CD Wireless Network,

(i) representing a node of the Second CD Wireless Network, and

(ii) having stored therein a second common designation of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device that is shared with each of the other wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the nodes of the Second CD Wireless Network, the second common designation being different from the first common designation,

(iii) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of each node of the Second CD Wireless Network is configured to filter received wireless communications for an identification, within each received communication, of the second common designation, and

(A) process each received communication if an identification of the second common designation is found therein, and

(B) not process each received communication if an identification of the second common designation is not found therein; and

(c) a gateway configured and arranged for wireless communications with at least one node of the First CD Wireless Network and at least one node of the Second CD Wireless Network by

(i) transmitting the first common designation when communicating with a node of the First CD Wireless Network, whereby the nodes of the Second CD Wireless Network do not receive and process communications for the First CD Wireless Network, and

(ii) transmitting the second common designation when communicating with a node of the Second CD Wireless Network, whereby the nodes of the First CD Wireless Network do not receive and process communications for the Second CD Wireless Network.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a preamble of each communication received by each of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network is screened for the first common designation, and wherein a preamble of each communication received by each of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CD Wireless Network is screened for the second common designation.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the gateway is configured and arranged for communications with an external network via satellite communications.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the gateway is configured and arranged for communications with an external network via cellular communications.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the gateway is configured and arranged for direct communications over the Internet.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of the First CD Wireless Network and the Second CD Wireless Network comprises an ad hoc mobile network.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein each ad hoc mobile network is a class-based network.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network is attached to an asset to be tracked and the first common designation is a first class designation, and wherein each of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CD Wireless Network is attached to an asset to be tracked and the second common designation is a second class designation.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the first class designation represents a first manufacturer of the assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network are respectively attached, and wherein the second class designation represents a second, different manufacturer of the assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CD Wireless Network are respectively attached.

10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the first class designation represents a first retailer of the assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network are respectively attached, and wherein the second class designation represents a second retailer of the assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CD Wireless Network are respectively attached.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network each comprises memory in which a profile of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is stored, the profile including the first common designation, and wherein wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CD Wireless Network each comprises memory in which a profile of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is stored, the profile including the second common designation.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein each profile stored in a wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the First CD Wireless Network further includes a unique identification of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device in which the profile is stored, and wherein each profile stored in a wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the Second CD Wireless Network further includes a unique identification of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device in which the profile is stored.

13. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein a profile stored in a particular one of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network further includes different personalities of the particular wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device, and wherein a profile stored in a particular one of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CD Wireless Network further includes different personalities of the particular wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device.

14. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network each includes an interface for electronic communication with a sensor for receiving sensor-acquired information, and wherein one or more of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CD Wireless Network each includes an interface for electronic communication with a sensor for receiving sensor-acquired information.

15. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CD Wireless Network each includes an interface for electronic communication with a sensor for receiving sensor-acquired information, and wherein the sensor comprises one of the group of a motion detector;

a sound detector;

a camera;

a microphone;

a thermometer;

an altimeter;

a pressure sensor;

a humidity sensor;

a global positioning system receiver;

a light detector, a broad-band RF signal scanner;

an optical sensor;

an accelerometer; and

a chemical sensor.

16. An arrangement of a plurality of logically distinct wireless data communication networks sharing a gateway for communicating with external networks, comprising:

(a) a first class-based wireless data communication network (“

First CB Wireless Network”

), comprising a plurality of wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices, each wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the First CB Wireless Network,

(i) representing a node of the First CB Wireless Network, and

(ii) having stored therein a first class designation of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device that is shared with each of the other wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the nodes of the First CB Wireless Network,

(iii) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of each node of the First CB Wireless Network is configured to filter received wireless communications for an identification, within each received communication, of the first class designation, and

(A) process each received communication if an identification of the first class designation is found therein, and

(B) not process each received communication if an identification of the first class designation is not found therein;

(b) a second class-based wireless data communication network (“

Second CB Wireless Network”

), comprising a plurality of wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices, each wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the Second CB Wireless Network,

(i) representing a node of the Second CB Wireless Network, and

(ii) having stored therein a second class designation of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device that is shared with each of the other wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the nodes of the Second CB Wireless Network, the second class designation being different from the first class designation,

(iii) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of each node of the Second CB Wireless Network is configured to filter received wireless communications for an identification, within each received communication, of the second class designation, and

(A) process each received communication if an identification of the second class designation is found therein, and

(B) not process each received communication if an identification of the second class designation is not found therein; and

(c) a gateway configured and arranged for wireless communications with at least one node of the First CB Wireless Network and at least one node of the Second CB Wireless Network by,

(i) transmitting the first class designation when communicating with a node of the First CB Wireless Network, whereby the nodes of the Second CB Wireless Network do not receive and process communications for the First CB Wireless Network, and

(ii) transmitting the second class designation when communicating with a node the Second CB Wireless Network, whereby the nodes of the First CB Wireless Network do not receive and process communications for the Second CB Wireless Network.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the first class designation represents a first manufacturer of assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CB Wireless Network are respectively attached, and wherein the second class designation represents a second, different manufacturer of assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CB Wireless Network are respectively attached.

18. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the first class designation represents a first retailer of assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CB Wireless Network are respectively attached, and wherein the second class designation represents a second retailer of assets to which the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CB Wireless Network are respectively attached.

19. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the First CB Wireless Network each comprises memory in which a profile of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is stored, the profile including the first class designation, and wherein wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the Second CB Wireless Network each comprises memory in which a profile of the wireless two-way radio frequency data communications device is stored, the profile including the second class designation.

20. An arrangement of a plurality of logically distinct wireless data communication networks sharing a gateway for communicating with external networks, comprising:

(a) a first class-based wireless data communication network (“

First CB Wireless Network”

), comprising a plurality of wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices, each wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the First CB Wireless Network

(i) representing a node of the First CB Wireless Network, and

(ii) having stored therein a profile that includes,

(A) a first class designation of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the First CB Wireless Network that is shared with each of the other wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the nodes of the First CB Wireless Network, and

(B) a unique identification of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the First CB Wireless Network,

(iii) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of each node of the First CB Wireless Network is configured to filter received wireless communications for a class, subclass, or an abstracted class within each received communication that corresponds to the first class designation, and process each received communication only if a class, subclass, or abstracted class corresponding to the first class designation is found therein; and

(b) a second class-based wireless data communication network (“

Second CB Wireless Network”

), comprising a plurality of wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices, each wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the Second CB Wireless Network,

(i) representing a node of the Second CB Wireless Network, and

(ii) having stored therein a profile that includes,

(A) a second class designation of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the Second CB Wireless Network that is shared with each of the other wireless two-way radio frequency data communication devices of the nodes of the Second CB Wireless Network, and

(B) a unique identification of the respective wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of the Second CB Wireless Network,

(iii) wherein the wireless two-way radio frequency data communication device of each node of the Second CB Wireless Network is configured to filter received wireless communications for a class, subclass, or an abstracted class within each received communication that corresponds to the second class designation within the communication, and process each received communication only if a class, subclass, or abstracted class corresponding to the second class designation is found therein; and

(c) a gateway configured and arranged for wireless communications with at least one node of the First CB Wireless Network and at least one node of the Second CB Wireless Network by

(i) transmitting the first class designation when communicating with a node of the First CB Wireless Network, whereby the nodes of the Second CB Wireless Network do not receive and process communications for the First CB Wireless Network, and

(ii) transmitting the second class designation when communicating with a node the Second CB Wireless Network, whereby the nodes of the First CB Wireless Network do not receive and process communications for the Second CB Wireless Network.