Mote signal energy aspects

• US 7,906,765 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley; Shawn
• Application Number:
  US11/262,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.3, 340/10.1, 340/539.1, 250/370.04, 250/393, 455/44.1, 455/41.2, 455/343.1, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 250/370.04
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

One aspect of this disclosure relates to converting an energy or power contained in a signal received by an at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device. Another aspect of this disclosure relates to extracting an energy or power contained in a signal received by an at least one mote device to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device. Yet another aspect of this disclosure relates to directing from an at least one directing device an energy or power contained in a signal at an at least one mote device that can be utilized to operate the at least one mote device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal at an at least one mote device, the signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof; and

converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in the signal received by an at least one passive mote device into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one passive mote device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in the signal received by an at least one active mote device into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one active mote device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in a query that relates to an energy level of the at least one mote device, the query being converted into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in a query that relates to an operational parameter of the at least one mote device, the query being converted into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in a query that relates to achieving a goal of the at least one mote device with respect to at least one mote network, the query being converted into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in a device memory signal received at least partially by the at least one mote device into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in a device query signal into the energy or power form that can be utilized by a rechargeable energy source operable to provide power to the at least one mote device to extend an energy-limited normal operating duration of the at least one mote device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into the energy or power form to extend an energy-limited normal operating duration of the at least one mote device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the converted energy or power contained in the signal to extend an energy-limited normal operating duration in which the at least one mote device can perform a mote device operation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

indicating, using at least one status indicator, whether the at least one mote device should be serviced with the signal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responding to receiving the signal by indicating a status of the at least one mote device remotely of the at least one mote device.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal at an at least one mote device, the signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof; and

using at least some energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to extend duration of operation of the at least one mote device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the using at least some energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to extend duration of operation of the at least one mote device further comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in the signal received by an at least one passive mote device into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially extend the energy-limited normal operating duration of the at least one passive mote device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the using at least some energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to extend duration of operation of the at least one mote device further comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in the signal received by an at least one active mote device into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially extend the energy-limited normal operating duration of the at least one active mote device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the using at least some energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to extend duration of operation of the at least one mote device further comprises:

converting the energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device into the energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially accomplish a goal of the at least one mote device with respect to a mote network.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

responding to receiving the signal by indicating, using at least one status indicator, whether the at least one mote device should be serviced.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

responding to receiving the signal by indicating a status of the at least one mote device remotely of the at least one mote device.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal at an at least one mote device, the signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof; and

extracting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the extracting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

extracting the energy or power contained in the signal received by an at least one passive mote device that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one passive mote device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the extracting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

extracting the energy or power contained in the signal received by an at least one active mote device that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one active mote device.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the extracting an energy or power contained in the signal received by the at least one mote device to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device comprises:

extracting the energy or power contained in a query that relates to an energy level of the at least one mote device that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

23. A method, comprising:

moving an at least one directing device from a first location to a second location, the second location being closer to an operational location of an at least one mote device than the first location is to the operational location of the at least one mote device, the operational location of the at least one mote device being one of at least one location in which the at least one mote device performs one or more operations in addition to one or more operations involved with recharging of the at least one mote device; and

directing a signal from the at least one directing device to the operational location of the at least one mote device while the directing device is positioned in the second location, the signal containing an energy or power to at least partially recharge the at least one mote device for at least partial operation of the at least one mote device while the at least one mote device remains in the operational location of the at least one mote device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

controlling an operation of the at least one mote device at least partially in response to the directing from the at least one directing device the energy or power contained in the signal at the at least one mote device that can be utilized to operate the at least one mote device.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one mote device operable to receive an at least one signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof and operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting a form of an energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one mote device operable to receive an at least one signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof and operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting a form of an energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device comprises:

at least one passive mote device operable to extend its passive energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting the form of the energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one passive mote device.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one mote device operable to receive an at least one signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof and operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting a form of an energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device comprises:

at least one active mote device operable to extend its active energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting the form of the energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one active mote device.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one mote device operable to receive an at least one signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof and operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting a form of an energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device comprises:

the at least one mote device operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting the form of the energy or power contained in the at least one signal received at least partially over a wireless communication link by the at least one mote device.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one mote device operable to receive an at least one signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof and operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting a form of an energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device comprises:

the at least one mote device operable to extend a data-storage based operation duration at least partially in response to converting the form of the energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one mote device operable to receive an at least one signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof and operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting a form of an energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device comprises:

the at least one mote device operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to the converting the form of the energy or power contained in an at least one query-based signal received by the at least one mote device.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one mote device operable to receive an at least one signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof and operable to extend its energy-based operation duration at least partially in response to converting a form of an energy or power contained in the at least one signal received by the at least one mote device comprises:

the at least one mote device operable to achieve a goal of the at least one mote device at least partially in response to converting the form of the energy or power contained within an at least one query-based signal received by the at least one mote device.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one mote device configurable to receive an at least one device signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof; and

the at least one mote device operable to increase its energy level by converting an energy or power contained within the at least one device signal into an energy or power form that can be utilized by the at least one mote device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one mote device configurable to receive an at least one device signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof comprises:

the at least one mote device configurable to receive at least one query signal that queries for an operational parameter of the at least one mote device.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one mote device configurable to receive an at least one device signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof comprises:

the at least one mote device configurable to receive at least one energy query that queries for a state of the energy or power for the at least one mote device.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one mote device configurable to receive an at least one device signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof comprises:

the at least one mote device configurable to receive the at least one device signal that at least partially relates to a battery energy of a mote device battery that can provide at least some battery energy or power for the at least one mote device.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one mote device at least partially including;

a signal reception means configurable to receive an at least one device signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof; and

an energy conversion means configurable to convert a power or energy of the at least one device signal received at the at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can extend an energy-limited normal operating duration of the at least one mote device.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one mote device at least partially including;

a signal reception device operable to receive an at least one device signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof;

a rechargeable energy device operable to provide an energy or power to the at least one mote device; and

an energy conversion device configurable to convert the energy or power of the at least one device signal into an energy or power form that can extend an energy-limited normal operating duration of the rechargeable energy device.

38. A system, comprising:

at least one circuit for extracting an energy or power contained in a signal containing information including one or more queries for information from the at least one mote device, one or more commands for the at least one mote device to process, one or more instructions for the at least one mote device to process, or a combination thereof, the signal received by an at least one mote device, the energy or power to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device.

39. An apparatus, comprising:

a directing device operable to move from a first location to a second location, the second location being closer to an operational location of an at least one mote device than the first location is to the operational location of the at least one mote device, the operational location of the at least one mote device being one of at least one location in which the at least one mote device performs one or more operations in addition to one or more operations involved with recharging of the at least one mote device; and

operable to direct a signal from the at least one directing device to the operational location of the at least one mote device while the directing device is positioned in the second location, the signal containing an energy or power to at least partially recharge the at least one mote device for at least partial operation of the at least one mote device while the at least one mote device remains in the operational location of the at least one mote device.