System and method for operating a synchronized wireless network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wireless network comprising:
- a plurality of RFID devices each having a powered down mode and a receive/transmit mode in which messages can be received and/or transmitted, and each including a timer operable in the powered down mode for enabling the receive/transmit mode periodically in response to time interval information;
a plurality of relay devices each having a powered down mode and a receive/transmit mode in which messages may be received and/or transmitted, and each including a timer operable in the powered down mode for enabling the receive/transmit mode periodically in response to time interval information;
wherein one of said RFID devices or one of said relay devices is designated as a master device and wherein said plurality of RFID devices and said plurality of relay devices are operable to establish a wireless communication network;
wherein said master device defines time interval information and communicates the time interval information at least to said plurality of relay devices,whereby the timers of each of said plurality of relay devices are set to time substantially the same time interval; and
wherein said master device communicates at least to said plurality of relay devices synchronization information to start the respective timers of said plurality of relay devices substantially simultaneously,whereby the time intervals of said plurality of relay devices are substantially synchronized.
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Abstract
A system and method for operating a wireless network comprising a plurality of devices each having a powered down mode, a receive/transmit mode, and a timer, may include a master device and a defined time interval. Time interval information and synchronizing information are communicated to the plurality of devices of the wireless network, whereby the timers of each of the plurality of devices are set to time substantially the same time interval, and the time intervals of the plurality of devices of the wireless network are substantially synchronized.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wireless network comprising:
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a plurality of RFID devices each having a powered down mode and a receive/transmit mode in which messages can be received and/or transmitted, and each including a timer operable in the powered down mode for enabling the receive/transmit mode periodically in response to time interval information; a plurality of relay devices each having a powered down mode and a receive/transmit mode in which messages may be received and/or transmitted, and each including a timer operable in the powered down mode for enabling the receive/transmit mode periodically in response to time interval information; wherein one of said RFID devices or one of said relay devices is designated as a master device and wherein said plurality of RFID devices and said plurality of relay devices are operable to establish a wireless communication network; wherein said master device defines time interval information and communicates the time interval information at least to said plurality of relay devices, whereby the timers of each of said plurality of relay devices are set to time substantially the same time interval; and wherein said master device communicates at least to said plurality of relay devices synchronization information to start the respective timers of said plurality of relay devices substantially simultaneously, whereby the time intervals of said plurality of relay devices are substantially synchronized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating a wireless network comprising a plurality of devices each having a powered down mode and a receive/transmit mode in which messages can be received and/or transmitted, and each including a timer operable in the powered down mode for enabling the receive/transmit mode periodically in response to time interval information, said method comprising:
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designating one of the devices as a master device and defining a powered down time interval; establishing a wireless network including the plurality of devices; communicating time interval information representative of the powered down time interval to the plurality of devices of the wireless network; whereby the timers of each of the plurality of devices are set to time substantially the same powered down time interval; and communicating synchronizing information to the plurality of devices of the wireless network wherein the synchronizing information causes the respective timers of the plurality of devices to start substantially simultaneously, whereby the powered down time intervals of the plurality of devices of the wireless network are substantially synchronized and are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating a wireless network comprising a plurality of devices each having a powered down mode and a receive/transmit mode in which messages can be received and/or transmitted, and each including a timer operable in the powered down mode for enabling the receive/transmit mode periodically in response to time interval information, said method comprising:
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designating one of the devices as a master device and defining a powered down time interval; transmitting and receiving messages for establishing a wireless network including the plurality of devices; communicating time interval information representative of the powered down time interval to the plurality of devices of the wireless network; whereby the timers of each of the plurality of devices are set to time substantially the same powered down time interval; communicating synchronizing information to the plurality of devices of the wireless network wherein the synchronizing information causes the respective timers of the plurality of devices to start substantially simultaneously and initiate powered down mode for the time interval, whereby the powered down time intervals of the plurality of devices of the wireless network are substantially synchronized and are substantially the same, at the end of the powered down time interval, placing the plurality of devices in receive/transmit mode for receiving and/or transmitting messages; relaying messages transmitted by the plurality of devices; processing the relayed messages for determining whether a given condition has occurred; and if the given condition has occurred, providing an indication thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification