Light monitoring system with antenna diversity

• US 8,837,555 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingenu Inc.
• Original Assignee: On-Ramp Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Sinsuan, Kenneth C., Myers, Theodore J., Cohen, Lewis N., Werner, Daniel Thomas, Hughes, Matthew, Boesel, Robert W., Singler, Patrick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burd, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US13/938,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20130301682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 375/130, 375/140, 375/141, 375/146
• US Class Current: 375/146
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7073 Synchronisation aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7103 the interference being multiple access interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/00 Code division multiplex systems for frequency hopping H04B1/713
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/0029 Gold
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0038 Blind format detection for detection of modulation format H04L27/0012
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0046 Code rate detection or code type detection H04L1/0038 takes precedence; detection of the data rate H04L25/0262; for packet format H04L1/0091
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1819 with retransmission of additional or different redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/0065 Frequency error detectors H04L2027/0067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/233 using non-coherent demodulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0004 Initialisation of the receiver H04L7/0075 and H04L7/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving monitor data from a lighting equipment monitor. A data stream is created based upon the monitor data. A first signal strength of a signal from the access point received at a first antenna is measured. A second signal strength of the signal from the access point received at a second antenna is measured. One or more antennae are selected to transmit the spread data stream based upon the first signal strength and the second signal strength. The data stream is transmitted using the one or more selected antennae.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring lighting equipment, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor, monitor data from a lighting equipment monitor;

creating a data stream based upon the monitor data;

measuring a first signal strength of a signal from an access point received at a first antenna;

measuring a second signal strength of the signal from the access point received at a second antenna;

selecting one or more antennae to transmit the data stream based upon the first signal strength and the second signal strength;

spreading the data stream with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code, wherein the common PN code is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with the access point; and

transmitting the spread data stream using the one or more selected antennae, wherein the spread data stream is transmitted at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset, wherein the spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted, wherein the second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code, and wherein the second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the randomly selected timing offset is between zero and a spreading factor used to spread the data stream minus one.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising retransmitting the spread data stream with a third randomly selected timing offset if an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one or more antennae comprises selecting the antenna with the highest signal strength.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring a signal strength of the selected antenna;

determining if the signal strength is below a predetermined threshold; and

switching to an unselected antenna based upon determining if the signal strength is below the predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a light is not functioning properly based upon the monitor data; and

initiating a transmission of the data stream based upon the determination that the light is not functioning properly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting equipment monitor monitors an obstruction light.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitor data comprises data representing a voltage or a current used to power a light.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the access point, a monitor read schedule, wherein receiving the monitor data is based upon the received monitor read schedule.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the data stream is based upon a transmission schedule.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the access point, a transmission schedule, wherein transmitting the monitor data is based upon the received transmission schedule.

12. A lighting equipment monitor comprising:

a monitor configured to;

monitor lighting equipment; and

provide monitor data based upon the monitoring of the lighting equipment;

a first antenna configured to receive a signal from an access point;

a second antenna configured to receive the signal from the access point;

one or more electronic processors configured to;

determine a first signal strength of the signal received at the first antenna;

determine a second signal strength of the signal received at the second antenna;

generate a data stream comprising the monitor data; and

select one or more antennae to transmit the data stream based upon the first signal strength and the second signal strength;

a pseudo-noise (PN) spreader configured to spread the data stream with a common PN code, wherein the common PN code is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with the access point;

a delay module configured to generate a randomly selected timing offset for the spread data stream; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the spread data stream using the selected one or more antennae, wherein the data stream is transmitted at a first time based on a slot start time and a first randomly selected timing offset, wherein the spread data stream is transmitted while at least a portion of a second spread data stream is transmitted, wherein the second spread data stream is spread with the common PN code, and wherein the second spread data stream is transmitted at a second time based on the slot start time and a second randomly selected timing offset.

13. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are configured select one or more antennae by selecting the antenna with the highest signal strength.

14. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

monitor a signal strength of the selected antenna;

determine if the signal strength is below a predetermined threshold; and

switch to an unselected antenna based upon determining if the signal strength is below the predetermined threshold.

15. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a light is not functioning properly based upon the monitor data; and

initiate a transmission of the data stream based upon the determination that the light is not functioning properly.

16. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, wherein the lighting equipment monitor monitors an obstruction light.

17. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, wherein the monitor data comprises data representing a voltage or a current used to power a light.

18. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, further comprising a receiver configured to receive, from the access point, a monitor read schedule, wherein receiving the monitor data is based upon the received monitor read schedule.

19. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, wherein the randomly selected timing offset is between zero and a spreading factor used to spread the data stream minus one.

20. The lighting equipment monitor of claim 12, wherein the transmitter is further configured to retransmit the spread data stream with a third randomly selected timing offset if an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time period.