Methods and systems for preserving the life of a power source of a wireless end node in a transport refrigeration system

• US 9,060,337 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC), Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Sanders, Russell Lee, Leasure, Mark Daniel, Vitkus, Kim, Johnson, Mark, Pasek, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSE, KERRI M
• Application Number:
  US13/848,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00 Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices heating, cooling or ventilating devices providing other air treatment, the other treatment being relevant, B60H3/00; ventilating solely by opening windows, doors, roof parts, or the like B60J; heating or ventilating devices for vehicle seats B60N2/56; vehicle window or windscreen cleaners using air, e.g. defrosters, B60S1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00014 for load cargos on load transporting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for preserving the life of a power source of a wireless end node of a wireless communication system for use in a mobile environment are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes wirelessly transmitting a wireless end node acknowledgment message to a network coordinator during a normal operation mode of the wireless end node. The method also includes the wireless end node monitoring for a network coordinator acknowledgment message from a network coordinator in response to the wireless end node acknowledgement message during the normal operation mode of the wireless end node. Also, the method includes incrementing a missed acknowledgment counter value stored in a memory storage of the wireless end node when the network coordinator acknowledgment message is not received. Further, the method includes increasing a time period of a sleep timer of the wireless end node when the missed acknowledgment counter value equals a missed acknowledgment threshold.

Claims

1. A method for preserving the life of a power source of a wireless end node of a wireless communication system for use in a mobile environment, the wireless end node including an electrical assembly powered by a power source, the electrical assembly including an operation sensor configured to sense an operation of a transport refrigeration system, a transceiver configured to transmit a data signal to and receive a data signal from the network coordinator, a memory storage, a sleep timer configured to count down a time period that the wireless end node operates in a sleep mode, and a controller including the sleep timer, the controller being connected to the operation sensor, the transceiver and the memory storage, and the controller configured to manage, command, direct and regulate behavior of the wireless end node and configured to operate the wireless end node in a normal operation mode and the sleep mode, the method comprising:

deploying, installing, pairing and setting the wireless end node in the normal operation mode, wherein in the normal operation mode the electrical assembly drawing current from the power source, the operating sensor monitoring a portion of the transport refrigeration system and the transceiver transmitting data to and receiving data from the network coordinator;

the wireless end node wirelessly transmitting a wireless end node acknowledgment message to a network coordinator during a normal operation mode of the wireless end node;

the wireless end node monitoring for a network coordinator acknowledgment message from a network coordinator in response to the wireless end node acknowledgement message during the normal operation mode of the wireless end node;

incrementing a missed acknowledgment counter value stored in a memory storage of the wireless end node when the network coordinator acknowledgment message is not received;

switching from the normal operation mode to the sleep mode for a first time period after incrementing the missed acknowledgement counter value or after the wireless end node receiving the network acknowledgement message from the network coordinator, wherein in the sleep mode the electrical assembly powering down and reducing the amount of current drawn from the power source to a level sufficient for operating the sleep timer, for receiving an interrupt request via the transceiver, and for powering up the electrical assembly from the sleep mode back to the normal operation mode; and

increasing a time period of the sleep timer of the wireless end node from the first time period to a second time period when the missed acknowledgment counter value equals a missed acknowledgment threshold in order to reduce current being drawn from the power source of the wireless end node;

the wireless end node receiving a network coordinator acknowledgement message from the network coordinator during the normal operation mode;

clearing the missed acknowledgement counter and returning the time period of the sleep timer from the second time period to the first time period when the wireless end node receives the network coordinator acknowledgement message from the network coordinator;

the wireless end node receiving the interrupt request from a user; and

clearing the missed acknowledgement counter and returning the time period of the sleep timer from the second time period to the first time period when the wireless end node receives the interrupt request from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the missed acknowledgement threshold is three.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period is five minutes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time period is two hours.

5. A wireless communication system for use in a mobile environment comprising:

one or more wireless end nodes that is configured to monitor a property of a transport refrigeration system and transmit data transmissions to and receive data transmissions from the network coordinator, the one or more wireless end nodes configured to operate in a normal operation mode and a sleep mode; and

a network coordinator that is configured to manage, command, direct and regulate the behavior of the one or more wireless end nodes;

wherein, during the normal operation mode, the wireless node is configured to increment a missed acknowledgment counter value stored in a memory storage of the wireless end node when a network coordinator acknowledgment message is not received,

wherein the wireless end node is configured to switch from the normal operation mode to the sleep mode for a first time period after the missed acknowledgement counter value is incremented or after the wireless end node receives the network acknowledgement message from the network coordinator,

wherein, during the normal operation mode, the wireless end node is configured to increase a time period of a sleep timer of the wireless end node from the first time period to a second time period when the missed acknowledgment counter value equals a missed acknowledgment threshold in order to reduce current being drawn from a power source of the wireless end node,

wherein each of the one or more wireless end nodes includes an electrical assembly powered by the power source, the electrical assembly including an operation sensor configured to sense an operation of a transport refrigeration system, a transceiver configured to transmit a data signal to and receive a data signal from the network coordinator, a memory storage, a sleep timer configured to count down a time period that the wireless end node operates in the sleep mode, and a controller including the sleep timer, the controller connected to the operation sensor, the transceiver and the memory storage, and the controller configured to manage, command, direct and regulate behavior of the wireless end node and configured to operate the wireless end node in the normal operation mode and the sleep mode,

wherein in the normal operation mode the electrical assembly is configured to draw current from the power source, the operating sensor is configured to monitor a portion of the transport refrigeration system and the transceiver is configured to transmit data to and receive data from the network coordinator,

wherein the wireless end node is configured to clear the missed acknowledgement counter and return the time period of the sleep timer from the second time period to the first time period when the wireless end node receives a network coordinator acknowledgement message from the network coordinator, and

wherein the wireless end node is configured to clear the missed acknowledgement counter and return the time period of the sleep timer from the second time period to the first time period when the wireless end node receives an interrupt request from a user.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 5, wherein the missed acknowledgement threshold is three.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 5, wherein the first time period is five minutes.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 5, wherein the second time period is two hours.

9. A wireless end node of a wireless communication system for use in a mobile environment comprising:

a power source;

an electrical assembly including;

a controller configured to manage, command, direct and regulate the behavior of the wireless end node and configured to switch operation of the wireless end node between a normal operation mode and a sleep mode, the controller including a sleep timer configured to count down a time period that the wireless end node operates in the sleep mode;

an operating sensor configured to monitor a property of a transport refrigeration system;

a transceiver configured to transmit data to and receive data from a network coordinator of a wireless communication system; and

a memory storage storing a missed acknowledgment threshold and a missed acknowledgment counter value;

wherein in the normal operation mode the electrical assembly is configured to draw current from the power source, the operating sensor is configured to monitor a portion of the transport refrigeration system and the transceiver configured to transmit data to and receive data from the network coordinator,

wherein in the sleep mode the electrical assembly is configured to power down and reduce the amount of current drawn from the power source to a level sufficient for operating the sleep timer, for receiving an interrupt request via the transceiver, and for powering up the electrical assembly from the sleep mode back to the normal operation mode,

wherein, during the normal operation mode, the controller is configured to wait for a network coordinator acknowledgement message from the network coordinator;

wherein the controller is configured to increment a missed acknowledgment counter value stored in a memory storage of the wireless end node when the transceiver does not receive the network coordinator acknowledgment message in response to a transmitted wireless end node acknowledgement message, and

wherein the controller is configured to increase the time period of the sleep timer from a first time period to a second time period when the missed acknowledgment counter value equals the missed acknowledgment threshold in order to reduce current being drawn from the power source,

wherein the controller is configured to switch from the normal operation mode to the sleep mode for a first time period after incrementing the missed acknowledgement counter value or after the wireless end node receiving the network acknowledgement message from the network coordinator,

wherein the controller is configured to clear the missed acknowledgement counter and return the time period of the sleep timer from the second time period to the first time period when the transceiver receives a network coordinator acknowledgement message from the network coordinator, and

wherein the wireless end node is configured to clear the missed acknowledgement counter and return the time period of the sleep timer from the second time period to the first time period when the wireless end node receives an interrupt request from a user.

10. The wireless end node of claim 9, wherein the missed acknowledgement threshold is three.

11. The wireless end node of claim 9, wherein the first time period is five minutes.

12. The wireless end node of claim 9, wherein the second time period is two hours.