Wireless sensor unit communication triggering and management

• US 9,318,015 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US14/548,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• 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: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Various embodiments of wireless ambient sensor unit are presented. The sensor unit may include a wireless transceiver configured to transmit sensor data and to receive instructions. The sensor unit may include a sensor configured to measure an ambient condition. The sensor unit may include a controller in communication with the wireless transceiver and the sensor. The controller may be configured to compare data measured about the ambient condition to a stored threshold while the wireless ambient sensor unit is functioning in a low-power mode. The controller may be configured to exit the low-power mode in response to the comparison of the data with the stored threshold. The controller may be configured to cause the data measured about the ambient condition to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver as one or more messages in response to the comparison to the stored threshold.

Claims

1. A wireless ambient sensor apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

means for measuring an ambient condition;

means for comparing data measured about the ambient condition to a stored threshold value while the apparatus is functioning in a low-power mode;

means for exiting the low-power mode in response to the comparison of the data with the stored threshold value; and

means for transmitting one or more encrypted messages indicative of the data in response to the comparison to the stored threshold value, wherein the data is transmitted while the apparatus is out of the low-power mode and the one or more messages comprises;

an address that identifies the apparatus, a checksum, and an authenticity portion for use in verifying an authenticity of the packet.

2. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for measuring a signal strength received from the means for transmitting the one or more messages; and

means for routing transmission of the one or more messages on the measured signal strength.

3. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for programming a portion of the address during an installation process into the wireless ambient sensor apparatus.

4. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for powering down the means for transmitting while the apparatus is functioning in the low-power mode.

5. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving a message that indicates a portion of the address of the wireless ambient sensor apparatus is to be reprogrammed; and

means for reprogramming at least the portion of the address based on the received message.

6. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technique for transmitting the data measured about the ambient condition.

7. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for exiting the low-power mode on a periodic basis;

means for causing a status message to be transmitted via the wireless transceiver following exiting the low-power mode on the periodic basis;

means for entering a receive mode to wait for a command to be received for a predefined period of time following causing the status message to be transmitted; and

means for entering the low power mode following expiration of the predefined period of time.

8. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ambient condition is smoke or carbon monoxide.

9. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for resetting, wherein actuation of the means for resetting causes the wireless ambient sensor apparatus to enter a receiving mode for receiving the address via the wireless transceiver for programming into the wireless ambient sensor apparatus.

10. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for sensing tampering which causes an indication of a fault to be transmitted via the means for transmitting.

11. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for audio output.

12. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for listening to a radio frequency channel to determine the radio frequency channel is not in use prior to performing transmitting the one or more encrypted messages; and

means for transmitting, via the radio frequency channel, the one or more encrypted messages using the radio frequency channel determined to not be in use.