System and method for communicating over an 802.15.4 network

• US 9,461,735 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simple Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Simple Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Tom, Mason, Dale, Schneider, Robert, Bricketto, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Arevalo, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/521,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20150111498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/41.1, 455/550.1, 455/414.1, 455/41.2, 455/556.1, 455/517, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method of reducing data transfer while increasing image information over an 802.15.4 network includes obtaining an image with a sensor, modulating a representation of the image using a first 802.15.4 modem, sending the representation of the image to a coordinator, demodulating the representation of the image using a second 802.15.4 modem, and digitally enhancing at least one of the representation of the image and the image. A system for communication over an 802.15.4 network includes a sensor for obtaining data, the size of the data being at least an order of magnitude greater than the size of an 802.15.4 packet, a first 802.15.4 modem coupled to the sensor, a buffer for temporarily storing the data to allow transmission of portions of the data; the buffer being coupled to the sensor, a coordinator coupled to the sensor, the coordinator being capable of communicating with a computer, and a second 802.15.4 modem coupled to the coordinator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining an image with a camera, the image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet;

buffering a representation of the image;

transmitting 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network;

obtaining a second image with the camera, the second image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet;

buffering a representation of the second image;

transmitting 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the second image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network;

comparing at least a portion of the data associated with the first image and at least a portion of the data associated with the second image; and

based at least in part on the comparison, learning a pattern of events.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of executable instructions to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second image with the camera comprises obtaining the second image with the camera in response to a triggering event.

4. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of executable instructions to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 3.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is part of an end node, further comprising:

waking up the end node to check if a request for the image exists before obtaining the image with the camera; and

sleeping at the end node after transmitting the 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein waking up the end node comprises waking up the end node after a predetermined period.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of executable instructions to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 6.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein waking up the end node comprises waking up the end node in response to a triggering event.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of executable instructions to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 8.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the triggering event is a signal from a switch.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the triggering event is a selection one a user device, further comprising:

receiving, at a computer, 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the first image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network; and

transmitting the representation of the first image to the user device over the internet.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of executable instructions to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 5.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a computer, 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network; and

transmitting the representation of the image from the computer over the internet.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the computer is one of a mini PC or a small box.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a third image with the camera, the third image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet;

buffering a representation of the third image;

transmitting 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the third image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network;

comparing at least a portion of the data associated with the third image and the pattern of events; and

based at least in part on the comparison, at least one of;

updating the pattern of events, and

transmitting an alert.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a computer, 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the first image and the representation of the second image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network;

receiving, at the computer, a signal from a sensor indicating whether the sensor has sensed an event; and

based at least in part on the signal and a comparison of the first image with the second image, transmitting an alert.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor is a water switch and wherein the alert comprises the second image and text indicating that the water switch sensed water and a time of the event.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a computer, 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the first image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network;

receiving, at the computer, a first signal from a first sensor indicating whether the first sensor has sensed a first event; and

receiving, at the computer, a first signal from a second sensor indicating whether the second sensor has sensed a second event; and

if the first signal indicates the first sensor has sensed the first event and the second signal indicates that the second signal indicates a second event, transmitting an alert.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subtracting the representation of the second image from the representation of the first image to form a difference image; and

transmitting 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the difference image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second image with the camera comprises obtaining the second image with the camera after a predetermined period, further comprising:

receiving, at a computer, 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the first image and the representation of the second image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network;

receiving, at the computer, a signal from a sensor indicating whether the sensor has sensed an event; and

based at least in part on the signal, obtaining a third image with the camera, the third image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet;

buffering a representation of the third image;

subtracting the representation of the third image from the representation of the second image to form a difference image; and

transmitting 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the difference image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network.

21. A system comprising:

a camera configured to obtain an image, the image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet;

a buffer configured to buffer a representation of the image, the buffer being coupled to the camera;

a modem configured to transmit 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network, the modem being coupled to the buffer;

a coordinator configured to receive the image data from the modem and to communicate with a computer, the coordinator being coupled to the modem,

wherein;

the camera is further configured to obtain a second image with the camera, the second image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet;

the buffer is further configured to buffer a representation of the second image;

the modem is further configured to transmit 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the second image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network; and

the computer is further configured to;

compare at least a portion of the data associated with the first image and at least a portion of the data associated with the second image; and

based at least in part on the comparison, learn a pattern of events.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the camera is further configured to obtain the second image in response to a triggering event.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising an end node that comprises the camera, buffer, and modem, wherein the end node is configured to:

wake up to check if a request for the image exists before obtaining the image with the camera; and

sleep after transmitting the 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the end node is further configured to wake up after a predetermined period.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the end node is further configured to wake up in response to a triggering event.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the triggering event is a signal from a switch.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the triggering event is a selection one a user device, and

wherein the computer is further configured to transmit the representation of the first image to the user device over the internet.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer is one of a mini PC or a small box.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer is further configured to transmit the image data over the internet.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the camera is further configured to obtain a third image with the camera, the third image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet;

the buffer is further configured to buffer a representation of the third image;

the modem is further configured to transmit 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the third image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network; and

the computer is further configured to compare at least a portion of the data associated with the third image and the pattern of events; and

based at least in part on the comparison, at least one of;

update the pattern of events, and

transmit an alert.

31. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a sensor configured to transmit a signal indicating whether the sensor has sensed an event,

wherein the computer is further configured to receive the signal from the sensor and, based at least in part on the signal and a comparison of the first image with the second image, transmit an alert.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the sensor is a water switch and wherein the alert comprises the second image and text indicating that the water switch sensed water and a time of the event.

33. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a first sensor configured to transmit a first signal indicating whether the first sensor has sensed a first event,

a second sensor configured to transmit a second signal indicating whether the second sensor has sensed a second event,

wherein the computer is further configured to transmit an alert only if the first signal indicates the first sensor has sensed the first event and the second signal indicates that the second signal indicates a second event.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the buffer is further configured to subtract the representation of the second image from the representation of the first image to form a different image; and

the modem is further configured to transmit 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the difference image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein the camera is further configured to obtain the second image after a predetermined period, further comprising:

a sensor configured to transmit a signal indicating whether the sensor has sensed an event, wherein;

the camera is further configured to obtain a third image in response to the signal from the sensor, the third image comprising data of a size in bytes at least an order of magnitude greater than the size in bytes of an 802.15.4 packet,

the buffer is further configured to buffer a representation of the third image and subtract the representation of the third image from the representation of the second image to form a different image, and

the modem is further configured to transmit 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the difference image from the camera over the 802.15.4 network.