Method and system for a dual modulation low data rate network

• US 9,628,126 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2016
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sure-Fi Inc.
• Original Assignee: Craig Boswell, David R. Hall, Jedediah Knight, Mark Hall
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Hall, Mark, Boswell, Craig, Knight, Jedediah
• Primary Examiner(s): Vlahos, Sophia
• Application Number:
  US15/145,235
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines

Abstract

A dual modulation network is disclosed. The dual modulation network includes a primary network hub (PNH) having a PNH Long range transceiver and a PNH microcontroller. The PNH microcontroller has communication firmware for long range spread spectrum (SS) and narrowband frequency shift keying (FSK) signal communication via the PNH Long range transceiver, and includes a PNH clock signal. The dual modulation network also includes a peripheral device (PD). The PD includes an actuation mechanism, a PD Long range transceiver, and a PD microcontroller. The PD microcontroller has actuation firmware, communication firmware for communication via the PD Long range transceiver, and location firmware, and includes a clock signal. The location firmware instructs the PD long range transceiver to transmit a location signal encoded with a PD transmit time stamp notifying a receiving device of the time the PD transmitted the location signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a primary network hub (PNH) comprising;

a PNH Long range transceiver; and

a PNH microcontroller comprising;

PNH long range transceiver firmware, wherein the PNH long range transceiver firmware comprises long range spread spectrum (SS) and narrowband frequency shift keying (FSK) signal communication instructions;

a PNH clock signal; and

a peripheral device (PD) comprising;

an actuation mechanism;

a PD Long range transceiver; and

a PD microcontroller comprising;

actuation firmware;

PD long range transceiver communication firmware;

a PD clock signal synchronized with the PNH clock signal; and

location firmware, wherein the location firmware instructs the PD long range transceiver to transmit a location signal encoded with a PD transmit time stamp notifying a receiving device of the time the PD transmitted the location signal,

wherein the PD is an entry gate to a perimeter fence, and wherein the actuation mechanism comprises an access pad and a gate actuator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the PD communication firmware comprises instructions for long range SS signal communication, narrowband FSK signal communication, or both.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a secondary network hub (SNH) located remotely from the PNH within a PNH-SNH transmit-receive range, comprising:

a SNH long range transceiver; and

a SNH microcontroller comprising communication firmware for long range SS and FSK signal communication via the secondary network hub long range transceiver,

wherein the PNH stores network-wide system operation instructions and the SNH stores local system operation instructions.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the SNH microcontroller further comprises a SNH clock signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the SNH clock signal is synchronized with the PNH clock signal, and wherein the SNH microcontroller further comprises location firmware, wherein the location firmware instructs the SNH long range transceiver to transmit a location signal encoded with a SNH transmit time stamp notifying a receiving device of the time the SNH transmitted the location signal.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the PD clock signal is also synchronized with the SNH clock signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the access pad it located remotely from the gate actuator, and wherein the access pad comprises the PD long range transceiver and the PD microcontroller, wherein the actuation firmware comprises instructions for transmitting a gate latch actuation signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the gate latch comprises a receiver, a transceiver, or both that receives the gate latch actuation signal, wherein the gate latch actuates in accordance with the gate latch actuation signal.

9. A method comprising:

receiving and storing a system operation instruction at a primary network hub (PNH) having a Long range transceiver;

associating the system operation instruction with a peripheral device (PD) having a long range transceiver and an actuation mechanism, and located remotely from the PNH, wherein the PD is an access gate for controlling access through a perimeter fence;

receiving and storing, at the PNH, PD location information associated with the PD;

determining a range between the PNH and the PD;

choosing a long range spread spectrum (SS) signal or a narrowband frequency shift keying (FSK) signal based on the range; and

transmitting the long range SS signal or the narrowband FSK signal from the PNH communicating actuation instructions for the PD based on the system operation instruction.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the long range SS signal is a long range spread spectrum frequency hopping signal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a response signal in response to the actuation instructions.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a log signal communicating a PD status.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuation instructions comprise access control instructions for the perimeter fence.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, at the access gate, a request for access through the perimeter fence and granting or denying access based on the access control instructions.

15. A method comprising:

receiving and storing a system operation instruction at a PNH having a long range transceiver;

associating the system operation instruction with a SNH having a long range transceiver and located remotely from the PNH;

receiving and storing, at the primary network hub, location information for the SNH;

determining a range between the PNH and the SNH;

choosing a first long range spread spectrum (SS) signal or a first narrowband frequency shift keying (FSK) signal based on the range between the PNH and the SNH;

transmitting the first long range SS signal or the first narrowband FSK signal from the PNH communicating a SNH instruction based on the system operation instruction;

receiving, at the SNH long range transceiver, the SNH instruction;

associating the SNH instruction with a peripheral device (PD) having a long range transceiver and an actuation mechanism, and located remotely from the SNH and the PNH, wherein the PD is an access gate for controlling access through a perimeter fence;

receiving and storing, at the SNH, location information for the PD;

determining a range between the SNH and the PD;

choosing a second long range spread spectrum (SS) signal or a second narrowband frequency shift keying (FSK) signal based on the range between the SNH and the PD; and

transmitting the second long range SS signal or the second narrowband FSK signal from the SNH communicating a PD instruction based on the SNH instruction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the PD instruction comprises access control instructions for the perimeter fence.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving, at the access gate, a request for access through the perimeter fence and granting or denying access based on the access control instructions.