Systems, methods, and devices for managing coexistence of multiple transceiver devices using control signals

• US 9,679,454 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Mishra, Shridhar Mubaraq, Sivasithambaresan, Arjuna
• Primary Examiner(s): Jain, Ankur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Zhitong
• Application Number:
  US14/819,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19613 Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19671 Addition of non-video data, i.e. metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• 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 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• 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: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A camera device communicates using a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a first communication protocols, signals for configuring the camera device. Furthermore, the camera device communicates with one or more smart home devices using a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a second communication protocols, signals comprising one or more of alerts, control signals and status information to and from the one or more smart home devices. Furthermore, the camera device communicates using a third transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a third communication protocols, data corresponding to video captured by the camera device.

Claims

1. A method for communicating via a plurality of transceivers, comprising:

at a camera device comprising a plurality of distinct transceivers configured for communication over respective communication protocols, one or more processors, and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors, wherein the plurality of distinct transceivers share transmission access for at least some communications;

communicating using a first transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, the first transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a first one of the communication protocols, signals for configuring the camera device;

communicating with one or more smart home devices using, a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, the second transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a second one of the communication protocols, signals comprising one or more of alerts, control signals and status information to and from the one or more smart home devices, wherein at least some of the alerts, control signals and status information from the one or more smart home devices are high priority signals whose transmission is preferentially granted by a third transceiver of the plurality of transceivers; and

communicating using the third transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, wherein the third transceiver is configured to transmit, over a third one of the communication protocols, data corresponding to video captured by the camera device, and the third transceiver is configured to grant and deny transmission access to the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

wherein communicating using the first transceiver and communicating using the second transceiver are performed in accordance with transmission access being granted or denied by the third transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

data transmitted using the third transceiver comprises a video format configured for high-bandwidth transmissions; and

communicating using the first transceiver and/or communicating using the second transceiver includes transmitting data comprising a video format configured for low-bandwidth transmissions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating using the second transceiver comprises:

concurrently with the transmission of data using the third transceiver, receiving intermittent signals from the one or more smart home devices and/or retransmitting received signals from the one or more smart home devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating using the third transceiver comprises receiving, and transmitting data at a data rate that is higher than a data rate at which the camera device communicates using the first transceiver and/or a data rate at which the camera device communicates using the second transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first communication protocol is based on the Bluetooth Low Energy standard;

the second communication protocol is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard; and

the third communication protocol is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.

6. The method of claim 1, .further comprising:

detecting an activated priority control signal;

while detecting the activated priority control signal;

detecting activation of a radio request control signal by the second transceiver; and

in response to detecting activation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver, granting transmission access to the second transceiver and denying transmission access to the third transceiver.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

while continuing to detect the activated radio request control signal and the activated priority control signal, continuing to grant transmission access to the second transceiver and continuing to deny transmission access to the third transceiver.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising, while detecting the activated priority control signal:

detecting a transmission request by the third transceiver; and

in response to detecting the transmission request by the third transceiver, and while detecting the activated radio request control signal by the second transceiver, continuing to grant transmission access to the second transceiver while continuing to deny transmission access to the third transceiver.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising, while detecting the activated priority control signal:

detecting deactivation of the radio request control by the second transceiver; and

in response to detecting deactivation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver, revoking transmission access to the second transceiver and granting transmission access to the third transceiver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

granting transmission access to the second transceiver and denying transmission access to the third transceiver comprises activating a grant control signal; and

revoking transmission access to the second transceiver and granting transmission access to the third transceiver comprises deactivating the grant control signal.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the activated priority control signal corresponds to an alarming mode of the second transceiver.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a deactivated priority control signal;

while detecting the deactivated priority control signal;

detecting activation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver;

in response to detecting activation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver, granting transmission access to the second transceiver and denying transmission access to the third transceiver;

while transmission access is granted to the second transceiver, detecting a transmission request by the third transceiver and

in response to detecting the transmission request by the third transceiver, revoking transmission access to the second transceiver and granting transmission access to the third transceiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmission request by the third transceiver is detected while detecting the activated radio request control signal.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

while transmission access is granted to the third transceiver, detecting that a high priority transmission by the third transceiver is in progress; and

upon completion of the high priority transmission, granting transmission access to the second transceiver and revoking transmission access to the third transceiver.

15. A camera device, comprising:

a first and second antenna;

a first, second, and third transceiver, the first, second, and third transceivers sharing transmission access for at least some communications, wherein;

the first transceiver is configured to transmit and receive, over a first one of a plurality of distinct communication protocols, signals for configuring the camera device;

the second transceiver is configured to transmit and receive, over a second one of the plurality of distinct communication protocols, signals comprising one or more of alerts, control signals and status information to and from the one or more smart home devices, wherein at least some of the alerts, control signals and status information from the one or more smart home devices are high priority signals whose transmission is preferentially granted by the third transceiver; and

the third transceiver is configured to transmit, over a third one of the plurality of distinct communication protocols, data corresponding to video captured by the camera device, and is configured to grant and deny transmission access to the first transceiver and the second transceiver,

wherein the second transceiver is coupled to the first antenna, and the first and third transceivers are coupled to the second antenna, and

communications using the first transceiver and the second transceiver are performed in accordance with transmission access being granted or denied by the third transceiver.

16. The camera device of claim 15, wherein the second transceiver and the third transceiver are coupled by a plurality of control lines for selectively granting or denying transmission access to the first, second, and third transceivers.

17. The camera device of claim 16, wherein the first transceiver and the third transceiver comprise a single combined transceiver, and the second transceiver is coupled to the single combined transceiver by the plurality of control lines.

18. The camera device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of control lines comprises:

a first control line for a priority control signal;

a second control line for a radio request control signal; and

a third control line for granting or denying transmission access to the second transceiver or the third transceiver,

wherein transmission access is granted or denied to the second transceiver the third transceiver using the third control line in accordance with detection of;

an activated or deactivated priority control signal;

an activated or deactivated radio request control signal; and

/or

a transmission request by the third transceiver.

19. The camera device of claim 18, wherein transmission access is granted to the second transceiver and denied to the third transceiver if:

an activated priority control signal is detected on the first control line and an activated radio request control signal is detected on the second control line;

or

a deactivated priority control signal is detected on the first control line and the activated radio request control signal is detected on the second control line, but the transmission request by the third transceiver is not detected.

20. The camera device of claim 18, wherein transmission access is denied to the second transceiver and granted to the third transceiver if:

an activated priority control signal is detected on the first control line, is transmission request by the third transceiver is detected, and a deactivated radio request control signal is detected on the second control line;

or

a deactivated priority control signal is detected of the first control line and the transmission request by the third transceiver is detected.