System and method for communicating over an 802.15.4 network

• US 9,806,796 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• 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:
  US15/256,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20170054494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 4554566, 455 411, 4555501, 4554141, 455 412, 4555561, 455517, 4554042
• 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 a picture with a camera, the picture 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 picture;

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

before obtaining the picture with the camera, receiving, at a computer, a signal from an accelerometer placed on a garage door to indicate whether the accelerometer has sensed an event;

sending, by the computer, a request for the picture to the camera; and

upon transmission of the 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the picture from the camera, receiving, at the computer, the 802.15.4 packet-sized portions of the representation of the picture from the camera over the 802.15.4 network.

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, further comprising:

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

transmitting the representation of the picture to a user device over the internet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user device comprises a hand held device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hand held device comprises a cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA).

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting an alert based at least in part on the signal from the accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the alert comprises the picture.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the alert is transmitted to a user device over the internet.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the computer is one of a mini PC or a small box.

10. A system comprising:

a camera configured to obtain a picture, the picture 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 picture, the buffer being coupled to the camera;

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

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

an accelerometer configured to transmit a signal indicating whether the accelerometer has sensed an event at a garage door;

wherein the computer is further configured to receive the signal from the accelerometer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to transmit an alert based at least in part on the signal from the accelerometer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the alert comprises the picture.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the alert is transmitted to a user device over the internet.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer is one of a mini PC or a small box.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to transmit the representation of the picture to a user device over the internet.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user device comprises a hand held device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the hand held device comprises a cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA).