Communication system for sensor networks
First Claim
1. A method for managing communications in a sensor network, the method comprising:
- receiving charging interval data from an energy-harvesting sensor device for the energy-harvesting sensor device at a coordinator device;
determining a sleeping interval of the energy-harvesting sensor device based on the charging interval data;
transmitting a beacon frame from the coordinator device to the energy-harvesting sensor device, the beacon frame including sensor device data used by the energy-harvesting sensor device, wherein the timing of the transmission of the beacon frame is based on the sleeping interval;
detecting, at the coordinator device, that the energy-harvesting sensor device has not received the beacon frame with the sensor device data;
transmitting upon said detecting, from the coordinator device to the energy-harvesting sensor device, a beacon frame that does not include sensor device data;
receiving, at the coordinator device, in response to the beacon frame without sensor device data, updated charging interval data from the energy-harvesting sensor device indicating that a charging interval has changed; and
transmitting from the coordinator device to the energy-harvesting sensor device a second beacon frame that includes the sensor device data, wherein the timing of the transmission of the second beacon frame is based on the updated charging interval data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, a method for managing communications in a sensor network will be described. A coordinator device receives charging interval data from an energy harvesting sensor device. A sleeping interval for the sensor device is determined. A beacon frame is transmitted from the coordinator device to one more sensor devices in a network. The timing of the transmission is based at least in part on the sleeping interval data. The beacon frame may contain requests, commands or other data designated specifically for the sensor device. Various other aspects of the invention relate to the sensor device, the coordinator device and/or their operations.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for managing communications in a sensor network, the method comprising:
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receiving charging interval data from an energy-harvesting sensor device for the energy-harvesting sensor device at a coordinator device; determining a sleeping interval of the energy-harvesting sensor device based on the charging interval data; transmitting a beacon frame from the coordinator device to the energy-harvesting sensor device, the beacon frame including sensor device data used by the energy-harvesting sensor device, wherein the timing of the transmission of the beacon frame is based on the sleeping interval; detecting, at the coordinator device, that the energy-harvesting sensor device has not received the beacon frame with the sensor device data; transmitting upon said detecting, from the coordinator device to the energy-harvesting sensor device, a beacon frame that does not include sensor device data; receiving, at the coordinator device, in response to the beacon frame without sensor device data, updated charging interval data from the energy-harvesting sensor device indicating that a charging interval has changed; and transmitting from the coordinator device to the energy-harvesting sensor device a second beacon frame that includes the sensor device data, wherein the timing of the transmission of the second beacon frame is based on the updated charging interval data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A sensor device, comprising:
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an energy harvesting module that is arranged to collect energy from the ambient environment; a power source that is charged using the energy harvesting module; a network interface unit that is arranged to connect the sensor device through a network with a coordinator device; at least one processor; at least one memory that stores computer readable instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor cause the sensor device to; determine charging interval data at the sensor device; transmit the charging interval data to the coordinator device using the network interface unit; receive a beacon frame from the coordinator device wherein the beacon frame includes data to be used by the sensor device and is received at a time based on the transmitted charging interval data; perform one or more operations based on the sensor device data in the beacon frame; determine, at the sensor device, that a charging interval for the sensor device has changed; receive, from the coordinator device, a beacon frame that does not include sensor device data; based on the changed charging interval and in response to the beacon frame without sensor data, transmit updated charging interval data to the coordinator device; and receive a second beacon frame that includes data to be used by the sensor device and that is received at a time based on the transmitted updated charging interval data. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A coordinator device, further comprising:
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at least one processor; a network interface unit that is arranged to connect the coordinator device through a network with an energy-harvesting sensor device; and at least one memory that stores computer readable instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor cause the coordinator device to; receive charging interval data from the energy-harvesting sensor device; determine a sleeping interval of the energy-harvesting sensor device based on the charging interval data; transmit a beacon frame to the energy-harvesting sensor device, the beacon frame including sensor device data used by the energy-harvesting sensor device; detect that the energy-harvesting sensor device has not received the beacon frame with the sensor device data; transmit to the energy-harvesting sensor device upon said detect, a beacon frame that does not include sensor device data; receive, in response to the beacon frame without sensor device data, updated charging interval data from the energy-harvesting sensor device indicating that a charging interval has changed; and transmit to the energy-harvesting sensor device a second beacon frame that includes the sensor device data, wherein the timing of the transmission of the second beacon frame is based on the updated charging interval data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification