Wireless transceiver

• US 10,565,858 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US15/821,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20180098283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 340540, 340628
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/04 by breaking of glass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• 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 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• 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: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and/or control external devices.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured as a base unit for monitoring and reporting environmental conditions, the electronic device comprising:

one or more transceivers to communicate using wireless communication; and

a controller operatively coupled to the one or more transceivers and configured to;

receive, from a sensor unit, at least measured signal strength of wireless signals received by the sensor unit;

select routing paths for routing packets based on an evaluation of the received signal strength measurements;

based on the selection of the routing paths, send instructions to a wireless repeater unit to add an identifier of the sensor unit to a database included in the wireless repeater unit to configure the wireless repeater unit to route communication traffic for the sensor unit through the wireless repeater unit;

receive an encrypted packet that includes an indication of the existence of an emergency condition, the encrypted packet being generated by, and communicated using the wireless communication and over a selected routing path from, the sensor unit in response to the sensor unit detecting that an environmental condition is above a threshold value, the encrypted packet including an address portion that comprises a first code, a second code, and a checksum;

in response to the reception of the encrypted packet from the sensor unit, generate a notification of the emergency condition; and

cause, via the wireless communication, the notification of the emergency condition, to be communicated via the Internet, to a user device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is smoke, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for an amount of smoke.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is carbon monoxide, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for an amount of carbon monoxide.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is water, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for an amount of water.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is temperature, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for a temperature.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is a security sensor.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is operable to wirelessly communicate with the sensor unit at a frequency of substantially 900 MHz.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the encrypted packet is relayed from the sensor unit to the electronic device via a wireless repeater.

9. A system for monitoring and reporting environmental conditions within a building, the system comprising:

a sensor unit configured to;

measure signal strength of wireless signals received by the sensor unit from a base unit and from one or more wireless repeater units;

transmit the signal strength measurements of the base unit;

sense an environmental condition; and

the base unit configured to;

receive, from the sensor unit, at least measured signal strength of wireless signals received by the sensor unit;

select routing paths for routing packets based on an evaluation of the received signal strength measurements;

based on the selection of the routing paths, send instructions to a wireless repeater unit to add an identifier of the sensor unit to a database included in the wireless repeater unit to configure the wireless repeater unit to route communication traffic for the sensor unit through the wireless repeater unit;

receive, via wireless communication and over a selected routing path, an encrypted packet that includes an indication of the existence of an emergency condition, the encrypted packet being generated by, and communicated using the wireless communication from, the sensor unit in response to the sensor unit detecting that an environmental condition is above a threshold value, the encrypted packet including an address portion that comprises a first code, a second code, and a checksum;

in response to the reception of the encrypted packet from the sensor unit, generate a notification of the emergency condition; and

cause, via the wireless communication, the notification of the emergency condition, to be communicated via the Internet, to a user device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the environmental condition is smoke, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for an amount of smoke.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the environmental condition is carbon monoxide, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for an amount of carbon monoxide.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the environmental condition is temperature, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for a temperature.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor unit is a security sensor.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the base unit is operable to wirelessly communicate with the sensor unit at a frequency of substantially 900 MHz.

15. The system of claim 9, the system comprising a wireless repeater, wherein the encrypted packet is relayed from the sensor unit to the base unit via the wireless repeater.

16. A method for monitoring and reporting environmental conditions within a building, comprising:

receiving, at a base unit, at least measured signal strength of wireless signals received by a sensor unit;

selecting routing paths for routing packets based on an evaluation of the received signal strength measurements;

based on the selecting the routing paths, sending instructions to a wireless repeater unit to add an identifier of the sensor unit to a database included in the wireless repeater unit to configure the wireless repeater unit to route communication traffic for the sensor unit through the wireless repeater unit;

receiving, at the base unit, an encrypted packet that includes an indication of the existence of an emergency condition, the encrypted packet being generated by, and communicated using wireless communication and over a selected routing path from, the sensor unit in response to the sensor unit detecting that an environmental condition is above a threshold value, the encrypted packet including an address portion that comprises a first code, a second code, and a checksum;

in response to the receiving the encrypted packet from the sensor unit, generating a notification of the emergency condition; and

causing, via the wireless communication, the notification of the emergency condition, to be communicated via the Internet, to a user device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the environmental condition is smoke, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for an amount of smoke.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the environmental condition is carbon monoxide, and wherein the threshold value is a threshold value for an amount of carbon monoxide.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor unit is a security sensor.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the encrypted packet is relayed from the sensor unit to the base unit via a wireless repeater.