System, method and wireless node determining if in range or out of range of wireless communication with a server

• US 20060199541A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: McManus, Michael L., Luebke, Charles J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A wireless system includes a headless base station having a first wireless communication port, a fob having a user input device, a display and a second wireless communication port structured to communicate with the first wireless communication port of the base station, and various wireless nodes different than the fob. The wireless nodes include a sensor node, a device node and a range extender node. The wireless nodes have a third wireless communication port structured to send information to or receive information from the first wireless communication port of the base station. The fob is structured to respond to the user input device and determine if the fob is in range or out of range of wireless communication with the base station.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a server comprising a first wireless communication port;

a fob comprising a user input device, a display and a second wireless communication port structured to communicate with the first wireless communication port of said server; and

at least one node different than said fob, said at least one node being at least one of a sensor node, a device node and a range extender node, said at least one node comprising a third wireless communication port structured to send information to or receive information from the first wireless communication port of said server,

wherein said fob is structured to respond to said user input device and determine if said fob is in range or out of range of wireless communication with said server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said fob is further structured to display a status corresponding to said in range or out of range determination on said display.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said fob is further structured to directly wirelessly communicate with said server through said first and second wireless communication ports or to indirectly wirelessly communicate with said server through at least one of said at least one node different than said fob.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said fob is further structured to display a status corresponding to said in range or out of range determination on said display.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said fob is further structured to display a first status corresponding to said in range determination when said fob directly wirelessly communicates with said server, display a second status corresponding to said in range determination when said fob indirectly wirelessly communicates with said server, and display a third status corresponding to said out of range determination.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one node different than said fob is one of said sensor node structured to input information to said server, said device node structured to output information from said server, and said range extender node structured to wireless repeat a wireless message between (a) one of said fob, said at least one node and said server, and (b) a different one of said fob, said at least one node and said server.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said fob is further structured to respond to said user input device and re-determine if said fob is in range or out of range of wireless communication with said server.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said fob is further structured to send a first wireless message to said server and to responsively receive a second wireless message from said server within a predetermined time in order to provide said in range determination.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said fob is further structured to send a first wireless message to said server through one of said at least one node and to responsively receive a second wireless message from said server through one of said at least one node within a predetermined time in order to provide said in range determination.

10. A wireless node structured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless server or at least one node different than said wireless node, said wireless node comprising:

a user input device;

a display;

a processor; and

a wireless communication port structured to communicate with said wireless server or said at least one node,

wherein said processor is structured to respond to said user input device and determine if said wireless node is in range or out of range of wireless communication with said wireless server.

11. The wireless node of claim 10 wherein said wireless node is a fob.

12. The wireless node of claim 10 wherein said processor is further structured to display a status corresponding to said in range or out of range determination on said display.

13. The wireless node of claim 10 wherein said processor is further structured to directly wirelessly communicate with said server or to indirectly wirelessly communicate with said server through at least one of said at least one node different than said wireless node.

14. The wireless node of claim 13 wherein said processor is further structured to display a status corresponding to said in range or out of range determination on said display.

15. The wireless node of claim 14 wherein said processor is further structured to display a first status corresponding to said in range determination when said processor directly wirelessly communicates with said server, display a second status corresponding to said in range determination when said processor indirectly wirelessly communicates with said server, and display a third status corresponding to said out of range determination when said wireless communication port is out of range of wireless communication with said wireless server.

16. A method of determining if a wireless node is in range or out of range of wireless communication with a server, said method comprising:

receiving input from a user input device;

sending a first wireless message to said server responsive to said received input; and

attempting to receive a second wireless message from said server within a predetermined time after said sending a first wireless message to said server and responsively determining if said wireless node is in range or out of range of wireless communication with said server.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising displaying a status corresponding to said in range or out of range determination.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving said second wireless message from said server within a predetermined time, and responsively providing said in range determination.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising repositioning said wireless node, responding to said user input device, and re-determining if said wireless node is in range or out of range of wireless communication with said server.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising displaying a first status corresponding to said in range determination when said wireless node directly wirelessly communicates with said server, displaying a second status corresponding to said in range determination when said wireless node indirectly wirelessly communicates with said server, and displaying a third status corresponding to said out of range determination when said wireless node is out of range of wireless communication with said server.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising failing to receive said second wireless message, broadcasting a third wireless message, receiving a fourth wireless message responsive to said third wireless message, sending a fifth wireless message to said server through another wireless node responsive to said fourth wireless message, and attempting to receive a sixth wireless message from said server within a predetermined time after said sending said fifth wireless message to said server and responsively determining if said wireless node is in range or out of range of wireless communication with said server.