REMOTE SENSOR INTERFACE (RSI) STEPPED WAKE-UP SEQUENCE

• US 20060276161A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: TWITCHELL, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0293 having a sub-controller with a low clock frequency switching on and off a main controller with a high clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A transceiver includes a two-way communication component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the two-way communication component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide the electronic signal to the two-way communication component in order to power up the two-way wireless communication component. The second receiver is configured to screen the radio frequency broadcast for first criteria, and screen the radio frequency broadcast for second criteria. The electric current may be an order of magnitude larger when screening for the first criteria than the second criteria. Screening also may be performed for third criteria, namely, specific data. The second receiver is adapted to draw substantially less current while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast than the two-way wireless communication component.

Claims

1. A wireless transceiver, comprising:

(a) a two-way wireless communication component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the two-way wireless communication component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and

(b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide the electronic signal to the two-way wireless communication component in order to power up the two-way wireless communication component, the second receiver configured to;

(i) screen the radio frequency broadcast for first criteria, wherein the wireless transceiver draws a first electric current when screening the radio frequency broadcast for the first criteria, and

(ii) screen the radio frequency broadcast for second criteria, wherein the wireless transceiver draws a second electric current when screening the radio frequency broadcast for the second criteria, the second electric current being an order of magnitude larger than the first electric current;

(c) wherein the second receiver is adapted to draw substantially less current while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast than the current that the two-way wireless communication component would draw while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

2. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the electronic signal is provided only if the first criteria and the second criteria are both met.

3. The wireless transceiver of claim 2, wherein the second receiver draws on the order of magnitude of tens of microamps of electric current when screening the radio frequency broadcast for the second criteria, and wherein the second receiver draws on the order of magnitude of hundreds of microamps of electric current when screening the radio frequency broadcast for the second criteria.

4. The wireless transceiver of claim 3, wherein the second receiver further is configured to screen the radio frequency broadcast for third criteria, wherein the wireless transceiver draws on the order of magnitude of a milliamp of electric current when screening the radio frequency broadcast for the third criteria, the screening for the third criteria being performed only if the first criteria and the second criteria are met.

5. The wireless transceiver of claim 4, wherein the electronic signal is provided only if the third criteria is met.

6. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the first criteria is a particular frequency and wherein the second criteria is a particular modulation type.

7. The wireless transceiver of claim 6, wherein the third criteria is specific data to be identified in the radio frequency broadcast.

8. An asset-tracking system comprising the wireless transceiver of claim 1 and one or more sensor devices that are disposed externally to and in proximity thereof, wherein the asset-tracking system may be used to read the one or more sensor devices and wherein the asset-tracking system utilizes class-based, ad hoc hierarchical networks.

21. The wireless transceiver of claim 7, wherein the specific data to be identified in the radio frequency broadcast is to be found in a preamble.

22. The wireless transceiver of claim 7, wherein the specific data to be identified in the radio frequency broadcast is to be found in a payload.

9. A wireless transceiver, comprising:

(a) a two-way wireless communication device capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the two-way wireless communication device including a transmitter and a first receiver; and

(b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide the electronic signal to the two-way wireless communication device in order to power up the two-way wireless communication device, the second receiver being configured to;

(i) screen the radio frequency broadcast for first criteria,

(ii) screen the radio frequency broadcast for second criteria if the first criteria is met, and

(iii) screen the radio frequency broadcast for third criteria if the second criteria is met;

(c) wherein the second receiver is adapted to draw substantially less current while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast than the current that the two-way wireless communication device would draw while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

10. The wireless transceiver of claim 9, wherein the electronic signal is provided only if the first criteria, the second criteria, and the third criteria are met.

11. The wireless transceiver of claim 9, wherein the first criteria is a particular frequency, and wherein the second criteria is a particular modulation type.

12. The wireless transceiver of claim 11, wherein the third criteria is specific data identified in the radio frequency broadcast.

13. An asset-tracking system comprising the wireless transceiver of claim 9 and one or more sensor devices that are disposed externally to and in proximity thereof, wherein the asset-tracking system may be used to read the one or more sensor devices and wherein the asset-tracking system utilizes class-based, ad hoc hierarchical networks.

14. A method of operating a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver including a two-way wireless communication device, having a transmitter and a first receiver, and a second receiver, the method comprising:

(a) powering down the two-way wireless communication device to conserve energy;

(b) at the second receiver;

(i) while the wireless transceiver draws on the order of magnitude of tens of microamps of electric current, screening a radio frequency broadcast for first criteria,

(ii) if the first criteria is met, then while the wireless transceiver draws on the order of magnitude of hundreds of microamps of electric current, screening a radio frequency broadcast for second criteria, and

(iii) if the second criteria is met, providing an electronic signal to the two-way wireless communication device; and

(c) in response to receiving the electronic signal at the two-way wireless communication device, powering up the two-way wireless communication device;

(d) wherein the second receiver is adapted to draw substantially less current than the two-way wireless communication device while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first criteria is a particular frequency, and wherein the second criteria is a particular modulation type.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the third criteria is specific data identified in the radio frequency broadcast.

17. A method of operating a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver including a two-way wireless communication device, having a transmitter and a first receiver, and a second receiver, the method comprising:

(a) powering down the two-way wireless communication device to conserve energy;

(b) at the second receiver;

(i) screening a radio frequency broadcast for first criteria,

(ii) if the first criteria is met, then screening the radio frequency broadcast for second criteria,

(iii) if the second criteria is met, then screening the radio frequency broadcast for third criteria, and

(iv) if the third criteria is met, then providing an electronic signal to the two-way wireless communication device; and

(c) in response to receiving the electronic signal at the two-way wireless communication device, powering up the two-way wireless communication device;

(d) wherein the second receiver is adapted to draw substantially less current than the two-way wireless communication device while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first criteria is a particular frequency, and wherein the second criteria is a particular modulation type.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the third criteria is specific data identified in the radio frequency broadcast.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the specific data identified in the radio frequency broadcast represents a common designation of an ad hoc network.