MEASURING CONDITIONS WITHIN A WIRELESS SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20080303654A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• 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. A method of controlling a wireless sensor system, comprising:

sending a command from a base unit to program a threshold value to be used by one or more wireless sensor units, said one or more wireless sensor units configured to collect quantitative measured data;

receiving said command to program a threshold value by said base unit by said one or more wireless sensor units;

sending commands addressed to a plurality of wireless sensor units instructing each wireless sensor unit to transmit said quantitative measured data and other status information to said base unit, the decision to send said command based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured data to said threshold value;

receiving in said base unit said quantitative measured data and other status information;

determining anomalous conditions by said base unit, based at least in part, on evaluating said quantitative measured data said plurality of wireless sensor units wherein measured data from a first wireless sensor unit is compared with data from a second wireless sensor unit; and

reporting anomalous conditions by said base unit.

2. A method of quantitatively measuring conditions in a wireless sensor system, comprising:

programming a threshold value into each of one or more wireless sensor units by a base unit, said one or more wireless sensor units configured to measure an ambient condition and collect quantitative measured sensor data, and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value by said one or more wireless sensor units;

establishing a baseline value based on said quantitative measured sensor data from a plurality of said one or more wireless sensor units and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value;

transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit, the decision to transmit said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit based at least in part on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value, or in comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value; and

transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data and other status information to said base unit by said one or more wireless sensor units when instructed to do so by said base unit.

3. A method of quantitatively measuring and reporting conditions in a wireless sensor system in reference to an established baseline, comprising:

establishing a baseline value based on quantitative measured sensor data from a plurality of one or more wireless sensor units;

comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to a percentage of said baseline value;

reporting said quantitative measured sensor data, the decision to report said quantitative measured sensor data based at least in part on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said percentage of said baseline value; and

reporting said quantitative measured sensor data, the decision to report said quantitative measured sensor data, based at least in part, on a comparison to said percentage of said baseline value over a specified period of time.

4. A method of multi-sensor, localized monitoring within a wireless sensor system, comprising:

instructing a first of one or more wireless sensor units to operate in a relatively continuous mode when said first wireless sensor unit has detected an ambient condition, said first wireless sensor unit repeatedly taking quantitative measured sensor data and transmitting said quantitative measured data and other status information; and

instructing a second of one or more wireless sensor units located nearby said first wireless sensor unit to operate in a relatively continuous mode, said second wireless sensor unit repeatedly taking said quantitative measured sensor data and transmitting said quantitative measured data and other status information.

5. A method of controlling a wireless sensor unit, comprising:

sending a command to program a threshold value used by a wireless sensor unit, said wireless sensor unit configured to collect said quantitative measured data;

sending a command to said wireless sensor unit to normally operate in a relatively low-power mode;

sending a command to said wireless sensor unit to transmit said quantitative measured data and other status information, the decision to send said command based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured data to said threshold value; and

sending a command to said wireless sensor unit to operate in a relatively continuous mode, the decision to send said command based at least in part on a comparison of said quantitative measured data to said threshold value.

6. A method of managing the power of a wireless sensor unit, comprising:

operating said wireless sensor unit in a relatively low-power mode when instructed to do so, said wireless sensor unit taking sensor readings and transmitting quantitative measured data and other status information at periodic intervals, said wireless sensor unit entering a relatively low-power state when not taking said sensor readings or transmitting said quantitative measured data and other status information; and

operating said wireless sensor unit in a relatively continuous mode when instructed to do so by said base unit, said wireless sensor unit regularly collecting said quantitative measured sensor data.

7. A method of quantitatively measuring conditions by a wireless sensor unit, comprising:

computing a threshold value for a plurality of sensor units;

programming a threshold value in said wireless sensor unit, said wireless sensor unit configured to measure an ambient condition and collect quantitative measured sensor data;

comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value by said wireless sensor unit;

transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data, the decision to transmit said quantitative measured sensor data based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value; and

transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit by said wireless sensor unit when instructed to do so.