WIRELESS NETWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSOR UNITS

• US 20130311140A1
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schechter Tech LLC (Digi International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schechter, Harry J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,627,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/085 involving different upper layer protocol versions, e.g. LCS - SUPL or WSN-SOA-WSDP

Abstract

Environmental monitoring systems that include base stations and environmental sensor units (ESUs) that communicate in a wireless sensor network. A base station may include environmental sensors and may communicate with a remote server using a wide-area wireless network. The base station may also communicate with an environmental sensor unit using a wireless personal area network. The ESU may include environmental sensors and may communicate with the remote server via the base station. The base station and ESU may be adapted to automatically pair with one another to enable the ESU to communicate via the base station. An ESU may also be adapted to process data regarding environmental conditions by automatically determining a type of environmental sensor from which the data was received and processing the data based on the type. An ESU may also include physical ports by which new sensors can be connected to the ESU.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an environmental monitoring system to monitor environmental conditions in an environment, the method comprising:

providing an environmental sensor unit and a base station, the environmental sensor unit and the base station being configured to automatically associate with one another upon application of power to the environmental sensor unit and the base station;

configuring a server to monitor one or more environmental conditions in a location;

receiving at the server communications from the base station that the environmental sensor unit and the base station are operating in the environment; and

monitoring at least one environmental condition based on data collected at the environmental sensor unit and relayed to the server via the base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the providing, configuring the environmental sensor unit to dynamically discover and associate with the base station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one environmental condition comprises:

receiving data collected at the environmental sensor unit;

determining whether the base station that relayed the data to the server marked the data as aged; and

processing the data based at least in part on a result of the determining.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein processing the data based at least in part on a result of the determining comprises, when it is determined that the base station marked the data as aged, weighting the data in a calculation based on the data being marked as aged.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the server that an update is available for executable instructions stored on the environmental sensor unit; and

instructing the environmental sensor unit to apply the update for the executable instructions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

determining that the update is available comprises receiving at the server a first communication from the environmental sensor unit comprising information identifying a version of the executable instructions stored on the environmental sensor unit; and

instructing the environmental sensor unit to apply the update comprises, in response to receiving a second communication from the environmental sensor unit comprising data collected by the environmental sensor unit, responding to the second communication with an instruction to apply the update.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the server, storing data identifying that the environmental sensor unit and the base station are positioned in the environment and monitoring the at least one environmental condition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises providing the environmental sensor unit and base station by a distributor of the environmental monitoring system to an operator of the environment.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of wired communication ports;

wherein the at least one circuit is adapted to;

detect that an environmental sensor has been connected to a wired communication port of the plurality of wired communication ports, and

in response to the detection, automatically determine a sensor type of the environmental sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one circuit is adapted to automatically determine the sensor type at least in part by automatically communicating with the environmental sensor connected to the wired communication port in response to the detection.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one circuit is configured to select another device from at least one other device and, following the selection, transmit the processed data, via the wireless transceiver, to the other device, and

the at least one circuit is configured to select the other device at least in part by broadcasting a signal via the wireless transceiver and evaluating at least one response communication received from the at least one other device using at least one criterion.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one circuit is configured to evaluate the at least one response communication using at least one criterion at least in part by:

evaluating the at least one response to determine which of the at least one response has the highest signal strength; and

selecting, as the other device, the one of the at least one other device that is associated with the response having the highest signal strength.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one circuit is configured to, following the selection of the other device:

transmit the processed data, via the wireless transceiver, to the other device;

determine whether a response to the processed data is received from the other device;

when a response is received and subsequent processed data from the at least one circuit is to be transmitted via the wireless transceiver, transmit the subsequent processed data to the other device; and

when a response is not received, repeat the broadcasting and the evaluating to repeat the selection of the other device to which to transmit the processed data.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit the processed data together with an identifier for the other device.

9. An apparatus to process and transmit information produced by at least one environmental sensor, each of the at least one environmental sensor being configured to produce a value identifying a current environmental condition of an environment in which the apparatus is located, each environmental sensor being of a sensor type of a plurality of sensor types, each sensor type being associated with an environmental condition of a plurality of environmental conditions, the apparatus comprising:

at least one circuit to receive data as input and to output processed data, the at least one circuit being configured to, based on input received from a first environmental sensor comprising a first value identifying a first current environmental condition monitored by the first environmental sensor, select processing to perform on the first value based on a first sensor type of the first environmental sensor and perform the selected processing on the first value to produce a first processed value as the processed data to be output; and

a wireless transceiver to transmit the processed data from the apparatus according to a first wireless communication protocol, the processed data being formatted in accordance with a data communication protocol.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the first wireless communication protocol, according to which the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit the processed data, is a personal area network protocol, and

the data communication protocol, in accordance with which the apparatus is configured to format the processed data for transmission, is a stateless protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the first environmental sensor of the first type; and

a second environmental sensor of a second sensor type, the second environmental sensor being adapted to produce a second value identifying a second current environmental condition of the environment,

wherein the at least one circuit is adapted to perform at least two types of processing on data received by the at least one circuit, and

wherein the at least one circuit is adapted to, in response to receiving as input the second value identifying the second current environmental condition, select processing to perform on the second value based on the second sensor type of the second environmental sensor and perform the selected processing on the second value to produce a second processed value as the processed data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of wired communication ports; and

at least one circuit board to which are connected the first environmental sensor, the at least one circuit, the wireless transceiver, and the plurality of wired communication ports,

wherein the second environmental sensor is connected to one of the plurality of wired communication ports.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a first housing in which are disposed;

the first environmental sensor,

the at least one circuit,

the wireless transceiver, and

a plurality of wired communication ports; and

a second housing in which is disposed the second environmental sensor, the second housing being separate from the first housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one circuit provides to the wireless transceiver the processed data for transmission together with an indication of the first sensor type.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one circuit provides to the wireless transceiver the processed data for transmission together with an identifier for the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit the processed data together with data regarding a status of the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit the processed data together with data regarding one or more of a version number of executable instructions stored on the apparatus, a version number of the first wireless communication protocol that the wireless transmitter is configured to use, or a power status of the apparatus.

24. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one circuit is configured to select a relay device to which to transmit the processed data, the relay device comprising at least one second transceiver to communicate according to the first wireless communication protocol and a second communication protocol, the relay device being configured to relay communications between the apparatus and a server.

25. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one circuit is arranged to execute executable instructions to carry out one or more operations, and

the at least one circuit is configured to request an updated version of the executable instructions via the first wireless communication protocol when the wireless transceiver receives a communication indicating that a new version of the executable instructions is available, the communication being received in response to transmission of the processed data.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one circuit is further configured to:

following request of the updated version of the executable instructions, enter a sleep mode;

following exit from the sleep mode, subsequently request the updated version of the executable instructions; and

when the updated version of the executable instructions is received in response to the subsequent request, update the executable instructions.

27. A method of providing to an environmental sensor unit, adapted to communicate via a first wireless communication protocol, access to a second network operating according to a second communication protocol, the first environmental sensor unit comprising at least one environmental sensor to monitor at least one environmental condition of an environment in which the first environmental sensor unit is located, the method comprising:

selecting, from at least one other device adapted to communicate according to the first wireless communication protocol and to communicate via the second network, a device with which to associate the environmental sensor unit for transmitting communications to the second network, the selecting comprising;

transmitting, from the environmental sensor unit, a request for responses from devices within communication range of the environmental sensor unit that are adapted to communicate via the first wireless communication protocol and provide access to the second network;

receiving at least one response to the request from at least one responding device;

choosing the device from the at least one responding device based on at least one criterion; and

transmitting to an environmental monitoring server at least one communication from the environmental sensor unit according to the first wireless communication protocol, each of the at least one communication comprising data related to the at least one environmental condition and an identifier for the device.

28. The method of claim 27, following transmitting of a first communication of the at least one communication, entering, with the environmental sensor unit, a sleep mode;

following exit of the environmental sensor unit from the sleep mode, transmitting a second communication of the at least one communication; and

receiving from the device with which the environmental sensor unit is associated a response from the environmental monitoring server transmitted to the device in response to transmission by the device of the first communication.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

when no response is received in response to a transmission of one of the at least one communication from the environmental sensor unit for communication via the second communication protocol and second network, repeating the selecting of the device from the at least one other device.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the environmental sensor unit is not adapted to communicate via the second communication protocol.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the second communication protocol is a wireless communication protocol that has a larger communication range than the first wireless communication protocol.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein transmitting the at least one communication comprises:

following the selecting, until no response is received in response to one of the at least one communication, when data related to the at least one environmental condition is to be transmitted, transmitting the at least one communication comprising data related to the at least one environmental condition and the identifier for the device.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein:

transmitting the at least one communication comprises transmitting each of the at least one communication with an identifier for an intended recipient of the at least one communication, the intended recipient being different from the device; and

the method further comprises receiving a response from the intended recipient via the device.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein choosing the device based on the at least one criterion comprises:

evaluating the at least one response to determine a signal-to-noise ratio for each of the at least one responding device, and

choosing the device based at least in part on the signal-to-noise ratio for each of the at least one responding device.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the second network is a combination of networks, the networks comprising at least a first network and a second network, the first network being a wireless local area network (WLAN) and the second network being a cellular network,

receiving the at least one response from the at least one responding device comprises receiving at least one first response from at least one first responding device and at least one second response from at least one second responding device, the at least one first responding device being adapted to communicate via the WLAN and the at least one second responding device being adapted to communicate via the cellular network, and

wherein choosing the device based on the at least one criterion comprises choosing the device based at least in part on preferentially selecting a device adapted to communicate via the WLAN over a device adapted to communicate via the cellular network.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein:

receiving the at least one response from the at least one responding device comprises receiving at least one first response from at least one first responding device and at least one second response from at least one second responding device, the at least one first responding device being adapted to communicate via the second communication protocol and the at least one second responding device not being adapted to communicate via the second communication protocol, and

wherein choosing the device based on the at least one criterion comprises choosing the device based at least in part on preferentially selecting a device adapted to communicate via the second communication protocol.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein receiving the at least one second response comprises receiving at least one second response identifying that the at least one second responding device is not adapted to communicate via the second communication protocol and is associated with a device that is able to communicate via the second communication protocol.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a response to a transmission to the environmental monitoring server, the response comprising an identification of an update to executable instructions stored on the environmental sensor unit that should be applied to the environmental sensor unit.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

transmitting to the environmental monitoring server a second communication comprising second data regarding the at least one environmental condition, the identifier for the device, and a request for the update to the executable instructions stored on the environmental sensor unit.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

transmitting, to the device with which the environmental sensor unit associated, a first request that the update to the executable instructions be retrieved for the environmental sensor unit;

following the transmitting of the first request, entering a sleep mode;

following exit from the sleep mode, transmitting, to the device with which the environmental sensor unit is associated, a second request that the update to the executable instructions be provided to the environmental sensor unit; and

when the update to the executable instructions is received in response to the second request, updating the executable instructions.

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving data regarding the at least one environmental condition from an environmental sensor connected to the environmental sensor unit; and

performing processing on the data received from the environmental sensor based on a sensor type of the environmental sensor to produce processed data,

wherein transmitting to the environmental monitoring server at least one communication comprising data comprises transmitting a communication comprising the processed data.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

detecting that the environmental sensor is connected to the environmental sensor unit;

in response to the detecting, communicating with the environmental sensor to automatically determine the sensor type of the environmental sensor.

43. A method of communicating in an environmental monitoring system, the environmental monitoring system comprising an environmental sensor unit to produce data regarding at least one environmental condition and a server to analyze and store the data regarding the at least one environmental condition, the environmental monitoring system further comprising a device, the method comprising operating the device to carry out acts of:

receiving a communication from the environmental sensor unit according to a first wireless communication protocol and a data communication protocol, the data communication protocol being a stateless protocol, the communication comprising data regarding the at least one environmental condition and an identifier for the device;

transmitting the communication to the server according to a second communication protocol and the data communication protocol; and

in response to receiving a response communication from the server according to the second communication protocol and the data communication protocol, transmitting the response communication to the environmental sensor unit via the first wireless communication protocol and the data communication protocol.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein:

transmitting the communication to the server comprises refraining from transmitting further communications to the server until a response to the communication is received from the server, and

receiving the response communication from the server comprises receiving a response communication that does not include an identifier for the environmental sensor unit.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

following receiving the communication from the environmental sensor unit, transmitting an acknowledgement of receipt of the communication to the environmental sensor unit, the acknowledgement being communicated according to the data communication protocol that is a stateless protocol; and

receiving a second communication from the environmental sensor unit according to the first wireless communication protocol and the data communication protocol, the data communication protocol being a stateless protocol, the communication comprising data regarding the at least one environmental condition and an identifier for the device;

wherein transmitting the response communication from the server in response to receiving the response communication comprises transmitting the response communication server in response to receiving the response communication and receiving the second communication from the environmental sensor unit.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein transmitting the communication according to the second communication protocol comprises transmitting according to a wireless communication protocol that is a higher-power wireless protocol with a larger communication range than the first wireless communication protocol.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving the communication from the environmental sensor unit comprises receiving a broadcast communication that does not identify the device as a recipient of the broadcast communication, the broadcast communication comprising an identifier for the device.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving the response communication comprises receiving a response communication comprising an identification of an update to executable instructions stored on the environmental sensor unit that should be applied to the environmental sensor unit.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving a second communication from the environmental sensor unit according to the first wireless communication protocol and the data communication protocol, the second communication comprising second data regarding the at least one environmental condition, the identifier for the device, and a request for the update to the executable instructions stored on the environmental sensor unit.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

in response to the second communication, retrieving the update to the executable instructions and storing the update to the executable instructions on the device;

receiving a third communication from the environmental sensor unit request that the update to the executable instructions be provided to the environmental sensor unit; and

in response to the third communication, transmitting the update to the executable instructions to the environmental sensor unit.

51. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

when no response is received from the server, retransmitting the communication to the server according to the second communication protocol and the data communication protocol and including with the communication an indication of a time the communication was received from the environmental sensor unit.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving the communication from the environmental sensor unit comprises receiving the communication from a second environmental sensor unit relaying the communication from the environmental sensor unit.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein the device comprises an environmental sensor, and

wherein the method further comprises:

producing, with the environmental sensor, second data regarding at least one second environmental condition, and

transmitting the second data to the server according to the second communication protocol and the data communication protocol.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving the communication from the environmental sensor unit comprises receiving the communication via at least one wireless transceiver comprising a signal booster.

55. The method of claim 43, further comprising, prior to receiving the communication:

receiving, at the device, a request for a response from the device, the request being received from the environmental sensor unit and being communicated according to the first wireless communication protocol; and

transmitting a response to the request, the response comprising an identifier for the device and being communicated according to the first wireless communication protocol.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

receiving at least one first communication from the one or more environmental sensor units of the system;

determining, for each first communication of the at least one first communication, whether the first communication comprises an identifier for the device; and

when it is determined that a first communication of the at least one first communication does not comprise the identifier for the device, discarding the first communication.