CONTROLLED POWER-EFFICIENT OPERATION OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20140285336A1
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/501
• 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 wireless device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving information to and from an electronic device located remotely from the wireless device;

a battery for powering operation of the wireless device; and

a controller operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the battery and configured to;

continuously operate the wireless device in a sleep mode whereby the wireless transceiver is inoperable to transmit or receive information and consumption of power from the battery is lower than when the wireless device operates in an awake mode;

periodically and temporarily switch the operation of the wireless device from the sleep mode to the awake mode whereby, while in the awake mode, the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit and/or receive information; and

alter a period at which the wireless device switches from the sleep mode to the awake mode such that during a first period the wireless device operates in the sleep mode for a first amount of time before temporarily switching from the sleep mode to the awake mode and that during a second period the wireless device operates in the sleep mode for a second amount of time before temporarily switching from the sleep mode to the awake mode, the second amount of time being greater than the first amount of time.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to alter the period at which the wireless device switches from the sleep mode to the awake mode in response to receiving an instruction from the electronic device via the wireless transceiver, the period being altered from an old period to a new period, the new period being defined by the instruction.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the wireless device to switch from the sleep mode to the awake mode in response to receiving an instruction from the electronic device via the wireless transceiver, the instruction instructing the wireless device to switch from the sleep mode to the awake mode.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to sense an ambient condition and generate sensor data based on the sensed ambient condition.

5. The wireless device of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate the sensor data to the electronic device via the wireless transceiver while the wireless device is operating in the awake mode, and prevent communication of the sensor data while in the sleep mode.

6. The wireless device of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the sensor data to a threshold value;

determine whether the sensor data is outside of the threshold value; and

upon determining that the sensor data is outside of the threshold value;

switch from the sleep mode to the awake mode, regardless of the periodic switching from the sleep mode to the awake mode;

while in the awake mode, communicate, to the electronic device via the wireless transceiver, information indicative of the sensor data being outside of the threshold value; and

after communicating the information indicative of the sensor data being outside of the threshold value, returning from the awake mode back to the sleep mode.

7. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to listen for instructions while in the awake mode, after communicating the information indicative of the sensor data being outside of the threshold value, and before returning back to the sleep mode.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the wireless device listen for one or more instructions while operating in the awake mode, and, in response to receiving the one or more instructions, perform one or more functions requested by the one or more instructions while operating in the awake mode.

9. A method of operating a wireless device, comprising:

continuously operating the wireless device in a sleep mode whereby a wireless transceiver included in the wireless device is inoperable to transmit or receive information and consumption of power from a battery of the wireless device is lower than when the wireless device operates in an awake mode;

periodically and temporarily causing the wireless device to switch from the sleep mode to the awake mode whereby, while in the awake mode, the wireless transceiver transmits and/or receives information; and

altering a period at which the wireless device switches from the sleep mode to the awake mode such that during a first period the wireless device operates in the sleep mode for a first amount of time before temporarily switching from the sleep mode to the awake mode and that during a second period the wireless device operates in the sleep mode for a second amount of time before temporarily switching from the sleep mode to the awake mode, the second amount of time being greater than the first amount of time.

10. The method of operating a wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

sensing, while operating in the sleep mode, an ambient condition via a sensor included in the wireless device;

generating, at the wireless device, sensor data indicative of the ambient condition;

while subsequently operating in the awake mode, wirelessly communicating the sensor data from the wireless device to an electronic device located remote from the wireless device via the wireless transceiver;

causing the wireless device to remain in the awake mode until it wirelessly receives an acknowledgement that the sensor data was received; and

in response to receiving the acknowledgement that the sensor data was received, causing the wireless device to enter again into the sleep mode.

11. The method of operating a wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

sensing an ambient condition via a sensor included in the wireless device;

generating, at the wireless device, sensor data indicative of the ambient condition; and

wirelessly communicating information indicative of the sensor data from the wireless device to an electronic device located remote from the wireless device via the wireless transceiver.

12. The method of operating a wireless device of claim 11, further comprising:

determining, by the wireless device and prior to wirelessly communicating the information indicative of the sensor data, an available radio frequency channel,

wherein the information indicative of the sensor data is wireless communicated from the wireless device to the electronic device located remote from the wireless device over the available radio frequency channel.

13. The method of operating a wireless device of claim 12, wherein determining an available radio frequency channel comprises determining that a certain radio frequency channel is in use and selecting an alternative radio frequency channel that is not in use to wirelessly communicate the information indicative of the sensor data.

14. The method of operating a wireless device of claim 9, further comprising receiving, by the wireless device and during a reset interval, an identifier for the wireless device.

15. The method of operating a wireless device of claim 14, wherein the identifier is received via an electrical connector.

16. A system for wireless sensor detection, comprising:

means for continuously operating a wireless device in a sleep mode whereby a wireless transceiver is inoperable to transmit or receive information and consumption of power from a battery of the wireless device is lower than when the wireless device operates in an awake mode;

means for periodically and temporarily causing the wireless device to switch from the sleep mode to the awake mode whereby, while in the awake mode, the wireless transceiver transmits and/or receives information; and

means for altering a period at which the wireless device switches from the sleep mode to the awake mode such that during a first period the wireless device operates in the sleep mode for a first amount of time before temporarily switching from the sleep mode to the awake mode and that during a second period the wireless device operates in the sleep mode for a second amount of time before temporarily switching from the sleep mode to the awake mode, the second amount of time being greater than the first amount of time.

17. The system for wireless sensor detection of claim 16, further including means for wirelessly communicating data utilizing spread-spectrum communication techniques, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating data include:

means for wirelessly communicating, using spread-spectrum communication techniques, information indicative of an ambient condition while in the awake mode; and

means for wireless receiving, while in the awake mode and using spread-spectrum communication techniques, information from an electronic device including instructions regarding subsequent operation of the system for wireless sensor detection.

18. The system for wireless sensor detection of claim 17, further comprising means for ignoring wirelessly-received instructions associated with an identifier that is different from an identifier of the wireless device.

19. The system for wireless sensor detection of claim 16, further including means for periodically monitoring an ambient condition while operating in the sleep mode.

20. The system for wireless sensor detection of claim 16, further including means for continuously monitoring an ambient condition while operating in the sleep mode.