WIRELESS SENSOR UNIT COMMUNICATION TRIGGERING AND MANAGEMENT

• US 20150070192A1
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 9,318,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.39
• 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

Various embodiments of wireless ambient sensor unit are presented. The sensor unit may include a wireless transceiver configured to transmit sensor data and to receive instructions. The sensor unit may include a sensor configured to measure an ambient condition. The sensor unit may include a controller in communication with the wireless transceiver and the sensor. The controller may be configured to compare data measured about the ambient condition to a stored threshold while the wireless ambient sensor unit is functioning in a low-power mode. The controller may be configured to exit the low-power mode in response to the comparison of the data with the stored threshold. The controller may be configured to cause the data measured about the ambient condition to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver as one or more messages in response to the comparison to the stored threshold.

Claims

1. A wireless ambient sensor unit, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to transmit sensor data and to receive instructions;

a sensor configured to measure an ambient condition;

a controller in communication with the wireless transceiver and the sensor, the controller configured to;

compare data measured about the ambient condition to a stored threshold while the wireless ambient sensor unit is functioning in a low-power mode;

exit the low-power mode in response to the comparison of the data with the stored threshold; and

cause the data measured about the ambient condition to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver as one or more messages in response to the comparison to the stored threshold, wherein the data is transmitted while the wireless ambient sensor unit is out of the low-power mode and the one or more messages comprises an address that identifies the wireless ambient sensor unit.

2. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured for at least a portion of the address to be programmed into the wireless ambient sensor unit during an installation process.

3. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein power is not provided to the wireless transceiver in the low-power mode.

4. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a message, via the wireless transceiver, for reprogramming at least a portion of the address; and

reprogramming at least the portion of the address based on the received message.

5. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to use a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technique for transmitting the data measured about the ambient condition.

6. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

exit the low-power mode on a periodic basis; and

following exiting the low-power mode on the periodic basis, cause a status message to be transmitted via the wireless transceiver; and

for a predefined period of time following causing the status message to be transmitted, enter a receive mode to wait for a command to be received via the wireless transceiver; and

enter the low power mode following expiration of the predefined period of time.

7. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the ambient condition is a level of carbon monoxide and the sensor is a carbon monoxide sensor.

8. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a reset switch, wherein the controller is in communication with the reset switch and actuation of the reset switch causes the wireless ambient sensor unit to enter a receiving mode for receiving the address via the wireless transceiver for programming into the wireless ambient sensor unit.

9. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a tamper sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive a tamper indication from the tamper sensor indicative of the wireless ambient sensor unit being tampered with;

in response to the tamper indication, exit the low-power mode; and

cause an indication of the fault to be transmitted via the wireless transceiver.

10. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, further comprising an audio output device wherein the controller is in communication with the audio output device.

11. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the ambient condition is a level of smoke and the sensor is a smoke sensor.

12. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to:

prior to performing transmitting the one or more messages, listening to a radio frequency channel to determine the radio frequency channel is not in use; and

transmitting, via the radio frequency channel, the one or more messages using the radio frequency channel determined to not be in use.

13. A method for using a wireless ambient sensor unit, the method comprising:

measuring an ambient condition by a sensor of the wireless ambient sensor unit;

comparing data measured about the ambient condition to a stored threshold while the wireless ambient sensor unit is functioning in a low-power mode;

exiting the low-power mode in response to the comparison of the data with the stored threshold; and

transmitting, by a wireless transceiver of the wireless ambient sensor unit, one or more messages indicative of the data in response to the comparison to the stored threshold, wherein the data is transmitted while the wireless ambient sensor unit is out of the low-power mode and the one or more messages comprises an address that identifies the wireless ambient sensor unit.

14. The method for using the wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 13, the method further comprising:

receiving, by a repeater device from the wireless ambient sensor unit, the one or more messages indicative of the data in response to the comparison to the stored threshold; and

transmit the one or more messages to a base unit.

15. The method for using the wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 14, the method further comprising:

attaching, by the repeater device, an address of the repeater device to the one or more messages prior to transmitting the one or more messages to the base unit.

16. The method for using the wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 15, the method further comprising:

synchronizing a first frequency hopping scheme between the repeater device and the base unit; and

synchronizing a second frequency hopping scheme between the wireless ambient sensor unit and the repeater device.

17. The method for using the wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 13, the method further comprising:

receiving, by a repeater device from the wireless ambient sensor unit, the one or more messages indicative of the data in response to the comparison to the stored threshold;

comparing the address in the one or more messages received from the wireless ambient sensor unit to a stored database of a plurality of sensor addresses; and

ignoring the one or more messages based on the address not being present among the plurality of sensor addresses.

18. The method for using the wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 13, the method further comprising:

encrypting the one or more messages for transmission; and

transmitting one or more authentication codes with the one or more messages for use in verifying the authenticity of the one or more messages.

19. A wireless ambient sensor apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

means for measuring an ambient condition;

means for comparing data measured about the ambient condition to a stored threshold value while the apparatus is functioning in a low-power mode;

means for exiting the low-power mode in response to the comparison of the data with the stored threshold value; and

means for transmitting one or more messages indicative of the data in response to the comparison to the stored threshold value, wherein the data is transmitted while the apparatus is out of the low-power mode and the one or more messages comprises an address that identifies the apparatus.

20. The wireless ambient sensor apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for measuring a signal strength received from the means for transmitting the one or more messages; and

means for routing transmission of the one or more messages on the measured signal strength.