Interference resistant wireless sensor and control system

• US 6,990,317 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wireless Innovation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wireless Innovations LLC
• Inventors: Arnold, Kenneth David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/157,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20030224729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 455/59, 455/60, 455/61, 455/101, 455/102, 455/103, 455/132, 370/478, 370/345, 375/299, 375/347
• US Class Current: 455/59
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/63 Redundant transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0837 using pre-detection combining H04B7/0868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/12 Frequency diversity

Abstract

A wireless sensor and control system includes wireless RF transmitter units and one or more receivers that communicate using more than one narrowband radio channel to provide increased reliability in the presence of unintentional radio interference. The output of a sensor transducer or closure of a switch contact can trigger transmissions at two or more narrowband carrier frequencies that are subsequently decoded by the receiver(s). The remote sensor data can then be passed to another system for processing and/or utilized to control remote devices. In accordance with one practical embodiment, the remote sensor data indicates the ingress or egress of monitored product inventory.

Claims

1. A wireless data transmission method comprising:

detecting an event occurrence;

obtaining remote sensor data in response to said event occurrence;

inserting said remote sensor data into a first data packet;

transmitting the first data packet using a first carrier frequency; and

transmitting a second data packet containing the remote sensor data using a second carrier frequency;

wherein the content of said second data packet is identical to the content of said first data packet, and wherein said first data packet further comprises a unique transmitter unit identifier, a current sequence number, and historical remote sensor data obtained before obtaining said remote sensor data.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said historical remote sensor data represents remote sensor data corresponding to at least one previously detected event occurrence.

3. A wireless data transmitter unit comprising:

a controller configured to obtain remote sensor data generated in response to an event occurrence, and to create data packets containing said remote sensor data;

a number of sensors coupled to said controller and configured to detect said event occurrence; and

a transmitter arrangement coupled to said controller and configured to transmit at least a first data packet containing said remote sensor data using a first carrier frequency, and a second data packet containing said remote sensor data using a second carrier frequency;

wherein the content of said second data packet is identical to the content of said first data packet, and wherein said number of sensors comprises a plurality of switches.

4. A wireless data transmitter unit comprising:

a controller configured to obtain remote sensor data generated in response to an event occurrence, and to create data packets containing said remote sensor data; and

a transmitter arrangement coupled to said controller and configured to transmit at least a first data packet containing said remote sensor data using a first carrier frequency, and a second data packet containing said remote sensor data using a second carrier frequency;

wherein the content of said second data packet is identical to the content of said first data packet, and wherein said controller is configured to create data packets containing at least said remote sensor data, a unique transmitter unit identifier, a current sequence number, and historical remote sensor data obtained before obtaining said remote sensor data.

5. A wireless data transmitter unit according to claim 4, wherein said historical remote sensor data represents remote sensor data corresponding to at least one previously detected event occurrence.

6. A wireless data reception method comprising:

receiving, on a first carrier frequency, a first data packet containing remote sensor data; and

receiving, on a second carrier frequency, a second data packet containing said remote sensor data, wherein the content of said second data packet is identical to the content of said first data packet;

wherein said first data packet contains at least said remote sensor data, a unique transmitter unit identifier, a current sequence number, and historical remote sensor data.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising processing said current sequence number to determine whether a previously transmitted data packet was received.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising processing said historical remote sensor data to recover remote sensor data corresponding to a previously transmitted data packet.

9. A wireless data receiving arrangement comprising:

a first receiver element configured to receive, on a first carrier frequency, a first data packet containing remote sensor data; and

a second receiver element configured to receive, on a second carrier frequency, a second data packet containing said remote sensor data, wherein the content of said second data packet is identical to the content of said first data packet

wherein said first data packet and said second data packet each contains at least said remote sensor data, a unique transmitter unit identifier, a current sequence number, and historical remote sensor data.

10. A wireless data receiving arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to process said current sequence number to determine whether a previously transmitted data packet was received.

11. A wireless data receiving arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said controller is further configured to process said historical remote sensor data to recover remote sensor data corresponding to a previously transmitted data packet.