Mote networks using directional antenna techniques

• US 7,929,914 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/731,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20080064338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 455/25, 455/41.2, 455/63.4, 455/562.1, 342367-368, 342371-375
• US Class Current: 455/63.4
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mote network having and/or using one or more directional antennas.

Claims

1. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the field of regard through at least two angles at a quasi-randomly selected rate of movement;

means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and

means for determining a direction associated with a second mote responsive to said means for monitoring the one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for rotating the field of regard at a rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the first-mote directional antenna and the second-mote directional antenna.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for moving the field of regard for a quasi-randomly selected period of time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:

means for selectively varying one or more relative dielectric constants respectively associated with the one or more antenna elements.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:

means for selectively switching one or more delay elements respectively associated with the one or more antenna elements.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements comprises:

means for selectively displacing the one or more antenna elements.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively displacing at least a part of the first-mote directional antenna.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said means for selectively displacing at least a part of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively adjusting a feed of a horn antenna.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively tuning the first-mote directional antenna.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for logging one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.

12. The mote system of claim 11, wherein said means for logging one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for logging at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for determining a direction associated with a second mote responsive to said means for monitoring the one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively varying a reception frequency.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said means for selectively varying a reception frequency further comprises:

means for maintaining a first reception frequency during a first rate of movement.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for maintaining a second reception frequency during a second rate of movement.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for determining a direction associated with a second mote responsive to said means for monitoring the one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for determining a substantially maximum signal power associated with a beacon signal; and

means for determining a direction of the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna associated with the substantially maximum signal power.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for adjusting the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna to orient toward the determined direction associated with the second mote.

18. The mote system of claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.

19. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the beam through at least two angles at a quasi-randomly selected rate of movement;

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively forming the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively switching the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively steering the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively adapting the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for rotating the beam at a rate of rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the second-mote directional antenna and the first-mote directional antenna.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for moving the beam for a quasi-randomly selected period of time.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:

means for selectively varying one or more relative dielectric constants respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:

means for selectively switching one or more delay elements respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:

means for selectively displacing one or more antenna elements.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively displacing at least a part of the second-mote directional antenna.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said means for selectively displacing at least a part of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively adjusting a feed of a horn antenna.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively tuning the second-mote directional antenna.

33. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively varying a transmission frequency.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said means for selectively varying a transmission frequency further comprises:

means for maintaining a first transmission frequency during a first rate of movement.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

maintaining a second transmission frequency during a second rate of movement.

36. The system of claim 19 wherein said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for detecting an initiation signal; and

means for initiating at least one of said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna or said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna, in response to said detecting.

37. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for rotating the field of regard at a rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the first-mote directional antenna and/or the second-mote directional antenna;

means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and

means for determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.

38. The mote system of claim 37, wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.

39. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the field of regard for a quasi-randomly selected period of time;

means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and

means for determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.

40. The mote system of claim 39, wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.

41. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna;

means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and

means for determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna, wherein said direction associated with a second mote in response to the one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for selectively varying a reception frequency, wherein said means for selectively varying a reception frequency further comprises;

means for maintaining a first reception frequency during a first rate of movement.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

means for maintaining a second reception frequency during a second rate of movement.

43. The mote system of claim 41, wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.

44. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for rotating the beam at a rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the second-mote directional antenna and/or the first-mote directional antenna; and

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

45. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for moving the beam for a quasi-randomly selected period of time; and

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

46. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna; and

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises;

means for selectively varying a transmission frequency, wherein said means for selectively varying a transmission frequency further comprises;

means for maintaining a first transmission frequency during a first rate of movement.

47. The system of claim 46, further comprising:

means for maintaining a second transmission frequency during a second rate of movement.