Power efficient base station

A system comprising:

• a base station including:
• a sensor module for communicating with one or more data collecting devices;
• a synchronization module for communicating with a network;
• one or more processors in communication with the synchronization module and the sensor module;
• a power source providing power to the sensor module, synchronization module, and the one or more processors;
• and,
• memory in communication with the one or more processors, the memory including a cache and further comprising code that, when executed, causes the one or more processors to control the system to:
• determine a power budget for the base station from the power source over a time period;
• and,
• control the sensor module, over the time period and based at least on the power budget, to collect data from one or more data collecting device for storage in the cache and control the synchronization module to transfer the data from the cache to the network.

A base station comprising:

• a first module for communicating with a network;
• a second module for communicating with a mobile device and with one or more sensor devices;
• one or more processors in communication with the first and second modules;
• a power source providing power to the first module, second module, and the one or more processors;
• and, memory in communication with the one or more processors, the memory including a cache and further comprising code that, when executed, causes the one or more processors to control the base station to:
• collect data from the one or more sensor using the second module and transfer the data to the network using the first module according to a duty cycle having an on-time;
• monitor for an indication of possible need for Wi-Fi access;
• determine that there is no indication of need for Wi-Fi access;
• and,
• in response to the determination that there is no indication of Wi-Fi access need, turn off the first module when the first module is not in the on-time of the duty cycle.