System and method for low power Z-wave beaming detection

A method of detecting the presence of a Z-Wave Beam on a wireless Z Wave network utilizing multiple channels, the method comprising:

• loading a set of values into hardware registers disposed in a radio circuit of a network device, wherein the set allows the radio circuit to monitor one channel of the wireless network;
• monitoring the channel for a valid signal, wherein the monitoring comprises:
• converting wireless signals into digital signals, wherein the digital signals comprise I and Q signals;
• calculating a phase of the I and Q signals as a data point;
• and
• calculating a frequency of each data point based on the phase of the I and Q signals;
• and wherein the valid signal is detected by:
• determining whether a difference in the phase between two adjacent data points is less than a predetermined threshold;
• and/or
• detecting a presence of a FSK signal by determining whether the frequency deviation lies between an upper limit and a lower limit;
• if the valid signal is detected within a predetermined period of time, receiving the Z-Wave Beam on the channel;
• if the valid signal is not detected within the predetermined period of time, loading a different set of values into the hardware registers and repeating until all channels have been monitored;
• and
• if all channels have been monitored and the valid signal is not detected on any channel, entering a sleep mode.

A software program, disposed on a computer readable non-transitory medium, for use with a network device operating on a wireless Z-Wave network, the network device comprising a processing unit, a radio circuit to receive wireless signals on a selected channel and convert the wireless signals into digital signals, wherein the digital signals comprise I and Q signals, a CORDIC to generate phase information from the I and Q signals, and a digital signal arrival (DSA) circuit to receive the phase information and determine whether a valid signal is present on the selected channel, the software program comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, enable the processing unit to:

• load a set of values into hardware registers disposed in the radio circuit, wherein the set allows the radio circuit to monitor one channel of the Z-Wave network;
• monitor the channel for a valid signal using the DSA circuit, wherein the DSA circuit:
• calculates a frequency of each data point based on the phase of the I and Q signals;
• and detects a valid signal by:
• determining whether a difference in the phase between two adjacent data points is less than a predetermined threshold;
• and/or
• detecting a presence of an FSK signal by determining whether the frequency deviation lies between an upper limit and a lower limit;
• if the valid signal is detected within a predetermined period of time, process the Z-Wave Beam on the channel;
• if the valid signal is not detected within the predetermined period of time, load a different set of values into the hardware registers and repeat until all channels have been monitored;
• and
• if all channels have been monitored and the valid signal is not detected on any channel, enter a sleep mode.