Wireless integrated sensor network using multiple relayed communications

An electronic communicating and sensing station, comprising:

• a sensor which provides an output indicative of a sensed condition,
• a digital signal processor, coupled to receive the sensor output and configured to compare characteristics of the sensor output to a stored set of characteristics, and producing an output based upon said comparison,
• a programmable microprocessor coupled to said digital signal processor to evaluate its output,
• a wireless transmitter that is controlled by said programmable microprocessor, to transmit information about the sensed condition,
• a wireless receiver that is controlled by said programmable microprocessor to receive data and instructions for programming said programmable microprocessor;
• a data buffer for storing data from said sensor,
• a spectral analyzer which operates on the data in said data buffer, to compute a power spectral density in at least one spectral band, and one or more comparators, each comparing the power spectral density in a respective spectral band computed by said spectral analyzer with a respective stored power spectral density and producing an output signal when said power spectral density exceeds said stored power spectral density, the output signals from said comparators together forming the output of said digital signal processor.

An electronic communicating and sensing station, comprising:

• a digital signal processor, adapted to receive a signal indicative of an environmental condition and configured to compare characteristics of the sensor output to a stored set of characteristics, and producing an output based upon said comparison,
• a programmable microprocessor coupled to said digital signal processor to evaluate its output,
• a wireless transmitter that is controlled by said programmable microprocessor, to transmit information about the environmental condition, and
• a wireless receiver that is controlled by said programmable microprocessor to receive data and instructions for programming said programmable microprocessor;
• wherein said digital signal processor comprises:
• a data buffer for storing data from said sensor,
• a spectrum analyzer which operates on the data in said data buffer, to compute a power spectral density in at least one spectral band, and
• one or more comparators, each comparing the power spectral density in a respective spectral band computed by said spectrum analyzer with a respective stored power spectral density and producing an output signal when said power spectral density exceeds said stored power spectral density, the output signals from said comparators together forming the output of said digital signal processor.

A network of electronic communicating and sensing stations, comprising at least two stations, a first station and a second station, each comprising:

• a sensor which provides an output indicative of a sensed condition,
• a digital signal processor, coupled to receive the sensor output and configured to compare characteristics of the sensor output to a stored set of characteristics, and producing an output based upon said comparison,
• a programmable microprocessor coupled to said digital signal processor to evaluate its output,
• a wireless transmitter that is controlled by said programmable microprocessor to transmit information about the sensed condition, and
• a wireless receiver that is controlled by said programmable microprocessor to receive data and instructions for programming said programmable microprocessor;
• wherein said second station is arranged to communicate with said first station by receiving said information by said wireless receiver;
• and
• wherein said digital signal processor comprises:
• a data buffer for storing data from said sensor,
• a spectrum analyzer which operates on the data in said dati buffer, to compute a power spectral density in at least on( spectral band, and
• one or more comparators, each comparing the power spectral density in a respective spectral band computed by said spectrum analyzer with a respective stored power spectral density and producing an output signal when said power spectral density exceeds said stored power spectral density, the outputs from said comparators together forming the output of said digital signal processor.