System and method for stabilizing a wireless monitoring network
AssigneeDebmed USA LLC
InventorsNigel Gaylard, John Hines, Dean Limbert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Stabilization of a wireless information collection system for dispenser usage compliance in a facility is provided. This system and method enable network stabilization by providing a network “heartbeat.” The network stabilization operates independently from information collection. Therefore, the system and method are able to improve the reliability of wireless information collection systems where the frequency of data collection is not steady.
Claims18
A wireless system that operates to monitor wireless transmissions from one or more dispensers, the system comprising:
- a dispenser that operates to wirelessly communicate a usage event to at least one of a plurality of hubs;
- a receiving hub, in the plurality of hubs, that operates to:
- receive a beacon;
- transmit a response to the beacon;
- and
- update a visible list of the receiving hub according to the received beacon;
- and
- an active hub, in the plurality of hubs, that operates to periodically:
- increment a hub age of each route entry in a visible list of the active hub;
- and
- broadcast the beacon comprising an active hub ID and a candidate route,
- wherein the candidate route is the minimum number of hops from the receiving hub to a destination if a first hop is to the active hub, and the candidate route is equal to one plus the minimum hop count in the visible list of the active hub, and
- wherein the receiving hub is operable to update a hop count associated with the active hub if the hop count associated with the active hub is not equal to the candidate route.
A method for stabilizing a wireless network that operates to monitor dispenser usage in a facility, the method comprising:
- periodically incrementing a hub age of each route entry in a visible list of an active hub in a plurality of hubs;
- periodically broadcasting a beacon comprising an active hub ID and a candidate route, wherein the candidate route is the minimum number of hops from a receiving hub to a destination if a first hop is to the active hub, and the candidate route is equal to one plus the minimum hop count in the visible list of the active hub;
- receiving a beacon at a receiving hub, in the plurality of hubs;
- updating a visible list of the receiving hub according to the beacon;
- transmitting a response to the beacon;
- enabling communication to a dispenser that operates to wireless communicate a usage event to at least one of a plurality of hubs;
- and
- updating the hop count associated with the active hub if the hop count associated with the active hub is not equal to the candidate route.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.