Traffic collision avoidance in wireless communication systems
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorLawrence Kates
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and/or control external devices.
Claims13
A method of avoiding transmission collisions within an in-building wireless sensor system, comprising:
- programming a delay value into each of one or more wireless repeater units of the in-building wireless sensor system by the base unit of the in-building wireless sensor system, wherein the delay value is a programmed delay period and the one or more wireless repeater units communicate using ultra-high frequency (UHF) band;
- waiting for said programmed delay period by each of said one or more wireless repeater units before forwarding communications from a base unit to one or more wireless sensor units;
- and waiting for said programmed delay period by each of said one or more wireless repeater units before forwarding communications on the UHF band from said one or more wireless sensor units to said base unit, such that said delay value is used to delay transmission of communication packets transmitted on the UHF band from said base unit to said one or more wireless sensor units and from said one or more wireless sensor units to said base unit, wherein the wireless repeater unit forwards the communications on the UHF band as one or more encrypted packets, each encrypted packet comprising a checksum and authenticity code for use in verifying an authenticity of the packet.
A wireless repeater unit for use in an in-building wireless sensor system, the wireless repeater unit comprising:
- a wireless transceiver capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving information using ultra-high frequency (UHF) band to and from electronic devices located remotely from the wireless repeater unit, the electronic devices being part of the wireless sensor system;
- a power source for powering operation of the wireless repeater unit;
- and a controller operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the power source and configured to:
- program a delay value into the wireless repeater unit, the delay value being received via the wireless transceiver from a base unit that is part of the in-building wireless sensor system;
- cause the wireless repeater unit to wait for said delay value before forwarding communications, via the wireless transceiver, from the base unit to one or more wireless sensor units;
- and cause the wireless repeater unit to wait for said delay value before forwarding communications on the UHF band, via the wireless transceiver, from said one or more wireless sensor units to said base unit, such that said delay value is used to delay transmission of communications from said base unit to said one or more wireless sensor units and from said one or more wireless sensor units to said base unit, wherein the wireless repeater unit forwards the communications on the UHF band as one or more encrypted packets, each encrypted packet comprising a checksum and authenticity code for use in verifying an authenticity of the packet.
A method of avoiding transmission collisions within an in-building wireless sensor system, comprising determining, by a base unit, a delay value for a wireless repeater unit, wherein the base unit and the wireless repeater unit are part of the in-building wireless sensor system and the delay value is a programmed delay period;
- transmitting, by the base unit, to the wireless repeater unit, the delay value in encrypted form;
- waiting for the programmed delay period before forwarding communications from the base unit to one or more wireless sensor units via the wireless repeater unit;
- waiting for the programmed delay period before forwarding communications from said one or more wireless sensor units to said base unit via the wireless repeater unit, such that the delay value is used to delay transmission of communications from said base unit to said one or more wireless sensor units and from said one or more wireless sensor units to said base unit;
- and after waiting the programmed delay period, forwarding, by the wireless repeater unit, a communication from said one or more wireless sensor units to the base unit in UHF band as one or more encrypted packets, each encrypted packet comprising a first checksum and first authenticity code for use in verifying an authenticity of the packet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.