Network sensor system and protocol
View Patent ↗A network sensor system and protocol is provided. The network sensor system includes a sensor node that has a sensor for collecting high-resolution data, and a radio for transmitting that data to a central hub. The sensor node communicates to the hub with a wireless data link, and operators solely from a battery. Accordingly, the sensor node is autonomous, and has no wire connections, so may be discreetly and simply installed. The sensor node is normally operated in a power-saving sleep mode, and is minimally activated only for required periods of time. The sensor node may be activated responsive to a low power timer, or from another locally generated interrupt. The sensor node also implements power-saving transfer protocols to further reduce power needs. Many sensor nodes may be associated with a single central hub, and larger networked sensor systems may be arranged.
1. A network imager, comprising:
a sensor constructed to provide image information;
a radio constructed to be normally deactivated;
a low power timer coupled to the radio and constructed to activate the radio from time to time;
a memory coupled to the sensor and arranged to store the image information;
a processor coupled to the sensor, radio, and memory; and
a battery providing full operational power for the sensor, radio, memory and processor.
2. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the low power timer is provided by the processor.
3. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the processor normally operates in a sleep mode, and is activated responsive to the low power timer.
4. The network camera according to claim 1 , further including:
a pilot signal generator; and
wherein the pilot signal generator operates responsive to the low power timer.
5. The network camera according to claim 1 , further including:
an acknowledgment circuit arranged to enter a listen mode responsive to the low power timer;
the acknowledgment circuit coupled to the radio and constructed to deactivate the radio when no acknowledgement signal is received during the listen mode.
6. The network camera according to claim 5 , wherein the acknowledgment circuit is constructed so that the listen mode is active for a short period of time.
7. The network camera according to claim 5 , wherein the acknowledgment circuit is constructed so that the listen mode is only active for a time period of about 5ms to about 20ms.
8. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the battery is arranged to provide less than about 10 microamps while the radio is deactivated.
9. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is constructed as a CMOS imager.
10. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is constructed as a CCD imager.
11. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the low power timer provides imprecise time control to randomize the time when the low power timer activates the radio.
12. A wireless imager system, comprising
a sensor constructed to provide image information;
a radio constructed to be normally deactivated;
a low power timer coupled to the radio and constructed to activate the radio from time to time;
a memory coupled to the sensor and arranged to store the image information;
a processor coupled to the sensor, radio, and memory;
a battery providing full operational power for the sensor, radio, memory and processor; and
the wireless imager operating the steps of:
operating the wireless imager in a sleep mode;
receiving an interrupt while the wireless imager is in sleep mode;
activating the wireless imager responsive to the interrupt;
transmitting a request signal;
entering a listen mode for no longer than a listen period;
waiting for an acknowledgement signal; and
placing the wireless imager in sleep mode if no acknowledgment signal is received during the listen period.
13. The wireless imager system according to claim 12 , wherein the interrupt is received from the sensor.
14. The wireless imager system according to claim 12 , wherein the interrupt is received from the low power timer.
15. The wireless imager system according to claim 14 , wherein the interrupt is received from the low power time at a rate less than about every 1 minute.
16. The wireless imager system according to claim 14 , wherein the interrupt is received from the low power time at a rate less than about every 10 minutes.
17. The wireless imager system according to claim 12 , wherein the listen period is about 5ms to about 20ms.
18. The wireless imager system according to claim 12 , further including receiving the acknowledgement signal during the listen period.
19. The wireless imager system according to claim 18 , further including the steps of:
receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and
capturing an image responsive to the instruction.
20. The wireless imager system according to claim 18 , further including the steps of:
receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and
transmitting an image file responsive to the instruction.
21. The wireless imager system according to claim 18 , further including the steps of:
receiving an instruction from a hub controller; and
placing the wireless imager in sleep mode responsive to the instruction.
22. The wireless imager system according to claim 18 , further including the steps of:
receiving new settings from a hub controller; and
storing the new settings in the wireless imager.
23. The wireless imager system according to claim 12 , wherein the activating step includes activating the radio.
24. The wireless imager system according to claim 12 , wherein the activating step includes activating the processor.
25. The wireless imager system according to claim 12 , wherein the interrupts are generated in a random pattern.
26. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the low power timer provides time control to set the time when the low power timer activates the radio.
27. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the low power timer provides time control to activate the radio at a particular predefined time.
28. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the low power timer provides time control to activate the radio after a particular predefined delay.
29. The network camera according to claim 1 , wherein the low power timer provides time control to activate the radio at a particular predefined time and delay that define a periodic activation.