Approach for extended battery life network nodes
View Patent ↗In an embodiment, triplets of network-enabled FCIs operate to monitor the three phases of a power distribution system. In being network-enabled, the FCIs also operate as nodes of an RF mesh network. In an embodiment, upon the detection of a power failure, the triplet of network FCIs is serially operated so as to extend their networking capabilities by approximately three times.
1. A computer-implemented method for increasing the operating time of a collection of battery-backed wireless network nodes, the method comprising:
detecting a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes;
in response to detecting the power outage, selecting a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node;
transitioning network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node; and
placing each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is incorporated as part of a fault circuit indicator.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the lead node responsive to battery status of the plurality of nodes.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, for each of the plurality of nodes, transmitting a lead status message responsive to a battery status, wherein the lead node is selected as a first node to transmit the lead status message.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the respective predetermined time responsive to the battery status of the lead node.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising waking up a first non-lead node; obtaining a second status of the lead node; and determining whether the lead node should maintain its networking functionality.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising placing the first non-lead node in a reduced power state for a second predetermined time based on the second status of the lead node when the lead node is determined to maintain its networking functionality.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising transitioning network functionality from the lead node to the first non-lead node when the lead node is determined to not maintain its networking functionality.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising powering down the lead node after network functionality has been transitioned to the first non-lead node.
10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to manage a collection of battery-backed wireless network nodes, by performing the steps of:
detecting a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes;
in response to detecting the power outage, selecting a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node;
transitioning network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node; and
placing each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is incorporated as part of a fault circuit indicator.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable, medium of claim 10 , further comprising the step of selecting the lead node responsive to battery status of the plurality of nodes.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising the step of, for each of the plurality of nodes, transmitting a lead status message responsive to a battery status, wherein the lead node is selected as a first node to transmit the lead status message.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining the respective predetermined time responsive to the battery status of the lead node.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of waking up a first non-lead node; obtaining a second status of the lead node; and determining whether the lead node should maintain its networking functionality.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising the step of placing the first non-lead node in a reduced power state for a second predetermined time based on the second status of the lead node when the lead node is determined to maintain its networking functionality.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising the step of transitioning network functionality from the lead node to the first non-lead node when the lead node is determined to not maintain its networking functionality.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising the step of powering down the lead node after network functionality has been transitioned to the first non-lead node.
19. A wireless network device, comprising:
a transceiver circuit configured to generate a radio signal based on a carrier signal and configured to receive a radio signal based on a carrier signal; and
a processor that is coupled to the transceiver circuit and configured to:
detect a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes;
in response to detecting the power outage, select a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node;
transition network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node; and
place each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time.