Reducing Risk of Cross Commissioning in a Radio Network
A refrigerated container system is described that includes a wireless personal area network (WPAN) including a plurality of wireless sensor nodes and a coordinator node through which the sensors provide sensor data to a controller for the refrigerated container system. The wireless sensors and the coordinator incorporate a variety of features that ensure efficient utilization of battery life by preventing unintended pairing of sensors with other WPANs and excessive sensor signal processing arising from door chatter. Finally, pairing is performed without pressing a button on the wireless door sensor. Instead, the sensor's magnetic reed switch is enlisted to detect swiping of a magnet by a user to enter a pairing mode.
1 . A method for preventing inadvertent pairing of a wireless sensor node with a coordinator node in a wireless personal area network (WPAN) incorporated into a refrigerated container system, the method comprising:
extracting a property value from a pairing request message provided by the sensor device to the coordinator;
comparing the property value to expected property values for sensor devices in the wireless personal area network; and
conditionally allowing, by the coordinator, pairing with the sensor based upon the comparing step.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the property value is a vendor-specific property value.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the property value is a vendor identification.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the property value is a user string.
5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the property value is derived from a MAC address.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a particular switch sequence requirement prior to permitting completion of the pairing with the sensor.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a challenge response sequence requirement prior to permitting completion of the pairing with the sensor.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a signal requirement, based upon a signal received from an external device, prior to permitting completion of the pairing with the sensor.
9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a physical switch actuation requirement, using a physically relatively inaccessible switch, prior to permitting completion of the pairing with the sensor.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the physical switch is configured to be normally covered by a physical switch cover.
11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a link quality indicator-based requirement prior to permitting completion of the pairing with the sensor.
12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a throttle to pairing attempts.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless sensor node is a wireless door sensor.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the WPAN is incorporated into a transportable refrigerated container system (reefer).
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the WPAN implements communication between the coordinator node and the wireless sensor node according to a ZIGBEE RF4CE wireless personal area network communication protocol.