Street lamps with wireless communication modules
A robust wireless communications network is deployed by retrofitting spatially distributed light sockets with integrated light/communicator modules. Each light/communicator module comprises an electric lamp and a communicator unit, the communicator unit having an RF transceiver, an antenna, and a Broadband processor for communicating with other nodes in the wireless communication network, using a suitable mesh network protocol. A power conversion unit is optionally provided in each integrated light/communicator module so that the individual components of the module may operate on the standard light socket power or selectably from other power sources.
1. A method for deploying a spatially distributed wireless communication network, the method comprising:
removing a plurality of electric lamps from a corresponding plurality of light sockets;
installing an integrated light/communicator module into each of the plurality of light sockets;
wherein each integrated light/communicator module is adapted to replace the replaced electric lamp in form, fit, and lighting function,
wherein each integrated light/communicator module is further adapted to wirelessly communicate with other integrated light/communicator modules by using a plurality of wireless communication network protocols,
wherein each integrated light/communicator module is further adapted to capture video with a camera sensor for surveillance, and
wherein each integrated light/communicator module includes a global positioning system (GPS) sensor adapted to determine its position in the spatially distributed wireless communication network.
2. The method as in claim 1 wherein
the wireless communication network protocol is a wireless mesh network protocol that self-adaptively configures, and routes communications through, the spatially distributed wireless communication network.
3. The method as in claim 1 wherein
each integrated light/communicator module is further adapted to capture video based on motion sensed by a motion sensor.
4. The method as in claim 1 wherein
each integrated light/communicator module is further adapted for remote control to flash a light to alert persons nearby in the case of an emergency.
5. The method as in claim 1 wherein
each integrated light/communicator module is adapted to wirelessly communicate with adjacent integrated light/communicator modules by using free space optical (FSO) communication.
6. The method as in claim 5 wherein
each integrated light/communicator module includes an optical transceiver adapted to communicate using free space optical (FSO) communication.
7. A method of manufacturing an integrated light/communicator module, the method comprising:
mounting a replacement electric lamp on an interface, the interface adapted to be inserted in a light socket; and
mounting a communicator unit on the interface, the communicator unit including
a radio frequency (RF) transceiver adapted to communicate using radio frequency signals,
a camera sensor adapted to capture video for surveillance,
a global positioning system (GPS) sensor adapted to determine its position in a spatially distributed wireless communication network, and
a processor coupled to the RF transceiver and the camera sensor, the processor programmed to cooperatively establish a wireless communication network including other integrated light/communicator modules in the spatially distributed wireless network by communicating with the other integrated light/communicator modules through the RF transceiver.
8. The method as in claim 7 , wherein the communicator unit further includes
a motion sensor adapted to capture video based on sensing motion.
9. The method as in claim 7 , wherein the communicator unit further includes
a light responsive to remote control to flash the light to alert persons nearby in the case of an emergency.
10. The method as in claim 7 , wherein the communicator unit further includes
an optical transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with adjacent integrated light/communicator modules by using free space optical (FSO) communication.
11. The method as in claim 10 , wherein the communicator unit further includes
an optical transceiver adapted to communicate using free space optical (FSO) communication.