PCT
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`WO 99/17477
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
`H04J
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`A2
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`8 April 1999 (08.04.99)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`30 September 1998 (30.09.98)
`
`(81) Designated States: CA, JP, European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY,
`DE, DK, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT,
`SE).
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`08/941,963
`
`1 October 1997 (01.10.97)
`
`US
`
`Published
`Without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report.
`
`(71) Applicant: HONEYWELL INC. [US/US]; Honeywell Plaza
`MN12-8251, P.O. Box 524, Minneapolis, MN 55440--0524
`(US).
`
`(72) Inventor: KRIZ, Jeffrey, J.; 9135 Flyway Circle, Eden Prairie,
`MN 55422 (US).
`
`(74) Agent: MACKINNON, Ian, D.; Honeywell Inc., Honeywell
`Plaza - MN12-8251, P.O. Box 524, Minneapolis, MN
`55440-0524 (US).
`
`(54) Title: MULTI TIER WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`A monitoring system is provided with a lwo tier communication nelwork. Multiple first tier nodes comprising wireless or RF sensors
`are each equipped with transceivers operating at a first, low power level. Multiple second tier nodes are spaced to communicate with
`selected sensors at the lower bandwidth level, and also communicate with each other at a higher power level and higher bandwidth, to route
`sensor communications to a central controller. The sensors comprise standard home and small business sensors such as motion detectors,
`glass breakage, pressure, temperature, humidity and carbon monoxide sensors to name a few, each equipped with a transceiver. The sensors
`are placed throughout a structure to be protected or monitored. Since such structures can be quite large, several second tier routers are
`provided such that at least one is within range of each sensor to receive its low power signals. A routing table is dynamically generated to
`direct communications between routers and the controller.
`
`Emerson Exhibit 1033
`Emerson Electric v. Ollnova
`IPR2023-00624
`Page 00001
`
`

`

`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`AL
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`cu
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`EE
`
`Albania
`Annenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d 'Tvoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Cuba
`Czech Republic
`Gennany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People's
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The fonner Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`sz
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`us
`uz
`VN
`YU
`zw
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00002
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`MULTI TIER WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to communication systems, and in particular to
`
`multi tier communication system for communicating between multiple devices.
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Home and business security, automation, and monitoring systems, and industrial
`
`and factory control and communication systems are becoming more and more
`
`sophisticated. When installed during the building of a structure such as a house,
`
`1 0
`
`business office tower factory or warehouse, remote devices, such as sensors, motors,
`
`switches and other actuators may be hardwired into a central control panel without
`
`much disruption to use of the structure. However, as the number of devices in such
`
`systems increases, the wiring into the central control panel becomes more and more
`
`complex. Physical connections must be provided for devices to be added, leading to
`
`15
`
`very large control panels, and strict limits on the expansion capacity of each control
`
`system.
`
`A further problem associated with hardwired systems is that devices may be
`
`added following completion of construction of a structure, but may require a crew of
`
`workers taking many hours, either tearing into walls to add wiring, or the use of
`
`20
`
`additional devices utilizing radio frequency RF transmission capability. It is also
`
`difficult to integrate new, higher function devices which require high bandwidth data
`
`transmission capabilities. Two way communication may also not be provided by
`
`existing wired systems. Installing a new system in an existing structure can require
`
`significant structure invasive and labor intensive wiring done by a work crew causing
`
`25
`
`much disruption of the use of the structure. Wireless devices can also be used when
`
`adding a new system, but when located further from the control panel, they require high
`
`power radio transmission capability which is regulated by the Federal Communications
`
`Commission (FCC), and are either coupled directly to an AC power source, or contain
`
`batteries that need to be replaced quite often. Thus, the use of either wired and wireless
`
`30
`
`devices in such systems can be both costly and inconvenient. The use of both wired and
`
`wireless device leads to increased complexity and compounds the problems associated
`
`with each.
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00003
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT /US98/20429
`
`-2-
`
`There is increasing interest in using wireless devices to alleviate some of the
`
`wiring problems described above. The FCC provides for use of low-power
`
`communication devices under Part 15 of its rules. Part 15 permits unlicensed operation
`
`of devices at selected frequencies at low powers to promote the use of such devices.
`
`5
`
`The low power operation ensures that there will be little interference, especially when
`
`used by spread spectrum systems which reduce power density of electromagnetic
`
`radiation transmitted at any frequency or narrow band of frequencies within a total
`
`frequency bandwidth. This further reduces the chances of interference between different
`
`systems.
`
`10
`
`However, as discussed above, one problem in using such devices for systems is
`
`that the distance such devices can transmit is limited by the available transmission
`
`power. As structures in which such systems are installed can be quite large, there is a
`
`need to increase the range that a controller can communicate with the devices. Much
`
`research has gone into enhancing the power output of transmitters while still complying
`
`15
`
`with FCC regulations. This has lead to the cost of wireless devices increasing
`
`dramatically. In addition, higher power levels have shortened battery life, which then
`
`require replacing more often. More expensive batteries have somewhat solved this
`
`problem, but have dramatically increased the overall cost of the devices. While some
`
`devices can be plugged into AC outlets, they are not always conveniently located.
`
`20
`
`With larger structures being fitted with systems, the distance between devices
`
`and a controller has further exacerbated the transmission distance problem. Many times,
`
`the controller is located in an inconvenient central location in order to ensure that it can
`
`receive transmissions from each device. For further distances, some devices need to be
`
`hardwired. Hardwired devices in a mostly wireless systems add complexity to the
`
`25
`
`system, further increasing the costs. Also, since the hardwired devices are only used for
`
`the longest distances from the controller, the inconvenience and expense of wiring
`
`increases.
`
`Many more devices are being used in recent years, including temperature
`
`sensors, pressure sensors, level sensors, flow meters, carbon monoxide sensors, motors,
`
`30
`
`switches, actuators, video cameras and other devices found in security systems,
`
`automation systems and process control systems. Retrofitting these to existing systems
`
`has proven costly. With the advent of voice and video devices and other high function
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00004
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`-3-
`
`and high bandwidth devices coupled to systems, the demands placed upon system
`
`communication networks require higher and higher bandwidth solutions. Making
`
`devices with transmitters that can interface into such networks is further increasing the
`
`overall cost of the devices.
`
`5
`
`There is a need for a system which can utilize wireless devices located further
`
`from a controller or control panel. There is a further need to be able to place the control
`
`panel in any desired location within a structure which is convenient. There is a need to
`
`decrease the complexity caused by large numbers of hardwired devices in the system.
`
`There is yet a further need to reduce the power consumed by the wireless devices to
`
`10
`
`increase their battery life. There is a need for a communication system having high
`
`bandwidth for selected devices which need to transmit data intensive information, and
`
`for a communication system that provides bidirectional capability as well as expansion
`
`capability for high bandwidth devices. There is still a further need for devices which
`
`can be quickly and easily installed with minimal disruption of use of a structure in
`
`15
`
`which the system is installed.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A two tier communication infrastructure is provided for wireless devices coupled
`
`to a controller in a system. Multiple first tier nodes of the communication infrastructure
`
`20
`
`comprise devices which are equipped with transceivers operating at a first, low power
`
`level. Multiple second tier nodes are spaced to communicate with selected devices at a
`
`low bandwidth level, and also communicate with each other at a higher power level and
`
`higher bandwidth, to route communications to the controller.
`
`In one embodiment, the first tier node devices are battery powered and
`
`25
`
`communicate via the first tier using a low power, short range, single chip transceiver
`
`operating at unlicensed frequencies such as approximately 300 or 433 MHz.
`
`Bidirectional communication is provided, and the power level is low for short range
`
`transmission. The low power levels limit the range of transmission, but also provide for
`
`extended battery life or the use of cheaper batteries. The transceiver is also very
`
`30
`
`inexpensive and need not be optimized for longer transmission distances. The devices
`
`comprise standard home, small business, commercial and industrial sensors,
`
`identification tags and actuators such as motion detectors, glass breakage, pressure,
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00005
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT /US98/20429
`
`-4-
`
`temperature, humidity and carbon monoxide sensors, as well as motors and switches
`
`controlling automated systems, each equipped with a transceiver. The devices are
`
`placed throughout a structure or area to be monitored, protected or controlled.
`
`Combinations of security and control can easily be configured for a home or business in
`
`5
`
`one embodiment of the system.
`
`Since some structures or areas can be quite large, several second tier routers are
`
`provided such that at least one is within range of each device to receive its low power
`
`signals. The routers each have a higher power transceiver, and route the device signals
`
`through successive routers to the central controller, which also contains such a
`
`10
`
`transceiver. Similarly, the central controller routes signals back through both tiers to
`
`each device for bidirectional communication.
`
`In one embodiment, the second tier transceivers comprise unlicensed ISM band
`
`direct sequence spread spectrum signal processors such as those which operate in the
`
`United States 918 Mhz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands of frequencies or similar
`
`15
`
`international bands. This provides sufficient bandwidth to easily route data to and from
`
`large numbers of devices, including data from compressed voice and compressed video
`
`devices and other high function devices, which are usually directly incorporated into a
`
`router package since they require higher bandwidth communications. The bandwidth is
`
`also sufficient to handle significant expansions of additional retrofitted devices and
`
`20
`
`devices yet to be developed. Retrofitting structures is also made much less labor
`
`intensive due to the non-invasive nature of wireless communications. Further, the
`
`relatively high power levels and high frequencies reduce interference normally found in
`
`many environments which significantly interfere with lower power and lower frequency
`
`transmissions, providing enhanced reliability in communications.
`
`25
`
`Providing a two tier communication system with low power devices and higher
`
`power routers allows much more flexibility in the placement of devices relative to the
`
`central controller. The central controller may be placed conveniently in a home when
`
`used for a security or home automation system, such as near existing power outlets and
`
`telephone RJl l jacks. The central controller may even be a personal or home computer
`
`30
`
`system. Telephones, cellular phones or other personal communication devices may also
`
`be used to provide a user interface into the system, eliminating the need for expensive
`
`remote control pads.
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00006
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT /US98/20429
`
`-5-
`
`The second tier of routers can be placed as needed to provide complete coverage_
`
`for reception of lower power device transmissions. Further flexibility is provided in
`
`router placement in that they can be configured to communicate serially through other
`
`routers back to the controller, or directly to the controller. Virtually any shape or size
`
`5
`
`structure or area can be fitted with a security, control or monitoring system using the
`
`two tier system.
`
`In yet a further embodiment, devices are equipped with a sleep mode, wherein
`
`the device is unpowered for significant periods of time. Duty cycles comprising 10%
`
`on-time help to greatly conserve battery power, further reducing the cost of maintaining
`
`10
`
`systems. Events sensed, or communication activity causes the device and transceiver to
`
`wake up and communicate. Routers are designed to accommodate such duty cycles
`
`when communicating with the sensors.
`
`In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises an asset management
`
`system. Each asset to be managed, such as a human, personal computer or other
`
`15
`
`potentially mobile significant asset is provided with a tier 1 device which is simply a
`
`low power transmitter or transceiver. Routers are strategically placed within a structure
`
`or area, and the controller is aware of their positions. By keeping the transmission
`
`power very low, it is more likely that only one router will detect the device. The
`
`controller can then track the positions of the assets based on which router is receiving
`
`20
`
`the transmissions. In the case where the controller is also coupled to the HV AC system,
`
`which may also have multiple devices communicatively coupled to various routers and
`
`appropriately adjusts cooling based on the positions of the assets. The controller counts
`
`id s associated with each device and estimates heating and cooling needs based on the
`
`count.
`
`25
`
`By being able to utilize low power transceivers in first tier devices, the devices
`
`may be made simpler and cheaper than prior devices used in control, monitoring and
`
`security systems. The transceivers also more easily meet FCC restrictions and other
`
`regulatory body restrictions such as those promulgated by ETSI, and allow the use of a
`
`smaller battery, or enable a longer battery life, further reducing the cost of the devices.
`
`30
`
`By using multiple routers, the distance of devices from the controller may be greatly
`
`increased without the need for higher power device transceivers or cumbersome and
`
`labor intensive wiring. Additional devices and new devices are much more easily
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00007
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT /US98/20429
`
`-6-
`
`integrated into existing systems, including higher bandwidth high function devices.
`
`Bidirectional communication is also provided for in the two tier system.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`5
`
`Figure 1
`
`is a block diagram representation of a system employing a two tier
`
`Figure 2
`
`Figure 3
`
`Figure 4
`
`wireless infrastructure of the present invention.
`
`is a block diagram of a device used in the system of Figure 1.
`
`is a block diagram of a router used in the system of Figure 1.
`
`is a block diagram of data in a packet transmitted by the device of Figure
`
`10
`
`2.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Figure 5a
`
`Figure 5b
`
`is a flow chart of power cycling functions in the device of Figure 2.
`
`is a flow chart of an alternative power cycling functions in the device of
`
`Figure 2.
`
`Figure 6
`
`is a block diagram of an alternative arrangement of devices and routers in
`
`a system in accordance with the present invention.
`
`Figure 7
`
`is a block flow diagram showing the steps involved in automatically
`
`generating a router table.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
`
`In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying
`
`drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific
`
`embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are
`
`described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention,
`
`and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural,
`
`25
`
`logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
`
`of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken
`
`in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended
`
`claims.
`
`A two tier communication network infrastructure for providing communication
`
`30
`
`for a system is shown generally at 110 in Figure 1. The system comprises a controller
`
`112 which may be a personal computer, such as a lap top general purpose computer, or a
`
`specially designed ASIC based controller as is well known in the art. The controller is
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00008
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`-7-
`
`coupled to a first router node 114, which may be disposed within the controller 112 as a_
`
`card hardwired, or coupled to a standard internal bus, or may be a stand alone suitably
`
`enclosed device coupled to the controller 112 by a standard interface, such as an RS232
`
`connection. The router 114 is shown in further detail in Figure 3, but for purposes of
`
`5
`
`describing the overall system can be thought of as a device that contains a dual
`
`transceiver for communicating over different tiers of a wireless network with other
`
`similar router nodes 116, 118, 120 and 122, and with low power sensing, control and
`
`actuator type devices comprising first tier nodes shown at 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134,
`
`and 136. Device 130 is shown as coupled to a third party device 131, which provide
`
`10
`
`information to be routed to the controller 112 via the network. One example of a third
`
`party device may be a garage door opener. Device 136 is coupled to a sensor 127,
`
`which is a low bandwidth control or actuator, such as a display, siren, horn or strobe
`
`light. Routers comprising the second tier nodes, such as router 122 may also be coupled
`
`by a high bandwidth direct wired connection to a keypad/display indicated at 123,
`
`15
`
`which can be a personal computer coupled directly or hardwired to the router 122. The
`
`routers themselves may also contain high function devices, such as video cameras which
`
`require a high bandwidth for transmission of compressed video for display such as on
`
`display 123.
`
`Router 114 also communicates directly with a telephone like device 138, such as
`
`20
`
`a cordless phone which typically operates in the 918 MHZ range, a PCS communication
`
`device, cellular phone or GSM or DECT in international markets. The telephone or
`
`cordless phone 138 may be used as an extra control pad for the monitoring system. In
`
`one embodiment, the controller is hardwired to external phone lines indicated at 113 and
`
`further to phone wiring within a home or other structure indicated at 115. This allows
`
`25
`
`the controller 112 to control whether signals from a phone are passed to the external
`
`phone lines, or are used to provide commands to the controller 112, much in the manner
`
`that a wired keypad would in a home security system. The controller can be set up
`
`through a modem which is becoming standard equipment on personal computers to
`
`intercept predetermined key sequences and prevent them from being transmitted further
`
`30
`
`on the external phone lines. This provides the benefit of not requiring the user to
`
`purchase further expensive components. In an alternative embodiment, the phone 138
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00009
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT /US98/20429
`
`-8-
`
`communicates directly with router 114 and may even have dedicated keys similar to
`
`those on a control pad.
`
`The combination of routers and devices shown in Figure 1 comprises a security,
`
`control or monitoring system which can be used in a structure such as a home or
`
`5
`
`business. It can also be applied to process control, where the devices comprise standard
`
`home, small business, commercial and industrial sensors, identification tags and
`
`actuators such as motion detectors, glass breakage, pressure, temperature, humidity and
`
`carbon monoxide sensors, as well as motors and switches controlling automated
`
`systems, each equipped with a transceiver. The devices are placed throughout a
`
`10
`
`structure or area to be monitored, protected or controlled. Combinations of security and
`
`control can easily be configured for a home or business in one embodiment of the
`
`system.
`
`In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises an asset management
`
`system. Each asset to be managed, such as a human, personal computer or other
`
`15
`
`potentially mobile significant asset is provided with a tier 1 device which is simply a
`
`low power transmitter or transceiver. Routers are strategically placed within a structure
`
`or area, and the controller is aware of their positions. By keeping the transmission
`
`power very low, it is more likely that only one router will detect the device. The
`
`controller can then track the positions of the assets based on which router is receiving
`
`20
`
`the transmissions. The controller is also coupled to the HV AC system, which may also
`
`have multiple devices communicatively coupled to various routers and appropriately
`
`adjusts cooling based on the positions of the assets. The controller counts id s
`
`associated with each device and estimates heating and cooling needs based on the
`
`counts.
`
`25
`
`The routers communicate with each other over a relatively high bandwidth,
`
`using unlicensed Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band spread spectrum signal
`
`processors or transceivers such as those which operate in the 918 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8
`
`GHz bands of frequencies. This tier of the network provides a high bandwidth
`
`communication medium over which information may be transmitted over relatively long
`
`30
`
`distances and are regulated by regulatory agencies, but not licensed. The devices
`
`however, are provided with low power and low bandwidth, relatively inexpensive, short
`
`range, such as on the order of approximately 3 to 6 meters, single chip transceivers
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00010
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`-9-
`
`operating at unlicensed frequencies such as approximately 300 or 433 MHZ which are
`
`also not directly licensed. Since they are low power, they cannot transmit long
`
`distances. When used to sense conditions, or control a further device such as a motor or
`
`light switch in a structure, the devices are placed where desired, but proximate a router
`
`5
`
`within the transmission range of the device. The controller 112 is also placed
`
`conveniently for the user of the structure, but will likely not be close enough to all of the
`
`devices to adequately receive their transmissions. Routers are placed strategically
`
`within the structure to receive transmissions from proximately located first tier devices.
`
`The routers then forward information in the device transmissions through potentially
`
`10
`
`other routers to the controller. Information and commands from the controller are
`
`likewise routed back through the routers to the devices. A routing table is used by the
`
`routers to correctly route the information in both directions.
`
`A device node 210 is shown in block diagram form in Figure 2. The node 210
`
`comprises a device 212, such as a motion detector, glass breakage, pressure,
`
`15
`
`temperature, humidity and carbon monoxide sensor, or controller or actuator for control
`
`of motors and lights among other functions. The device 212 is coupled to a logic circuit
`
`214 which is further coupled to a low power, low distance transceiver 216 as described
`
`above, which is powered by a battery 218 such as a standard 1.5 to 3 volt battery. Logic
`
`214 provides an indication of an event or feedback from device 212, or the status of the
`
`20
`
`device to the transceiver 216, which then transmits information regarding the event.
`
`Device 212 may comprise a comparator to compare a sensed parameter with
`
`programmed limits. The limits can be set by the controller 112 of Figure 1, logic 214,
`
`or can be hardwired at manufacture. Jumper switches can also be used to set the limits.
`
`When a limit is reached or passed, an event is tripped, and a logic one or zero is
`
`25
`
`provided in standard logic levels, or special low voltage logic such as CMOS TTL to
`
`logic 214. The sensor 212 can also be of the type that provides analog output. In that
`
`case, logic 214 also provides suitable analog to digital conversion functionality. Where
`
`device 212 comprises some sort of control, logic 214 provides signals from controller
`
`112 received over the multi tier network to device 212 in the proper format for
`
`30
`
`execution of an action identified by the signals.
`
`A typical router node is shown in Figure 3 generally at 310. Router node 310
`
`comprises a dual transceiver 312, which receives and transmits on the first tier network
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00011
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`-10-
`
`at the frequency of transceiver 216 to provide communications to and from multiple
`
`device nodes. The first tier network uses a standard communications protocol, such as a
`
`TDMA or carrier sense type of network, with the protocol being implemented in a
`
`known manner either in the transceiver 216 or logic 214 for the devices, and being
`
`5
`
`implemented in either the transceiver 312 or a processing unit 314 in the router nodes.
`
`Processing unit 314 is an ASIC in one embodiment, and provides data 1/0 functions for
`
`a high function device 318 such as an audio or video transducer, control, actuator or
`
`keypad/display device, and also provides routing functions for the information flowing
`
`through the router. Transceiver 312 also comprises a second tier transceiver, which
`
`10
`
`transmits and receives information to and from further routers. The information can
`
`also be sent via a hardwire connection 320 directly from processing unit 314 to the
`
`controller 112. In one embodiment, a power supply 316 is coupled to an external power
`
`source such as standard 110/240 volt AC power. The power supply 316 may also be
`
`completely battery powered, run off DC current, run off various international power
`
`15
`
`levels, and may further comprise a backup battery system. The power supply 316 thus
`
`provides much more power than the battery 218 in device 210. Higher function device
`
`318 is of the type that either requires more power than can easily be provided by battery,
`
`or requires higher data throughput that can only be conveniently provided by a router
`
`310.
`
`20
`
`The routers communicate with each other using a high bandwidth TDMA or
`
`CDMA protocol which is synchronized to the AC power supply peaks, or via an RF
`
`signal generated by a selected router. In one embodiment, all the routers are aligned in
`
`time via pulses received over the power lines in the structure in which the monitoring
`
`system is installed. In further embodiments, timing pulses may be provided by a central
`
`25
`
`router, the routers are provided very accurate clocks in a further embodiment, or other
`
`types of high bandwidth protocols may be used which do not require timing pulses.
`
`In one embodiment, the dual transceiver 312 is implemented by two separate
`
`ASICs. The processing module comprises a third ASIC. Further embodiments
`
`incorporate the dual transceiver on a single ASIC. The advanced function block 318 is a
`
`30
`
`standard audio or video transducer providing compressed or uncompressed digital
`
`output. If uncompressed, the processing unit 314 provides suitable compression for
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00012
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`-11-
`
`security monitoring purposes, which may result in less than entertainment quality video_
`
`transmission, but will be adequate for monitoring.
`
`A block diagram representation of an information packet 408 passed over the
`
`multi tier network is shown in Figure 4. A tier I node device id is indicated at 410,
`
`5
`
`followed by a tier 2 node id at 411. To increase reliability, multiple transmissions for
`
`redundancy or error detection/correction coding can be employed, altering the
`
`appearance of the data stream. Likewise, encryption can be employed to limit
`
`unintended use/reception of the system s information. These capabilities also ensure
`
`that multiple different systems installed in close proximity to each other, such as in a
`
`10
`
`condominium complex, do not incorrectly receive messages from adjacent installed
`
`systems.
`
`The ids 410 and 411 are used in conjunction with the routing table to properly
`
`route bidirectional communications over the network. Data is indicated at 412, Device
`
`or router status information is provided at 414. Finally a priority indication is provided
`
`15
`
`at 416. The priority indication is used to ensure that a particularly important
`
`communication is transmitted prior to other communications. An example may be the
`
`provision of an alarm situation from a sensor. Lower priority information may include a
`
`video frame, since high definition video is not important in most applications. Audio
`
`information may be given a higher priority than video information due to the difficulty
`
`20
`
`in understanding broken up audio signals. The priority indication may be multilevel
`
`depending on the variety of data to be sent over the network.
`
`The information packet 408 enables the controller 112 to determine the source of
`
`information received, and ensures that information received from two different routers
`
`regarding the same device is not incorrectly handled. Routers may be set up to transfer
`
`25
`
`all information received from tier 1 coupled devices and then to recognize dynamically
`
`which tier 1 devices are within range and only transmit information from the controller
`
`112 over the tier 1 frequencies intended for the devices which are within range. Further
`
`discussion of this function is provided with reference to dynamically building routing
`
`tables in connection with a description of Figure 7 below.
`
`30
`
`The information packet 408 is also at least partially encoded. Standard rotating
`
`of message coding techniques are used to prevent others from defeating a security
`
`system implementation, or from sabotage of industrial process control implementations.
`
`IPR2023-00624 Page 00013
`
`

`

`WO 99/17477
`
`PCT/US98/20429
`
`-12-
`
`The rotating techniques are implemented in logic 214, and may be applied to the fields.
`
`but are most likely applied t