The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 20, 2011
Filed:
May. 02, 2008
Wade C. Patterson, Huntsville, AL (US);
Rick Martindale, Huntsville, AL (US);
Wade C. Patterson, Huntsville, AL (US);
Rick Martindale, Huntsville, AL (US);
Synapse Wireless, Inc., Huntsville, AL (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for controlling nodes in a communication network, such as a wireless sensor network. In one exemplary embodiment, a node, referred to herein as a 'coordinator node,' controls the operation of various nodes, referred to herein as 'sensor nodes,' that are configured to monitor various parameters. The coordinator node from time-to-time broadcasts a beacon to the sensor nodes. The beacon can include various information that is used by the sensor nodes for control. In one exemplary embodiment, the beacon includes node-specific information that informs at least some nodes that they are to transition to a sleep state for a certain period of time. Such nodes, based on the beacon, transition to a sleep state, thereby conserving electrical power.