Patent Application
20100177749
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication network for remotely programming and monitoring a plurality of network-managed wireless devices, including wireless electronic-ink display devices, sensors and controllers, deployed in diverse environments.
2. Brief Description of the State of the Art
The use of wireless electronic-ink display devices in diverse environments is rapidly growing. This growth can be explained in large part by the advantages provided by such devices over conventional LCD-based devices namely: (i) ultra-low consumption of electrical power only when changing the display state; (ii) flexible construction; (iii) light weight and ultra-thin dimensions; and (iv) inexpensive cost of manufacture.
With this growth in usage of wireless electronic-ink display devices, there is a growing need for better ways of remotely programming and monitoring wireless electronic-ink display devices, and other wireless networked devices, in diverse environments including retail, manufacturing, industry, education, healthcare and finance.
Currently, a number of different wireless communication networks, based on the IEEE 802.15.4 networking protocol, have been developed and deployed for programming and managing wireless electronic-ink display devices and wireless sensor devices. Such examples include the Zigbee® wireless networking protocol by the Zigbee Alliance, for wireless electronic-ink display devices, sensor devices and controllers; and the Ambient Systems Wireless Network employing intelligent (Product Series 300) network device components and wireless mesh networks, for tracking and monitoring active RFID and wireless sensor devices, by Ambient Systems; and Honeywell's OneWireless universal mesh network supporting multiple industrial protocols and applications simultaneously.
In general, conventional wireless communication networks have been designed to serve the needs of the particular classes of end-devices on the network, and have not been sufficiently flexible or robust to serve the needs of diverse kinds of end-devices, such as electronic-ink display devices, wireless sensors, passive, active and partially-active RFID, real-time locating systems, mobile devices, and the like, in dynamic, diverse, and heterogeneous application environments, while offering simple methods of network management and serving to network end users.
Thus, there is a great need in the art for an improved method of and apparatus that bridges the gap between wireless display networks, wireless sensor networks, and the worlds of passive, active and partially-active RFID and real-time locating systems (RTLS), using techniques which avoid the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art methods and apparatus.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel wireless communication network for programming and monitoring a plurality of network-managed devices, including electronic-ink based display devices, while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks associated with prior art apparatus and methodologies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network comprising a network management computer system, a network gateway device, one or more wireless network routers, a plurality of network-managed devices, and a network coordinator.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network management computer system has a first processor coupled to a first communication medium, and supports a first communication interface, and is capable of programming messages to be displayed from wireless electronic-ink based display devices, operably connected to the wireless communication network.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network gateway device, supports the first communication interface and is coupled to the first communication medium through the first communication interface, and is capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over the first communication medium and communicates with the network management computer system using the first communication interface and a first set of communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network gateway device also supports a second communication interface and is capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a second communication medium using the second communication interface and a second set of communication protocols, and wherein the second set of communication protocols include a wireless network layer protocol.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein each wireless network router supports the second communication interface and is interfaced with the second communication medium using the second communication interface and the second set of communication protocols, and is capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over the second communication medium.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein each network-managed end-device has a programmed processor, and supports the second communication interface and is capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over the second communication medium using the second communication interface and the second set of communication protocols so that the data packets can be accessed and used by the programmed processor in each network-managed end-device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein each network-managed device also supports a third communication interface and is capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a third communication medium using the third communication interface and a third set of communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network coordinator supports the second communication interface and is capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over the second communication medium using the second communication interface and the second set of communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network controller establishes and maintains a wireless interconnected mesh of the wireless network routers, according to the wireless network layer protocol, and interconnects the plurality of wireless electronic-ink display devices and other network-managed end-devices on the wireless communication network.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the first communication interface is a wired communication interface, and the second communication interface is a wireless (over the air) communication interface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the wired communication interface is selected from the group consisting of a serial bus, and a universal serial bus (USB).
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the wireless communication interface and the second set of communication protocols support a wireless personal area network (PAN).
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the wireless network layer protocol includes the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network management computer system is a local network management computer system which further comprises a first network adapter supporting a WAN wireless communication interface capable of receiving and transmitting data packets from a remote network management computer system having a second processor and a second network adapter supporting the WAN wireless communication interface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the second network adapter is capable of (i) receiving and transmitting data packets over a wireless communication medium using the WAN wireless communication interface and a set of WAN wireless communication protocols, and the first network adapter is capable of also capable of (ii) receiving and transmitting data packets over the first communication medium using the first communication interface and a first set of communication protocols, and over the second communication medium using the second communication interface and the second set of communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the first communication medium is a first LAN communication medium, and the first set of communication protocols is a first set of LAN communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the second communication medium is a PAN communication medium, and the second set of communication protocols is a set of PAN communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the WAN wireless communication interface and the set of WAN wireless communication protocols include at least one of the general packet radio service (GPRS), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), and code division multiple access (CDMA).
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the first LAN communication medium is cable, and the first set of LAN communication protocols includes the Ethernet protocol.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the PAN communication medium is free-space, and the set of PAN communication protocols includes the IEEE 802.15.4 network layer protocol.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network gateway device is realized as a set-top box comprising a USB communication interface connection to the network management computer system, a set of wireless network communication protocols including the IEEE 802.15.4 network protocol, and a programmed processor running an operating system with an application supporting a GUI for managing the plurality of electronic-ink display devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein each network-managed device has a wireless network adapter supporting the second communication interface and the second set of network communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the messages displayed on the plurality of electronic-ink based display devices are managed using cascaded WAN-to-PAN communication protocols, and the local network management computer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the second communication medium and the second set of network communication protocols support the transfer of digital images, such as of receipts, over the wireless communication network, to an Internet server operably connected thereto, for email transmission to a customer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the second communication medium and the second set of network communication protocols support remote updates of firmware running on the network-managed device, including the electronic-ink based display devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, which further comprises one or more graphical-icon based, at-a-glance network monitoring devices, for managing the electronic-ink signage devices using an electronic-ink based touch-screen surface, displaying nodes in the network as graphical icons, and allowing monitoring and manipulation of network components in the field.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network gateway device, and each network router, have a processor with a high-speed mode and a software management (SM) state that performs software program updates on the networked devices, over the wireless communication network using the high-speed mode and said software-management state.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network-managed devices further comprises one or more wireless mobile computers, each having an integrated touch-screen display surface and network monitoring and electronic-ink display device management functionalities for monitoring, manipulating and managing the electronic-ink signage devices and network components (e.g. routers and coordinators) using the wireless mobile computer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network-managed devices further comprises a plurality of (partially-passive) electronic-ink display devices provided with RFID chips.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein which further comprises a GPS location system, and wherein each electronic-ink based display includes a GPS module.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein which further comprises a node position tracking (NPT) module, using the network routers to send signals to each network-managed device, to determine and track the position of each the network-managed device in the wireless communication network.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein said plurality of network-managed devices further comprises one or more devices selected from the group consisting of: a plurality a plurality of electronic cash registers, each provided with a network adapter; a plurality of optical scanners, each provided with a network adapter; a plurality of digital imagers, each provided with a network adapter; and a plurality of wireless/mobile portable data terminals, each provided with a network adapter.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network-managed devices further comprises: a plurality of UHF RFID readers each having an integrated network adapter; and wherein the network management computer system is wirelessly interfaced with the plurality of UHF RFID readers, the electronic-ink display devices, and one or more wireless portable data terminals.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network-managed network comprises a hub network, a PC-level computer system for network management, and an application and database server, each operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein each wireless electronic-ink display device has an RFID IC containing a unique identifier.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the wireless communication network which further comprises a subnetwork supporting the second set of network communication protocols, and comprising a subnetwork gateway device, and one or more RFID readers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the subnetwork gateway device has a subnetwork adapter supporting the second communication interface and wireless data packet communication with the network routers, over the second communication medium using the second communication interface and the second set of network communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the subnetwork adapter further supports the third communication interface and wireless data packet communication over the third communication medium using the third communication interface and the third set of network communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein each RFID reader supports the third communication interface for transmitting and receiving data packets over the third communication medium using the third communication interface and the third set of network communication protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein each RFID reader includes two dipole antennas, connected via coaxial cable, for transmitting signals to, and receiving signals from the RFID IC in each wireless electronic-ink display device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the network coordinator is powered by a wall-supplied electrical power.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein the EPC Gen2 Class3 protocol is used to enable communication between each said RFID reader and said RFID ICs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, wherein to update the message to be displayed on a particular one of the wireless electronic-ink display devices, the network management computer system transmits an update command over the wireless communication network to activate the RFID reader near by the particular wireless electronic-ink display device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication network for remotely managing a plurality of network components including a group of mobile data capture devices using cascaded WAN-to-PAN networking protocols.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, which supports multi-protocol and multi-bandwidth technologies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a wireless communication network, which enables the transfer of digital images, such as of receipts, over the wireless network to an Internet server, for email transmission to a customer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication network, supporting a plurality of wireless electronic-ink signage devices, and one or more graphical-icon based, at-a-glance network monitoring devices, for managing the electronic-ink signage devices using an electronic-ink based touch-screen surface, displaying nodes in the network as graphical icons, and allowing monitoring and manipulation of network components in the field.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless electronic-ink signage communication network, supporting a plurality of wireless electronic-ink signage devices, and one or more wireless mobile computers each having an integrated touch-screen display surface and network monitoring and device (e.g. electronic-ink device) management functionalities for monitoring, manipulating and managing the electronic-ink signage devices and network components (e.g. routers and coordinators) using the wireless mobile computer.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparently understood hereinafter and in the Claims to Invention appended hereto.
For a more complete understanding of how to practice the Objects of the Present Invention, the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, briefly described below.
FIGS. 1A1 and 1A2, taken together, provide a schematic representation of a first illustrative embodiment of the wireless communication network of the present invention for remotely and locally programming and monitoring a plurality of network devices, including electronic-ink based display devices and e-display servers, deployed in a work environment, using the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networking protocol;
FIG. 7A1 is a front perspective view of a wireless network coordinator device of the present invention, having an electrical wall plug form factor;
FIG. 7A2 is a top view of the wireless network coordinator device of FIG. 7A1, having an electrical wall plug form factor;
FIG. 8A1 is a front perspective view representation of a wireless network router device of the present invention having an electrical wall plug form factor;
FIG. 8A2 is a top view of the wireless network router device of FIG. 8A1 having an electrical wall plug form factor;
FIGS. 8H1 and 8H2 set forth a state diagram representation of the wireless network router device of the present invention, depicted in
FIG. 9F1 is a front perspective view of a wireless network protocol translation (NTP) gateway device for use in a wireless communication network of the present invention, as illustrated in
FIG. 9F2 is a top view of the wireless network protocol translation (NTP) gateway device of FIG. 9F1;
FIG. 12A1 is a front perspective view of a wireless node position tracking (NPT) module for use in a wireless communication network of the present invention, as illustrated in
FIG. 12A2 is a to view of a wireless node position tracking (NPT) module of FIG. 12A1;
Referring to the figures in the accompanying Drawings, the various illustrative embodiments of the wireless communication network and components of the present invention will be described in great detail, wherein like elements will be indicated using like reference numerals.
In general, the wireless communication networks of the present invention rely on a wireless communication infrastructure for managing the population of wireless electronic-ink display devices in any given installation. However, the wireless communication network of the present invention is not limited to managing electronic-ink display devices as disclosed in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/154,427, incorporated herein by reference, and may support wireless sensors, controllers, data capture devices, checkout systems, supply chain systems and employee support devices such as PDAs with wireless connectivity.
Also, the wireless communication network of the present invention will typically serve as a platform for managing any size population of electronic-ink display devices, and other networked end-devices, deployed in either retail, industrial and/or manufacturing spaces. Such electronic-ink display devices may include, for example, electronic-ink display tags, display devices, and display labels, as well as pricing signs for retail environments, assembly instruction displays for manufacturing environments, display signs for educational environments, electronic-ink dinner menus for use in restaurants, and the like.
In the preferred embodiments, the wireless communication network of the present invention is designed as a low-power, low data-rate (e.g. 250 kilobits/second) wireless network, employing a mesh topology to interconnect a plurality of wireless devices, wherein each wireless device can access any other wireless device on the network, given proper access rights and permission. Also, in the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the wireless electronic-ink display devices may be mounted on the wall, leaned up against a building or housing structure, attached to a mobile vehicle, or passed around the room, and typically will include a battery power source and an electromagnetic antenna structure designed for 2-way RF data communication, so as to be generally free of power cords and electrical wires.
The wireless communication network of the present invention bridges the gap between wireless display networks, wireless sensor networks, and the worlds of passive, active and partially-active RFID and real-time locating systems (RTLS). The wireless communication network of the present invention allows conventional communication network protocols to operate in more flexible ways in dynamic, diverse, and heterogeneous application environments, in the fields including retail, healthcare, transport, logistics, manufacturing, education, etc. At the same time, the wireless communication network of the present invention is preferably based on the IEEE 802.15.4 network layer standard, which offers low-cost wireless network communication between a large number of wireless network end-devices.
In the wireless communication networks of the present invention, the IEEE 802.15.4 is not a complete network protocol stack, as it only provides the lower level network layers (in the OSI reference model the physical layer and the medium access layer). And while the Zigbee wireless network communication protocol suite is also based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the wireless communication network application of the present invention will be implemented upon and share a number of features with the ZigBee network communication protocol suite, such as typically operating at the globally available 2.4 GHz bandwidth and provide a data rate of 250 Kbits/second. However, despite their common foundation (i.e. IEEE 802.15.4 standard), wireless communication network configured according to the principles of the present invention has been designed for applications more robust and diverse than conventional ZigBee wireless networks, and as a result, the wireless communication network configured according to the principles of the present invention provides a more advanced and complex set of features and functionalities, to be described in great detail hereinafter.
For example, other preferred networking technologies such as UHF RFID communication techniques, can be used in combination with the IEEE 802.15.4 network protocol, in order to practice various illustrative embodiments of the wireless communication networks of the present invention, which are characterized by flexibility and robustness, while masking the underlying operation of the communication network from its end-users, to reduce the apparent complexity and provide a better end-user experience.
Designed for large-scale deployment with many potential network nodes arranged over a large region of physical space, wireless communication networks configured according to the principles of the present invention can also be equipped with a real-time location system (RTLS) capabilities, which may be implemented using (i) a local GPS system for generating GPS reference signals, and a GPS module embedded in each wireless network device for receiving and processing these GPS reference signals, and/or (ii) position location module embedded within each wireless device, implementing a position location algorithm that detects and analyzes the RSSI of data packet signals transmitted from pairs of wireless network routers deployed in the wireless communication network, and/or some other similar technology.
The details of such aspects of the present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinafter.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1A1 and 1A2, a first illustrative embodiment of the wireless communication network of the present invention 1 for remotely and/or local programming and monitoring a plurality of wireless network devices, including a plurality of wireless electronic-ink based display devices 2A, deployed in diverse environments, using the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network layer protocol. As shown, a remote network management system 3 is wirelessly interfaced with a local network management system 4 using, for example, a WAN-LAN communication protocol adapter interface card 23A, 23B and RF antenna 24A, 24B. Also, the local network management system 4, includes a microprocessor and memory architecture, and is wirelessly interfaced with the plurality of network devices comprising: a gateway device 5; a network coordinator (i.e. network controller) 6; a plurality of network packet routers 7A through 7C; one or more network monitoring devices 8; a GPS location system 9: a node position tracking (NPT) module 10; a plurality of RFID readers 11 each having an integrated network communication protocol adapter 12; a plurality of wireless electronic-ink based display devices (e.g. labels, signs, tags, displays, etc) 2A through 2D as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the network adapter/interface card 23B and the network communication hub 20B in the local network management computer system 4 are coupled to a first communication medium (e.g. Cat5 cable), and support a wired communication interface (e.g. serial port). The local network management computer system 4 has a microprocessor, with a memory architecture, arranged in communication with the wired communication interface (e.g. serial port) coupled to the communication medium (e.g. Cat5 cable), and supporting the transmission and reception of data packets over the wireless communication network so as to allow a human operator (or programmed machine) to program messages to be displayed on wireless electronic-ink based display devices, operably connected to the wireless communication network. The function of network adapter/interface card 23B is to support a WAN wireless communication interface (e.g. RF antenna) matched to the WAN wireless communication interface (e.g. RF antenna) that is supported by the network adapter/interface card 23A, and support the transmission and reception of data packets between the remote and local network management computer systems 21A and 21B, respectively. As while shown as PC-level computing systems, it is understood that remote and/or local network management computer systems 21A and 21B can be realized as mobile systems, implemented using mobile phones and/or portable data terminals (PDT), or the like, to remote manage and program wireless end-devices on the wireless communication network of the present invention.
The network adapter/interface card 23A and network communication hub 20A in the remote network management computer system 3 are coupled to a communication medium (e.g. Cat5 cable) and support a wired communication interface (e.g. serial port). The remote network management computer system 3 also allows a human operator (or programmed machine) to program messages to be displayed on the plurality of wireless electronic-ink based display devices, operably connected to the wireless communication network. The function of network adapter/interface card 23A is to support a WAN wireless communication interface (e.g. RF antenna) matched to the WAN wireless communication interface (e.g. RF antenna) that is supported by the network adapter/interface card 23B, and supports the transmission and reception of data packets between the remote and network management computer systems 21A and 21B, respectively.
The microprocessor in the remote network management computer system 21A is capable of (i) receiving and transmitting data packets over the wireless free-space communication medium (between the RF antennas 24A, 25B of network interface adapters 23A, 23B respectively) to the microprocessor in the local network management computer system 4, using the WAN wireless communication interface and the set of WAN wireless communication protocols (e.g. IP protocol associated with GPRS, CDMA (2G) and 3G wireless data communication technologies).
The function of network gateway device 5 is to supports a wired communication interface (e.g. serial port) and is coupled to a wired communication medium (e.g. Cat5 cable) through a wired communication interface (e.g. USB, serial). Network gateway 5 is also capable of receiving and transmitting data packets over wired communication medium and communicating with the local network management computer system 4 using the wired communication interface and the set of communication protocols (e.g. USB, including the IP). The network gateway device 5 also supports a wireless communication interface (e.g. RF antenna) and is capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a wireless free-space communication medium using the wireless communication interface (e.g. RF antenna) and a set of wireless communication protocols (e.g. IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee or custom suite).
The function of each wireless network router 7A is to support a wireless communication interface (e.g. the RF antenna) interfaced with wireless free-space communication medium using the wireless communication interface and set of wireless communication protocols (e.g. IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee or custom suite), and to receive and transmit data packets over the wireless free-space communication medium.
Each network-managed device (e.g. wireless electronic-ink based display device) has a programmed processor, with memory, and a network adapter supporting the wireless communication interface (e.g. RF antenna) and receiving and transmitting data packets over the wireless free-space communication medium using the wireless communication interface and the set of wireless communication protocols (e.g. IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee or custom suite). Some network-managed devices, including an external interface adapter, will also support a wired communication interface (e.g. serial port) and capable of transmitting and receiving data packets over a wired communication medium (e.g. cable) using a wired communication interface and a set of communication protocols (e.g. USB, RS232, including the Internet Protocol IP), so that the data packets can be accessed and used by programmed processor in each network-managed end-device.
The function of the network coordinator/controller 6 is to support the wireless communication interface of its network (e.g. RF antenna) and transmission and reception of data packets over the wireless free-space communication medium using the wireless communication interface and the set of wireless network communication protocols (e.g. IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee or custom communication protocol suite). The network controller also establishes and maintains a wireless interconnected mesh of the wireless network routers, according to the wireless network layer protocol, and interconnecting the plurality of wireless electronic-ink display devices and other network-managed end-devices on the wireless communication network.
In
Any third-party local or remote computing system 21A, 21B can be integrated with the wireless electronic-ink display signage network of FIGS. 1A1 and 1A2, and configured in a manner described below, to manage messages displayed on particular electronic-ink display devices deployed on the wireless communication network.
In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the computer system 21A in the remote network management system 3, and/or the computer system 21A in the local back-end network management system 4, can be used to manage messages displayed on particular electronic-ink display devices deployed on the wireless communication network of FIGS. 1A1 and 1A2. Such local/remote message management capabilities are achieved by:
(i) installing a GPRS/CDMA/3G interface card 23A, 23B into the network management computer system 3, 4 respectively;
(ii) installing an electronic-ink display messaging management application 700 on the host PC network management computer systems 21A and 21B; and
(iii) optionally installing RDBMS software on the middleware/database server 22A, 22B, respectively, in the event that the application 700 is not provided with sufficient onboard database capabilities, or in the event that network database capabilities are required or preferred for the application at hand.
Each GPRS/CDMA/3G interface card 23A and 23B comprises: (i) circuitry and apparatus for supporting one or more local area type network interfaces such as Ethernet, WIFI, RS-232 and/or USB to establish a network interface with the remote or local computing network, as the case may be; (ii) circuitry for supporting one or more wireless wide-area type interfaces such as GPRS, CDMA and/or 3G, as the application may require; and (iii) apparatus for providing connections to sources of electrical power such as 120 VAC and/or backup sources of VDC power.
Each PC-level network management system 21A, 21B, equipped with display messaging management application 700 installed on its memory architecture, is also be provided with drivers that support (i) communication with interface GPRS/CDMA/3G interface card 23A and 23B, respectively, and (ii) database calls to either the local database integrated within the messaging management application 700, or to the RDBMS program stored on the middleware/database servers 22A, 22B, respectively.
The electronic-ink display messaging management application 700 supports GUIs as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the EPC Gen2 Class3 protocol is selected for enabling communication between the RFID reader 11 and the RFID ICs 29. The EPC Gen2 Class3 protocol is based on UHF RFID technology operating in the US ISM 902-928 MHz band (968 MHz band in EU). To update the price on any electronic-ink display device, the host system 21B sends an update command over the wireless communication network to activate the RFID reader nearby the particular wireless electronic-ink display device 2B. In response, the RFID reader 11 receives the update command, and then interrogates the RFID ICs in its field of view, for the corresponding unique identifier. When the RFID reader 11 finds the correct identifier, it writes the new price to the internal memory of the RFID IC 29. Thereafter, the programmed microprocessor on the motherboard takes control, and updates the graphical information displayed on the electronic-ink display assembly.
As shown in
In
The remote management system 3 updates electronic-ink display devices 2A by accessing the wireless network and sending an update command to the respective electronic-ink device via the gateway device 5A. The host PC system 21C, running display management application 700, addresses the individual electronic-ink display device (e-display) by way of its MAC address and sends a data packet containing the information to be updated on the electronic-ink display device 2A. Once the data packet is sent to the gateway 5A, the network routers takes over and route the data packets associated with the message, to the desired electronic-ink display device in a manner transparent to the user.
In most retail environments in which the wireless communication network of the present invention is deployed, the host computer 21A, 21B and/or 21C can serve as the backbone for the retail back-end system operations. In general, host computer system 21A, 21B and/or 21C coordinates the flow of information from the retail store's local database 22A and across the wireless communication network. The local database 22A typically contains information about each product including the product's UPC, description, price and quantity available in stock. Events occurring on the wireless network may be tracked by the host controller and reflected in the database as needed. This process works in the reverse as well. An external connection made to the back-end system, via the Internet, enables off-site remote access to both the database 22B and the wireless network 1, shown in FIGS. 1A1 and 1A2. For example, using the wireless communication network of the present invention, a chain of shoe stores can be managed from a central location containing a global database of all the products and prices. This information can be sent over the Internet to back-end system 4 deployed in each individual store in the chain. The local host computer 21B may then transfer this information across the wireless network. Once destined for the wireless network, individual electronic-ink product pricing signs can be addressed and updated to reflect the price information for the particular product maintained in the global database.
Preferably, wall-to-wall wireless coverage will be implemented in most applications, to maintain each electronic-ink display device visible on the wireless communication network. In the inevitable event that a network access point goes down on the wireless network, the wireless communication network of the present invention will automatically ensure that data packets destined to all devices in that failed region of the space, are automatically re-routed to another access point so that continuous network operation is maintained.
The Wireless Communication Network of the Present Invention having Routers that can Function as the Network Coordinator
In
In accordance with convention, specification of communication systems, networks and components is made using the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. Notably, however, the OSI model does not provide specific methods of communication, and therefore, actual communication is defined by the various communication protocols employed in any given communication system/network. In the context of data communication, a network protocol is a formal set of rules, conventions and data structures that governs how computers and other network devices exchange information over a communication network.
In modern protocol design, network protocols are “layered” according to the OSI 7 layer model. The OSI 7 layer model begins by defining the communications process into 7 layers, and then divides the tasks involved with moving information between networked devices into seven smaller, more manageable task groups. A task or group of tasks is then assigned to each of the seven OSI layers. Each layer is self-contained so that the tasks assigned to each layer can be implemented independently. This enables the solutions offered by one layer to be updated without adversely affecting the other layers.
The seven layers of the OSI model can be divided into two groups: upper layers (layers 7, 6 & 5) and lower layers (layers 4, 3, 2, 1). The upper layers of the OSI model address end-to-end communications between data source and destinations, and application issues, and generally are implemented only in software. The highest layer, the application layer, is closest to the end user. The lower layers of the OSI model address communications between network devices and handle data transport issues. The physical layer and the data link layer are implemented in hardware and software. The lowest layer, the physical layer, is closest to the physical network medium (e.g. wires, or free-space, for example) and is responsible for placing data on the medium.
The specific description for each layer is as follows:
Layer 6, the Presentation Layer, masks the differences of data formats between dissimilar systems; specifies architecture-independent data transfer format; encodes and decodes data; encrypts and decrypts data; and compresses and decompresses data.
Layer 5, the Session Layer, manages user sessions and dialogues, controls establishment and termination of logic links between users, and reports upper layer errors.
Layer 4, the Transport Layer, manages end-to-end message delivery in network; provides reliable and sequential packet delivery through error recovery and flow control mechanisms; and provides connectionless oriented packet delivery.
Layer 3, the Network (NWK) Layer, determines how data are transferred between network devices; routes packets according to unique network device addresses; and provides flow and congestion control to prevent network resource depletion.
Layer 2, the Medium Access Control MAC (i.e. Data Link) Layer, defines procedures for operating the communication links; frames data packets; detects and corrects data packets transmit errors.
Layer 1, the Physical (PHY) Layer, defines physical means of sending data over network devices; interfaces between network medium and devices; and defines optical, electrical and mechanical characteristics.
Further details regarding these layers can be found in “Introduction to Wireless Systems” (2008) by Bruce A. Black, et al, published by Prentice-Hall, and incorporated herein by reference.
Today, a wide variety of network communication protocols exist, and are defined by many standard organizations worldwide and technology vendors over years of technology evolution and developments. One of the most popular protocol suites is TCP/IP, which is the heart of Internetworking communications. The IP, the Internet Protocol, is responsible for exchanging information between routers so that the routers can select the proper path for network traffic, while TCP is responsible to ensure the data packets are transmitted across the network reliably and error free. LAN and WAN protocols are also critical protocols in the network communications. LAN protocols suite is for the physical and data link layers communications over various LAN media such as Ethernet wires and wireless waves. WAN protocol suite is for the lowest three layers and defines communication over various wide-area media such as fiber optic and cable.
Network protocols for data communication cover all areas defined in the OSI model. However, a protocol may perform the functions of one or more of the OSI layers. Often, a group of protocols are required in the same layer, or across many different layers. Different protocols often describe different aspects of a single communication, and when taken together, these protocols form a protocol suite. Protocols can be grouped into suites (or families, or stacks) by their technical functions, or origin of the protocol introduction, or both. A protocol may belong to one or multiple protocol suites, depends on how they are categorized. Protocols can be implemented either in hardware or software, or a mixture of both. Typically, only the lower layers are implemented in hardware, with the higher layers being implemented in software.
In
Preferably, the wireless communication network of the illustrative embodiments is based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard, which operates in the 2.45 GHz ISM band along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The IEEE 802.15.4 standard supports a low power (0 dBm typical), low data rate (250 kb/s) wireless mesh networking technology utilizing direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) coding. This standard supports sixteen channels (11 to 26) ranging from 2.405 to 2.48 GHz, each spaced 5 MHz apart. Channels 15, 20, 25 and 26 are preferred because they mitigate the susceptibility of interference from Wi-Fi networks. The transmission range is somewhere between 10 and 75 meters, with 30 meters being typical.
In the illustrative embodiment, on top of the IEEE 802.15.4 PHY and MAC layers reside the NWK and APL layers, as defined by the Zigbee Alliance. The NWK layer contains the software necessary to implement mesh networking. The APL layer describes the function of devices such as coordinator, router, etc. It is on the APL layer that an end user can build their own custom application to operate on the wireless network of the present invention. Also, a security layer can be implemented between the NWK and APL layers to provide added measures of network and application security to the wireless communication network of the present invention.
In summary, the wireless communication network of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention shown in
In any embodiment of the wireless communication network of the present invention, the network coordinator 6 will always be the most senior parent node in the network under management, and be assigned the address ‘0’. All other wireless network devices then will become children of or to the coordinator node. For example, if router 1 is the child of the coordinator and it is the parent of two electronic-ink displays, then these two electronic-ink displays are grandchildren of the coordinator. Every device in the network is assigned a parent, and each device requests and receives data from its parent. Each device is also responsible for responding to its children nodes.
In the preferred embodiment, a mesh network topology is used to implement the wireless communication network of the present invention. In this network structure, the network coordinator, gateways and routers are networked together in such a way that if one of these devices goes down or fails to operate properly (other than the coordinator), then the network will automatically find another path of data packet communication. This process of network self-healing occurs completely transparent to the user. For example, using conventional wireless communication networking technology, when an employee accidentally knocks router No. 1 off-line, then both of its children electronic-ink display devices will be disconnected from the network. However, using the wireless mesh communication network of the present invention, these two electronic-ink display devices will be automatically assigned to router 2 so that network communication is uninterrupted. In order for end-devices to be registered on the mesh network by the network coordinator/controller, the end-devices must be powered on constantly, or periodically, to monitor the network via its network controller/coordinator.
During network operation, electronic-ink display devices are updated via the mesh network with commands originating from either of the PC-level network management systems 21A, 21B or 21C, or mobile portable data terminal (PDT) 18 deployed on the wireless network. As described above, the wireless network can be managed using PC-level network management system 21B or 21C via its LAN, or using PC-level network management system 21A connected to database server 22A, and WAN communication protocols, including TCP/IP and http communication protocols. In addition to electronic-ink display devices, virtually any electronic device can be affixed with a router or an end-device to gain access to the wireless mesh communication network of the present invention. Based on varying degrees of functionality, such wireless end-devices can then be accessed by the PC-level network management systems 21A, 21B and 21C. A typical example of network usage will include a clerk at a cash register 15 requesting authorization for a product return. In this use case, the manager receives the request from the cash register 15 over the wireless network on his/her wireless PDA or PDT 18. The manager can then choose to verify the request, and send the acknowledgement over the wireless mesh network back to the cash register 15. In addition, a GPS satellite system 9, or other position location tracking module/engine 10 can be implemented to track the movement and position of nodes and other items on the wireless communication network, as well be described in greater detail hereinafter.
On the wireless mesh network of the present invention, the coordinator is responsible for establishing the personal area network (PAN)). In the illustrative embodiment, this network identifier is implemented using a 16 bit value allowing for 65535 different PANs operating in the same region of physical space. At any instant in time, there is only one coordinator in the network, and all devices joining the network must communicate on the same PAN. The coordinator 6 also selects the frequency channel for digital communication. Once the PAN has been established, gateways 5, routers 7A and end-devices 2A can join the network. The gateway serves as the point for PC systems 21A, 21B and 21C, and other remote users, to gain access to the wireless communication network. The function of the routers is to extend the range of the wireless communication network. In the wireless network of the present invention, all electronic-ink display devices are end-devices on the network.
The Electronic-Based Display Device of the Present Invention with IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Networking Capabilities
As shown in
The function of the reed switch 56 is to maintain an electrical OFF position so long as its release component (i.e. permanent magnet 56A) remains in contact with the body of the reed switch. When the permanent magnet 56A is removed from the reed switch body, and its magnetic field is no longer present, then the reed switch 56 is configured into its electrical ON position. This causes the electrical supply component 52, 53 or 54, arranged in series with the reed switch 56, to be actively switched into the power switching circuit 55, shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the reed switch 56 is integrated into the housing of the electronic-ink display device, and the magnetic component 56A is either attached to the exterior of the housing, via magnetic forces, and may fit into a preformed slot in the housing, or in a slot in the packaging material of its shipping carton or the like. Thus, when the display device is removed from its shipping carton, the magnetic component 56A is automatically removed from its reed switch 56, causing it to be configured in its electrically ON arrangement, and thus capable of conducting electricity from the electrical power supply to the electronics aboard the display device. By virtue of the reed switching mechanism of the present invention, electrical charge leakage, drainage or discharge of the onboard battery source 52 is prevented until the electronic-ink display device is removed from its shipping container and ready for operation.
In alternative embodiments, where the reed switch of the present invention is not employed, a simple ON/OFF switch 57 can be employed to switch the electrical battery source 52, and/or other electrical power sources 53, into the electrical system of the present invention.
As shown in
As can be best seen in
During operation, the driver ICs 38A-38N are enabled by the MCU on the SOC 39 to update the display device when there is new information to be displayed thereon. Otherwise driver ICs are in the off configuration by default. The display requires both a 0V and a +15V signal for updating the display. As shown in
In an illustrative embodiment of the wireless network, each electronic-ink display device can be configured as a Zigbee end-device. This implies that it resides at the bottom of the parent/child network structure depicted in
In general, when an electronic-ink display device of FIG. SA is powered on, it immediately searches for a wireless network to join. If there is a network coordinator present that has established a PAN, then the electronic-ink display device will request pertinent network information including the MAC address of the display device's parent and the MAC address of the host gateway. Once the electronic-ink display device has received this information, it enters an idle state. In this state, the display device can move on to another state. Generally, the electronic-ink display device is in its idle state awaiting instruction from its parent. The parent can issue a command to put the electronic-ink display device in short sleep mode, or a long sleep mode. In these sleep modes, the electronic-ink display device shuts down and cannot respond until it wakes up. The length of sleep mode can be changed via firmware settings within flash memory 42. Upon waking up from its sleep mode, the electronic-ink display device sends an acknowledgement to its parent node as a request for information. Data sent to the electronic-ink display device while it was sleeping can now be retrieved by the electronic-ink display device from the parent node. When a command has been issued by the parent to update the display state of the electronic-ink display device, the electronic-ink device writes the data to its memory and then begins the display update routine. This routine includes parsing the data from memory, enabling the display driver ICs and writing data serially to the drivers.
The state diagram of
As indicated in
It is appropriate at this juncture to describe these steps in detail.
As indicated at Block A of
As indicated at Block B, the MAC address of the parent node is requested.
As indicated at Block C, the firmware control process determines whether or not the MAC address of the parent node has been received. If not, then the firmware control process returns to Block B and waits to receive the parent node's MAC address, and when it does, the firmware control process proceeds to Block D where the short address of the gateway is requested.
At Block E, the firmware control process determines whether or not the short address of the gateway device has been received, and returns to Block D until the short address of the gateway is received. When the short address of the gateway is received, then at Block F, the firmware control process sends self-identification to the gateway device.
At Block G, the firmware control process waits for incoming instructions from the parent node (i.e. at the idle state).
At Block H, the firmware control process determines whether or not a long sleep command has been issued and received, and if so, then at Block I enters the long sleep mode, and reports to the parent node upon wakeup, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and then returns to its idle state, as shown in
At Block K, the firmware control process determines whether or not a short sleep command has been issued and received, and if so, then at Block L enters the short sleep mode, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and then returns to its idle state, as shown in
At Block M, the firmware control process determines whether or not a common operation command has been issued and received, and if so, then at Block N reads, writes, or displays data in the register table in its flash memory, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and returns to its idle state, as shown in
Finally, at Block O, the firmware control process determines whether or not a new parent node has been assigned to the network end device, and if so, then at Block P writes the short address of he new parent node in its memory, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and then returns to its idle state, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As can be best seen in
The function of the edge-lit LED driven illumination module 67 is to provide sufficient visible illumination to the electronic-ink layer 31 during low-illumination lighting conditions detected in indoor or outdoor environments by the ambient light sensor 66, under the control of programmed microprocessor 40. The function of the ambient light sensor 66 is to continuously or periodically detect the presence of ambient lighting conditions, and transmit such measurements to the programmed processor 40, and generate and supply illumination control/drive signal to the edge-lit LED illumination module 67, under the control of programmed microprocessor 40. Notably, the ambient light sensor 66 can be realized as a discrete photo-electronic sensor integrated within the housing frame about the display surface of the display device. Alternatively, this sensor may be realized as one or more micro-sized sensor elements integrated within the pixel structure of the electronic-ink display assembly 30, so as to not be noticeable to the human eye at a particular viewing distance, but constantly integrating photonic energy of ambient light striking or falling ambient on the surface of the display panel. In the illustrative embodiment, the programmed microprocessor 40 runs a firmware routine which analyzes ambient light condition measurements taken by sensor 66 about the display screen, and automatically generates an illumination control/drive signal. In turn, the illumination control signal is supplied to driver circuitry 37 which drives the LED illumination module 67 so as to produce the required illumination levels to render the graphics on the display surface clearly visible to nearby viewers under the current ambient light conditions. Notably, edge-lit LED illumination module 67 will include appropriate optics that (i) optically couples illumination produced from the LED array within the illumination module 67, and (ii) directs light rays substantially normal to the surface of the electronic-ink layer 31 so that a substantially portion of these incident light rays reflect and/or scatter therefrom, in the direction of viewers, and render the displayed graphics visible the human vision system thereof.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the function of graphics rendering control 43 within system control module 39 is to render each frame of graphics displayed on the electronic-ink based display device so as to optimize the discernability of the displayed graphics under particular lighting conditions automatically, and continuously or periodically monitored by the electronic-ink display device of the present invention. For example, when twilight or dusk lighting conditions are detected by the photo-electronic ambient light level sensor 66 aboard the wireless electronic-ink display device, shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the electronic-ink display device of
In general, when the electronic-ink sign of
The state diagram of
As indicated in
At this juncture, it is appropriate to describe these steps in detail.
As indicated at Block A of
As indicated at Block B, the MAC address of the parent node is requested.
As indicated at Block C, the firmware control process determines whether or not the MAC address of the parent node has been received. If not, then the firmware control process returns to Block B and waits to receive the parent node's MAC address, and when it does, the firmware control process proceeds to Block D where the short address of the gateway is requested.
At Block E, the firmware control process determines whether or not the short address of the gateway device has been received, and returns to Block D until the short address of the gateway is received. When the short address of the gateway is received, then at Block F, the firmware control process sends self-identification data to the gateway device.
At Block G, the firmware control process waits for incoming instructions from the parent node (i.e. at the idle state).
At Block H, the firmware control process determines whether or not a long sleep command has been issued and received, and if so, then at Block I the control process enters the long sleep mode, and reports to the parent node upon wakeup, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and then returns to its idle state, as shown in
At Block K, the firmware control process determines whether or not a short sleep command has been issued and received, and if so, then at Block L enters the short sleep mode, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and then returns to its idle state, as shown in
At Block M, the firmware control process determines whether or not a common operation command has been issued and received, and if so, then at Block N reads, writes, or displays data in the register table in its flash memory, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and returns to its idle state, as shown in
Finally, at Block O, the firmware control process determines whether or not a new parent node has been assigned to the network end device, and if so, then at Block P writes the short address of he new parent node in its memory, and then at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the parent node, and then returns to its idle state, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in FIGS. 7A1 and 7A2, the network coordinator device of the present invention 6 comprises: a housing 70 made of plastic or other suitable material; a multi-layer PCB 60 as shown in FIG. 7C contained in the housing; an electrical wall plug 71 integrated with the housing and having electrical prongs 72 for plugging into a standard electrical wall socket; LED indicators 73 integrated with the housing, for indicating the status of operation of the network coordinator device; and a securing mechanism 74 for physically securing the network coordinator device to the electrical wall socket, or other fixture, to prevent theft or accidental disconnection during network operation.
The primary function of the network coordinator 6 is to automatically establish a Personal Area Network (PAN) which involves selecting a frequency of operation (e.g. Channels 11 through 26) and assigning a PAN ID number. All network devices that join the wireless network of the present invention must communicate on the selected channel and acknowledge the assigned PAN ID.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in the state diagram of
As indicated in
At Block A in
At Block B, the coordinator receives network report from the gateway device.
At Block C, the coordinator saves the address of the gateway device to memory.
At Block D, the coordinator sends an acknowledgment to the gateway device, and returns to the idle state at Block A.
At Block E, the coordinator receives request for gateway address from end device.
At Block F, the coordinator reads the short address of the gateway device from memory.
At Block G, the coordinator sends the short address of the gateway to the requesting end device, and returns to the idle state at Block A.
At Block H, the coordinator receives a request for an end device address from the gateway device.
At Block I, the coordinator reads from its memory, the (long) and short MAC addresses of the end device.
At Block J, the coordinator sends an acknowledgement to the gateway, and then returns to the idle state at Block A.
At Block K, the coordinator receives an issued common operation command.
At Block L, the coordinator performs the required operation, and returns to the idle state.
As shown in
In FIGS. 8A1 and 8A2, the network router device of the present invention 7A is shown comprising: a housing 115 of compact construction, made from molded plastic or other suitable material; a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) 116 populated with the systems, circuits and devices shown in
In the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein, the router device 7A can utilize substantially the same plastic housing as the coordinator device described in detail above, and also may be implemented using substantially the same hardware components. In some illustrative embodiments of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 8G through 8H2, the primary difference between the router and coordinator will reside primarily in the firmware employed in the devices, and the functionalities provided by each such network component of the present invention.
However, in other illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the router device will also include firmware supporting the functions of a network coordinator, so that the router device of the present invention may serve multiple functions and dynamically switch and reconfigure into a coordinator device in the event that the originally designated coordinator is permanently or temporally disabled. By virtue of this multi-mode feature of router of the present invention, these is no need to wait for a network user to find a failed network coordinator and replace it, as one of the multi-mode routers in the network of the present invention will automatically reconfigure itself to perform the coordinator function, virtually in real-time.
As shown in
In
When implementing the above-specified design for the network router module 7B of the present invention, the microprocessor, Tx/Rx amplifiers, program memory and flash memory, can all reside on a monolithic system ASIC (SOC), while F-antenna structure 151 may be integrated into the PCB 140, or be realized as a chip-based antenna to decrease the required footprint for the module.
The phased-array antenna structure or system employed in the router of the present invention is a group of antennas in which the relative phases of the respective signals feeding the antenna structure are varied so that the effective radiation pattern of the array is reinforced in a desired direction and suppressed in undesired directions. As shown in
In
In general, upon power up, the router begins to search for available networks within its RF range. If a coordinator in its vicinity has established a network, then the router will join or connect to the network. The gateway in the network will then send its address to the router. The router will use this address to communicate with the host system when necessary. The router now enters an idle state. From here, different states can be activated depending on input from either the routers parent device, or the router's children. In an illustrative configuration of the network of the present invention, each router may have up to 20 children. This implies that each router can support 14 end-devices (e.g. electronic-ink display devices) and 6 additional routers. The child node of each router in the network is considered to be one layer below the parent node of the router. There is no limit to the number of layers that can be configured in the network, although there are tradeoffs when having too many network layers. One of these tradeoffs is network latency between the PC host system and the targeted end-device.
In view of the above overview, it is appropriate to now describe the particular states of the router device in greater detail below.
As shown in
At Block A in the flow chart of
At Block B, the router requests the MAC address for its parent node.
At Block C, the router remains in a control loop between Blocks B and C until it determines that the MAC address of the parent node has been received, and then proceeds to Block D.
At Block D, the router remains in a control loop between D and E until it receives the short address of the gateway, and then proceeds to Block F.
At Block F, the router sends self-identification information to the gateway and then proceeds to Block G.
At Block G, the router waits for incoming instructions (while configured in its idle state).
At Block H, the router determines whether an address request from a child end device has been received, and if so, then at Block 1, it sends the internal MAC address, or short address of the gateway device, to the child end device, and then at Block J, sends an acknowledgment to the requesting node, and returns to the idle state.
At Block K, if the router does not receive the address from the child end device, then the router determines whether a node request for a child's short address has been received, if so, then at Block L, it reports the MAC address (long) and the short address of the child requesting node, and at Block J, sends an acknowledgment to the requesting node, and returns to the idle state.
At Block M, if the router does not receive the child's short address at Block K, then the router determines whether a common operation command has been issued, if so, then at Blocks N and O, reads or writes data in a register table in memory and sends a self-identifier to the gateway, and then at Block J, sends an acknowledgment to the requesting node, and returns to the idle state.
At Block P, if the router does not receive a common operation command at Block M, then the router determines whether a new gateway has been added to the network, if so, then at Block Q writes the short address of the new gateway in memory, and at Block J sends an acknowledgment to the requesting node, and returns to the idle state at Block G. If the router does not determine at Block P that a new gateway has been added to the network, then the router directly returns to the idle state.
FIGS. 8H1 and 8H2 show the state diagram for the multi-mode network router of the present invention 7C. As shown, the multi-mode router passes through various states of operation, during its multi-mode operation, in automatic response to events occurring on its network, namely: a power up and initialization state; request network information state; switch to coordinator function/state; search for coordinator state; connect to network state; create network (i.e. PAN ID & channel); coordinator state diagram; higher-level coordinator search; hand current subnetwork over to coordinator; revert to router function; idle state; read data from memory; read data from memory; write data to memory; and read/write data in memory.
As illustrated in FIGS. 8H1 and 8H2, the router powers up and initializes during its power up and initialization state A, and then transitions to its request network information state B, where the router requests network information (i.e. searches for a network coordinator and a network to join). If the router finds network information, then it transitions to its connect to network state C, and when it receives the address of the network gateway, it enters its idle state D. The router transitions from its idle state D to its read data from memory state F when receiving a request from a child end device, for its internal MAC address. The router transitions back to its idle state D after it sends either the internal MAC address, or short address of the gateway, to the child end device. The router transitions from its idle state D to its data read from memory state G when it receives a request from a node for the short address of a child node. The router transitions back to its idle state D after it reports the (short or long) MAC address of the child node, to the requesting node. The router transitions from its idle state D to its write data to memory state H when it receives new information about the gateway, from its parent node. The router returns to the idle state D after it sends an acknowledgement to the parent node. The router transitions from its idle state D to its read/write data in memory state I when it receives a request to send information from its parent node. The router returns back to its idle state D after the router sends an acknowledgement to the requesting parent node.
If at the request network information state B, the router cannot find a network to join (i.e. network information is unavailable and time-out has expired), then the router transitions to the switch to coordinator function state J, at which time it transitions to create network state (e.g. PAN ID & channel) K.
When the network has been created (i.e. established), the router transitions to its coordinator state functions L (illustrated in
At Block A in
At Block H, the router determines whether or not a network coordinator has been found, and if so, then returns to Block B where it resumes requesting network information associated with the found coordinator. However, if the coordinator has not been found, then the router proceeds to Block I, reconfiguration and switches to its coordinator functions. Then the router, in its coordinator states of operation, proceeds to Block K and creates a network (e.g. Personal Area Network (PAN) ID, Channel, etc). At Block K, the router performs its coordinator state functions indicated in
As shown in
The function of the gateway set-top box 5A is to provide a link between the host computer 21A, 21B and wireless mesh communication network of the present invention. As shown in
In
In general, upon power up, the gateway set-top box 5A begins to search for a wireless network. The gateway may join the network through a detected parent device. The parent device can be either a router or the network coordinator. Once the address of the parent has been received, the gateway enters an idle state B. The gateway may move to another state of operation when receiving an input command, by way of either its UART 184 or its wireless interface (180, 179, 178).
In
As indicated in
At Block A in
At Block B, the firmware control process starts its main thread to monitor and process data between the host PC and the wireless network.
At Block C, the gateway firmware control process enters its main thread, from which several possible paths can be taken, as shown in
At Block D, the firmware control process determines whether the UART 184 has received commands from the host PC and also the type of command received. If the UART has not received any command, then the gateway firmware control process returns to the main thread at Block C.
If the UART has received commands, then the gateway firmware control process determines whether a scan command has been received, and if so, then at Block E sends the scan response to the host PC, at Block F broadcasts the scan commands, and then returns to the main thread at Block C.
If a scan command has not been received, then at Block H the gateway firmware control process determines whether a read command has been received, and if so, then at Block I sends the read response to the host PC, at Block J sends the read command to the destination node, and returns to the main thread at Block C.
If a read command is not received at Block H, then at Block K, the gateway firmware control process determines whether a write command has been received, and if so, then at Block L sends the write response to the host PC, at Block M writes data to the destination node, and returns to the main thread at Block C.
If the gateway firmware control process determines that a write command has not been received at Block K, then at Block N determines whether a update command has been received, and if so, then at Block O sends the write response to the host PC, at Block P sends the update command to the destination node, and returns to the main thread.
If the gateway firmware control process determines that an update command has not been received at Block N, then the firmware control process returns to the main thread at Block C.
In the event that at Block Q, the gateway firmware control process determines that the gateway has not received (wirelessly) data from the wireless mesh network, then the firmware control process returns to the main thread at Block C.
In the event that at Block Q the gateway firmware control process does receive (wirelessly) data from the wireless mesh network, then the gateway firmware control process determines at Block R whether node information has been received, and if so, at Block S transfers the node information into the host PC, and returns to the main thread.
In the event that at Block R the gateway firmware control process does not receive a node information request, then at Block T, the gateway firmware control process determines whether read data has been received, and if so, then at Block U transfers the read info into the host PC, and returns to the main thread at Block C.
In the event that at Block T the gateway firmware control process does not receive a read data command, then at Block V, the gateway firmware control process determines whether a write data has been received, and if so, then at Block W writes a response into the host PC, and returns to the main thread.
In the event that at Block V the gateway firmware control process does not receive a write command, then at Block X, the gateway firmware control process determines whether an update command has been received, and if so, then at Block Y transfers the update response into the host PC, and returns to the main thread.
As shown in
FIGS. 9F1 and 9F2 show a network protocol translation (NPT) based gateway device 5A for use in a wireless communication network of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A1 through 1C.
As shown in FIGS. 9F1 and 9F2, the NPT-based gateway device 5B comprises: a housing 186; a multi-layer PCB 87 supporting the subsystems, circuits and devices illustrated in
In
While not shown in a state diagram, the NPT-based gateway device 5B will have states of operation that are similar to the gateway set-top box 5B described above. Also, the NPT-based gateway device 5B will have the same firmware components as used in the gateway set-top box described above, plus firmware components that support network protocol translation e.g. from Zigbee to Ethernet communication protocols, and from Ethernet to Zigbee communication protocols.
Managing Electronic-Ink Based Display Devices on Wireless Communication Networks through Gateway Devices Using Databases and Web-Based GUIs Supported on a PC-Level Host Systems
Having described the architecture, topology and implementation of the wireless electronic-ink display device communication network of the present invention, it is appropriate at this juncture to describe different ways in which the wireless communication network of the present invention can be easily and efficiently managed from both local and remote locations.
In
In
In
Referring to
In an illustrative embodiment, the GUI-based network management interface application of the present invention comprises a library of standard Microsoft Windows DLL files, for integration into the host PC-level computing systems 21A, 21B, 21C, performed by the end-user or systems integrator. This library provides for a flexible development environment so that an end-user can have a fully-customized solution without becoming involved with the underlying technical details of the wireless communication network. The SDK also contains a reference GUI employing a simple database for managing information relating to a population of electronic-ink display devices (e.g. e-signs). In the simplest application, the GUI and its supporting interface library will provide an end-user with access to the network for purposes of locating, updating and managing electronic-ink display devices, electronic-ink display sensors, and other end-devices on the network. In some low-volume installations, the network GUI can be extended sufficiently to manage the network itself, including its routers, coordinator(s), gateways, NPT modules, network management modules, and the like.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the network-management GUI is realized as a shell wrapped around a set of APIs that provides access to the network via the gateway 5A, in
In an alternative embodiment, application server software (i.e. middleware) can be installed on the application server 22A, 22B, for directly connecting a wireless communication network of the present invention to a back-end database system (RDBMS). With this alternative arrangement, each application server 22A, 22B and its RDBMS can support a greater set of network management services for a large class of Web-based end-users charged with responsibility of managing e-display devices, e-display sensors, and other end-devices on the wireless communication network of the present invention.
Regardless of the arrangement employed, such network management functionalities will provide a user-friendly management console to deploy and manage wireless communication networks of the present invention. To facilitate the configuration of such wireless networks, a network management suite will be provided, consisting of tools for system integrators and operators to configure, deploy and manage one or more wireless communication networks, as illustrated in
At this juncture, it is appropriate to describe the functionality of the GUI as well as how data packet communication occurs between the host system supporting the GUI, and the gateway to the wireless communication network to be managed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
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In
As indicated at Block A in
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Running the GUI-Based Network Management Application on the Host System Interfaced with the Gateway of the Wireless Network of the Present Invention
Referring now to
As indicated at Block A in
At Block H, the user/administrator selects end devices that s/he wants to update with messages, and at Block I, inputs data into the GUI screen, as shown, for example, in
At Block I, the user then sends the write command with input data (i.e. new message display to be programmed) to a destination node(s), and if the write command is not successful at Block L, then the host computer will try again at Block K, up to three times. If the host computer is not successful after three times, then it proceeds to Block P to determine whether there are any end nodes left for processing. When there are no more nodes left for processing, then the updated results (i.e. successful writing into the memory of network nodes, and updating of the displays thereon) is displayed on the GUI screen of the host computer, and then the host computer system returns to either Block J or Block D, as the case may be.
When the write command is successful at Block L, then at Block N the host computer 21A, 21B will send the update command to the destination node (now having the newly written display data in its memory). If the update command is not successful at Block N, then the host computer will try sending the update command to the destination node, up to three more times, as indicated at Block O. When the update command is successful at Block N, the host computer determines at Block P whether or not there are any more nodes in the network to be processed with write and update commands, by the operations indicated at Blocks J through 0. When no more nodes, to which display data has been written, remain for updating, the host computer at Block Q then displays the update results for all network nodes graphically represented on the GUI screen of the host computer, as illustrated in
Referring to
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At Block A in
At Block B, the device enters its idle state and displays network vitals or a screen player during its idle state of operation.
At Block C, the device determines whether there is any input activity on the device, and if not, then returns to its idle state at Block B. However, if input activity is detected at Block C, then the device requests network access authorization at Block D, and then at Block E determines validation of such a request. If network access authorization is not validated at Block E, then the device returns to its idle state at Block B. However, if network access authorization is validated at Block E, then the device at Block F allows the user to utilize the touch-screen panel and hard/soft-type keys to retrieve and manipulate (i.e. manage) network information, as allowed by the host system, described hereinabove.
At Block G, the device determines whether or not the user has logged out from the device, and if not, then returns to Block F allowing network manipulation and management operations. When the user logs out from the device, the device returns to its idle state at Block B, as indicated in
FIGS. 12A1 and 12A illustrate a node position tracking (NPT) module 10 for use in a wireless communication network of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1A1 through 1C, the NPT module 10 comprises: a compact housing 249 for mounting on a wall or other surface; a multi-layer PCB 250 disposed in the housing, for populating and/or supporting subsystems, modules and circuits indicated in
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At Block A in
At Block B, the NPT device attains its idle state, and from there, can take one of four specified paths through its complex control process: (i) requesting parent-child table from network coordinator during Blocks C through F; (ii) building a node position database during Blocks G through Q; (iii) calculating node positions during Blocks R through Q; and (iv) uploading node position database to host system during Blocks S through U.
Requesting the Parent-Child Table from the Network Coordinator
As indicated at Block C, the control process in the NPT device determines whether the parent/child table has been obtained from the network coordinator, and if yes, then the control process returns to the idle state indicated at Block B. However, if the device has not received the parent/child table from the coordinator, then at Block D it request the parent/child table from the coordinator, and continues to dwell at Block E until the parent/child table is received, and when it is received, at Block F the device writes the received parent/child table to its memory and then returns to its idle state at Block B.
At Block G, the control process in the NPT device determines whether it has received a request to build a node position database from the host system, and if not, then it returns to its idle state at Block B. However, if the device does receive a build node position database request, then at Block H it requests, from the wireless coordinator, position measurements for each wireless end node-device in the network, referenced from a pre-specified frame of reference.
At Block I, network coordinator assigns the parent of the Zigbee end device, and two other network routers, the tasking of being involved in making the position measurement of the ZED.
At Block J, the parent of the wireless end device pings the wireless end device, and at Block K, the parent and the other two wireless routers record the RSSI measurements received from the wireless end device under measurement.
At Block L, all three routers, indicated above, sends their collected RSSI measurements back to the coordinator for processing.
At Block M, the network coordinator reports this information to the NPT module, and at Block N, the NPT module calculates the position of the wireless end device under measurement, and at Block O stores the measured position of the end device in the node position database. At Block P, the NPT module forwards the node position database back to the host computer and database servers in the network's backend system.
At Block Q, the NPT module determines whether or not the node position database has been updated for all nodes in the network (i.e. listed on the network deice list maintained by the coordinator), and if not, then returns to Block H, to request that position measurements be taken for any remaining, non-measured wireless end devices (i.e. nodes). When all such position measurements have been made, recorded and processed according to Blocks H through P, then the NPT module returns to its idle state at Block B in
At Block R, the control process in the NPT device/module determines whether it has received a request to calculate node (end-device) position from the host system. If the NPT device has not received such request from the host system, then it returns to its idle state at Block B. However, if the device does receive a calculate node position request, then at Block H it requests, from the wireless coordinator, position measurements for each wireless end-node device in the network, referenced from a pre-specified frame of reference.
At Block I, network coordinator assigns the parent of the wireless end-device, and two other network routers, the tasking of being involved in making the position measurement of the ZED.
At Block J, the parent of the wireless end device pings the wireless end-device, and at Block K, the parent and the other two wireless routers record the RSSI measurements received from the wireless end-device under measurement.
At Block L, all three routers, indicated above, sends their collected RSSI measurements back to the coordinator for processing.
At Block M, the network coordinator reports this collected RSSI information to the NPT module, and at Block N, the NPT module uses this collected RSSI data to calculate collected RSSI the position of the wireless end-device under measurement. At Block O, the NPT module stores the calculated/measured position of the end-device, in the node position database. At Block P, the NPT module forwards the node position database back to the host computer and database server in the backend system of the wireless network.
At Block Q, the NPT module determines whether or not the node position database has been updated for all nodes in the network (i.e. listed on the network device list maintained by the coordinator). If not, then the NPT module returns to Block H, to request that position measurements be taken for any remaining, non-measured wireless end-devices (i.e. nodes). When all such position measurements have been made, recorded and processed according to Blocks H through P, then the NPT module returns to its idle state at Block B in shown
At Block S, the control process in the NPT device/module determines whether it has received a request to update the node position database from the host system. If the NPT module has not received such a request from the host system, then it returns to its idle state at Block B. However, if the device does receive a request to update the node position database, then at Block T it reads the node position database from its local memory, and then at Block U, sends it to the host system, and returns to its idle state B at Block B.
Wireless Electronic-Ink Based Display E-Display Sensor Device according to the Present Invention
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In stationary applications, the display sensor of the present invention 400 can embody an electronic sensor 406 designed for measuring fluid temperature and/or pressure, ambient temperature/pressure, fluid velocity/speed, electromagnetic radiation exposure levels, acoustical energy exposure levels, chemical exposure levels, biological agent exposure, and other ambient or environmental conditions. In mobile applications, the electronic display sensor 406 can be designed and used to monitor environmental temperature and/or pressure, object velocity/speed and/or accelerator, electromagnetic radiation exposure levels, acoustical energy exposure levels, chemical exposure levels, biological agent exposure, and other ambient or environmental conditions such as smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide. The electronic sensor 406 can also be designed and used to remotely measure, monitor and track geological signals and climatic conditions in nature, using the wireless communication network of the present invention. In mobile applications involving living animals and/or human beings, the electronic sensor 406 can be designed and used to monitor, track and display bio-physiological signals (e.g. temperature, blood pressure, etc) of tagged animals and/or human beings, using the wireless communication network of the present invention.
Regardless of the applications to which wireless electronic-ink sensor display device 400 is applied, in general, the primary function of the wireless sensor display device 400 is to sense, track and display detected conditions (e.g. environmental, physiological, bio-physiological etc), over a period of time, and possibly while the host object moves through space, while the tagged object is either within or outside of the RF communication range of the wireless communication network registering the electronic-ink display sensor device, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
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During operation, the driver ICs 38A-38N are enabled by the MCU on the SOC 39 to update the display when there is new information to be displayed. Otherwise driver ICs are in the off configuration by default. The display requires both a 0V and a +15V signal for updating the display. These drivers include an internal charge pump (i.e. voltage boost circuit 58) to scale the 3V battery supply voltage up to the required 15V.
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It is appropriate at this juncture to describe these steps in detail.
As indicated at Block A of
During the environmental sensor process, the environmental sensor is monitored at Block B. At Block C, the environment measurement is written to memory. At Block D, the data to be displayed on the electronic-ink display structure of the sensor device, whether a direct measurement figure or a computed measure based on accumulated data measurements buffered in memory, is display on the electronic-ink display through the display window.
During the wireless networking process, the display sensor device determines at Block E whether the wireless networking capabilities of the display sensor is enabled. If not, then at Block F, the wireless circuitry is disabled.
However, if wireless circuitry is enabled at Block E, then at Block G, the display sensor connects to a wireless network.
At Block H, the display sensor waits for instructions from the parent node of the wireless network.
At Block I, the display sensor determines whether or not the display sensor has received a sleep command, and if so, then at Block J the display sensor device enters its wireless sleep mode, and then at Block K sends an acknowledgement to the parent node of the wireless network, and returns to Block H in
If at Block I, there is no sleep command received, then at Block L, the display sensor device determines whether or not a command operation command is received. If the display sensor receives a command operation command, then it proceeds to Block M and reads or writes data to memory, and then at Block K sends an acknowledgement to the parent node of the wireless network, and returns to Block G in
If at Block L, there is no common operation command received, then at Block N, the display sensor determines whether or not a new parent node has been detected. If the display sensor determines a new parent node has been detected, then at Block O, the display sensor write the address of the detected new parent node to its memory, and then sends an acknowledgement to the parent node and returns to Block H in
Typically, the wireless electronic-ink display sensor of the present invention will be configured together with a number of other wireless electronic display sensors, each capable of communicating with each other and other network-enabled devices that have joined the network. Such wireless electronic-ink display sensor networks can be installed in residential, commercial and industrial environments, for sensing displaying and communicating environment conditions for diverse purposes including, but not limited to, automation, security and control.
At this juncture, it will be helpful to describe various kinds of network planning and design tools that have been developed for practicing the electronic-ink digital display communication networking apparatus and methods of the present invention in various deployment environments.
According to another object of the present invention, software tools are provided to help network planners and designers during the planning and design stages of any particular project involving the installation of a wireless electronic-ink display device communication network. Such software tools, preferably installed on a PC-level network design computer, will include an environment modeling module that is used to (i) assign RF characteristics to primary boundaries conditions in environment (e.g. walls, doors, windows, skylights, stairwell, etc.), (ii) place network components, e.g. coordinator, routers, end-point devices, position location computing module, etc, in the environment, and (iii) generate blueprints for network installers to use during actual network component installation.
According to another object of the present invention, a wireless RF sniffing device is provided for capturing RF spectrum information at sampled points in the modeled environment, and transmitting the data to the PC-level network design computer, for subsequent use in the selection of network parameters (e.g. frequency of operation; channel; PAN ID; etc.), and optionally configuring the network coordinator/controller with configuration parameters.
According to another object of the present invention, a wireless ambient illumination meter is provided for measuring the ambient illumination at locations in the modeled environment where electronic-ink displays are required or desired to meet end-user requirements. Such measurements can be transmitted to the PC-level network design computer for use in modeling the environment in which the electronic-ink display device communication network under planning and design is to be installed.
According to another object of the present invention, a hand-held device is provided for measuring both RF energy (and ambient) illumination at sampled locations, in wireless communication with the PC-level network design computer. Preferably, such an instrument can be used in cooperation with several routers and the node position tracking (NPT) module of the present invention, to ascertain the position of the hand-held device, within the environment, during RF and ambient light measurements and recording. Later these network routers can repositioned to their calculated locations.
In general, at least two-types of such instruments are envisioned: a mobile instrument provided with isotropic and directional antennas and electronic compass, integrated with onboard memory storage that only transmits to host PC when RF measurements not being made; and automatic/self-scanning apparatus (with the above module) with automated room scanning and data capture control capabilities, and batch data transfer when RF measurements have been made.
In connection with such instruments, methods are envisioned for managing the use of electromagnetic spectrum employed by multiple communication networks operating in overlapping frequency bands. One such method would involve the steps of: measuring RF energy from devices (e.g. Bluetooth devices) within multiple communication networks deployed in a given networking environment; determining the potential spatially and/or temporally overlapping frequency bands; and locating network devices in interference free locations.
According to yet another object of the present invention, a software-based tool, also installed on the PC-level network design computer, is provided for determining optimum placement of routers, using SNR to distance calculations. To use this tool, a router is first put into an auxiliary transmit mode. The router is placed at a predetermined distance from the gateway receiver connected to the PC design computer. The gateway receives transmitted packets from the router taking note of the RSSI. Using these measurements in conjunction with the known distance between the router and gateway the PC design computer performs an analysis for the optimum placement of routers for the given installation.
Modifications that Readily come to Mind
It is understood that the electronic-ink based devices and wireless network communication technologies employed in the systems and networks of the illustrative embodiments may be modified in a variety of ways which will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art after having the benefit of the novel teachings disclosed herein. All such modifications and variations of the illustrative embodiments thereof shall be deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the Claims to Invention appended hereto.
