Centralized wireless network for multi-room large properties

Abstract

Method and devices for use in a centralized wireless network are provided. The centralized wireless network employs a wireless communication protocol to communicate with various devices throughout the network. In addition to communication, the protocol may be used to control and monitor various aspects of the devices throughout the network.

1 . A property management system, comprising:
 one or more end devices, each end device comprising a wireless output and an input for monitoring conditions about the end device;   a parent wireless device comprising a wireless input for receiving data from the one or more end devices and an output, wherein the parent wireless device is associated with a fixed number of the one or more end devices such that the associated end devices are operable to send at least one of status and activity information to the parent wireless device, and wherein the parent wireless device is operable to send control signals to the associated end devices thereby controlling actions of the end devices, and wherein the associated end devices are dedicated to communicating with the parent wireless device as long as the parent wireless device is operative.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parent wireless device comprises a wireless output for re-transmitting the received data from the associated end devices to another wireless device and for re-transmitting control signals received from another wireless device to the associated end devices. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a power saving wireless communication protocol is employed to transmit messages between the one or more end devices and the parent wireless device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a ZigBee communication protocol is employed to wirelessly communicate data to and from the one or more end devices. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a beacon type ZigBee communication protocol is employed. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a non-beacon type ZigBee communication protocol is employed. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the end devices associated with the parent device are associated with a common room, and wherein the parent device serves at least the common room. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first subset of the associated end devices are associated with a first room and a second subset of the associated end devices are associated with a second room, and wherein the parent devices serves both the first and second subsets. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first subset of the one or more end devices communicate with their parent wireless device using a channel on a Radio Frequency (RF) bandwidth and wherein a second subset of the one or more end devices communicate with their parent wireless device using a second channel on the RF bandwidth. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more end devices comprise memory operable to store transmitted messages and wherein the end devices are operable to recall the messages from memory upon request in order to retransmit the message to the intended recipient. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein when the message comprises a control message, the intended recipient is a child wireless device and when the message comprises at least one of an activity and status message, the intended recipient is the parent wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a central server operable to communicate with the one or more end devices via the parent wireless device, wherein the central server is operable to monitor messages transmitted by the one or more wireless devices, analyze the messages transmitted by the one or more wireless devices to ensure that all of the messages transmitted by the one or more wireless devices are received by the parent wireless device and the central server, and request that messages be retransmitted by the one or more wireless end device if it is determined that a message was not received. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a multi-room facility, comprising:
 detecting activity at a first end device, wherein the first end device is associated with a first room;   generating a first message comprising information related to the detected activity;   wirelessly transmitting the first message from the first end device to a second wireless device, wherein the second wireless device and first end devices are within a first common wireless transmission area;   the second wireless device wirelessly retransmitting the first message to a third wireless device, wherein the third wireless device is associated with a second room; and   forwarding the first message to a central server.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining at least one action to be performed by the first end device in response to the detected activity;   generating a second message comprising control information related to the determined at least one action;   transmitting the second message to the third wireless device;   the third wireless device wirelessly retransmitting the second message to the second wireless device;   the second wireless device wirelessly retransmitting the second message to the first end device; and   the first end device performing the at least one action.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining at least one action to be performed by a second end device in response to the detected activity;   generating a third message comprising control information related to the determined at least one action;   transmitting the third message to a fourth wireless device;   the fourth wireless device wirelessly retransmitting the third message to the second end device; and   the second end device performing the at least one action.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fourth wireless device is the same as the second wireless device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fourth wireless device is different from the second and third wireless devices and wherein the fourth wireless device is associated with a second room. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a ZigBee communication protocol is employed to wirelessly transmit the first message between wireless devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first end device transmits activity messages exclusively to the second wireless device as long as the second wireless device is active and wherein the second wireless device transmits activity messages exclusively to the third wireless device and receives control messages exclusively from the third wireless device as long as the third wireless device is active.