Method, apparatus, and system for positioning and powering a wireless monitoring system

Abstract

Methods, apparatus and systems for powering a wireless monitoring system are described. In one example, a described method comprises: positioning and powering a transmitter at a first location in a venue; positioning and powering a receiver at a second location in the venue; transmitting a wireless signal from the transmitter through a wireless multipath channel of the venue; receiving the wireless signal by the receiver through the wireless multipath channel, wherein the wireless signal is impacted by the wireless multipath channel and a modulation of an object undergoing a motion in the venue; obtaining a set of channel information (CI) of the wireless multipath channel based on the wireless signal; and monitoring the object and the motion of the object based on the set of CI.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, implemented by a wireless monitoring system having a processor, a memory communicatively coupled with the processor, and a set of instructions stored in the memory to be executed by the processor, comprising:
 positioning and powering a transmitter at a first location in a venue;   positioning and powering a receiver at a second location in the venue;   transmitting a wireless signal from the transmitter through a wireless multipath channel of the venue;   receiving the wireless signal by the receiver through the wireless multipath channel, wherein the wireless signal is impacted by the wireless multipath channel and a modulation of an object undergoing a motion in the venue;   obtaining a set of channel information (CI) of the wireless multipath channel based on the wireless signal; and   monitoring the object and the motion of the object based on the set of CI.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transmitter is part of a first target device at the first location;   the receiver is part of a second target device at the second location;   each of the first target device and the second target device comprises at least one of; a power supply unit, a power management unit, a power transfer unit, an energy storage unit, a power generation unit or an energy harvesting unit;   each of the transmitter and the receiver is powered based on at least one of: the respective power supply unit, the respective power management unit, the respective power transfer unit, the respective energy storage unit, the respective power generation unit or the respective energy harvesting unit, of the respective target device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 powering one of the first and second target devices by the respective energy storage unit of the respective target device;   charging the energy storage unit by at least one of: the respective energy harvesting unit or an external power source.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 removing the energy storage unit of the target device from the respective location;   repositioning the energy storage unit to a third location where the external power source is located;   connecting the energy storage unit to the external power source using a connector;   charging the energy storage unit by the external power source; and   repositioning the energy storage unit back to the respective location.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising positioning each of the transmitter and the receiver by securing the respective target device to its respective location based on a respective attachment feature, wherein the respective attachment feature comprises at least one of:
 a locking mechanism, bayonet coupling, screw coupling, push-pull coupling, plug-and-socket coupling, breakaway coupling, push-and-press-to-release coupling, coupling locked by screw, push-push locked coupling, or magnetic coupling.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the respective attachment feature of the respective target device is for attaching the respective target device to at least one of:
 a surface in the venue, a glass surface, a window, a refrigerator, or   at least one matching attachment feature in the venue.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: securing the respective target device to a respective location by attaching the respective attachment feature of the respective target device to a matching attachment feature at the location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: securing the respective target device to a power socket at the respective location by inserting a power plug of the target device into the power socket. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: powering the respective target device based on the power plug and the power socket. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transferring energy between two of:
 the transmitter, the receiver, any target device, any power supply unit, any power management unit, any power transfer unit, any energy storage unit, any power generation unit, any energy harvesting unit, an external power unit, an external power source, an external power sink.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 transferring the energy in at least one of: a wired manner or a wireless manner.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 supplying energy from at least one of: any power generation unit, any power supply unit, any energy harvesting unit, the external power source, or the external power unit, to at least one of: any power supply unit, any power management unit, any power transfer unit, any energy storage unit, or an external power sink.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 charging the energy storage unit using energy from at least one of: the power generation unit, the energy harvesting unit, or an external power source.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: charging the energy storage unit based on at least one of:
 a plan, a strategy, a time table, an event, the set of CI, the monitoring of the object based on the set of CI, or a task associated with the venue.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one of:
 charging the energy storage unit using energy from at least one of: the power generation unit or the energy harvesting unit, in a first charging mode;   charging the energy storage unit using energy from at least one of: the power supply unit, the power management unit, the power transfer unit, an external power unit, or an external power source, in a second charging mode; or   charging the energy storage unit using energy from at least one of: the power generation unit, the energy harvesting unit, the power supply unit, the power management unit, the power transfer unit, the external power unit or the external power source, in a third charging mode.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the first and second locations in the venue to install the first and second target devices respectively based on a criterion.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining a first relative positioning of the transmitter with respect to the first target device at the first location in the venue based on a first criterion; and   determining a second relative positioning of the receiver with respect to the second target device at the second location in the venue based on a second criterion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the criterion, the first criterion or the second criterion, is based on at least one of:
 a signal strength of the wireless signal;   a spatial relationship between the transmitter and the receiver;   characteristics of the wireless multipath channel; or   characteristics of the set of CI.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 positioning a testing transmitter at one of candidate first locations in a testing venue:   positioning a testing receiver at one of candidate second locations in the testing venue;   transmitting a testing wireless signal from the testing transmitter through a testing wireless multipath channel of the testing venue;   receiving the testing wireless signal by the testing receiver through the testing wireless multipath channel, wherein the testing wireless signal is impacted by the testing wireless multipath channel and a modulation of a testing object undergoing a testing motion in the testing venue;   obtaining a set of testing CI of the testing wireless multipath channel based on the testing wireless signal using a testing processor, a testing memory and a set of testing instructions;   performing a testing procedure associated with the monitoring of the object and the motion of the object by monitoring the testing object and the testing motion of the testing object based on the set of testing CI;   selecting, based on the testing procedure, the first and second locations from the candidate first locations and candidate second locations respectively as best locations with respect to a criterion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 determining a first relative positioning of the transmitter with respect to the first target device at the first location in the venue based on a first criterion and the testing procedure; and   determining a second relative positioning of the receiver with respect to the second target device at the second location in the venue based on a second criterion and the testing procedure.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the testing transmitter comprises at least one of: the transmitter, another transmitter, the receiver, another receiver or another wireless device;   the testing receiver comprises at least one of: the transmitter, another transmitter, the receiver, another receiver or another wireless device;   the testing venue comprises at least one of; the venue, the venue in a testing condition, or the venue without the object;   the testing object comprises at least one of: the object, the object performing the motion, a testing object with similar physical appearance as the object, a testing object with similar physical structure as the object, or a testing object with moveable parts similar to the object;   the testing motion comprises at least one of: the motion of the object, a part of the motion of the object, the motion of moveable parts of the object, or a target motion to be monitored in the monitoring task;   the testing wireless signal comprises at least one candidate wireless signal, one of the candidate wireless signal being the wireless signal;   each candidate wireless signal is associated with at least one of: at least one transmitting antenna, at least one receiving antenna, a carrier frequency, a frequency band, or a frequency hopping.   
     
     
         22 . A method for positioning and powering a wireless monitoring system, comprising:
 positioning a transmitter at a first location in a venue, wherein the transmitter is part of a first target device at the first location;   positioning a receiver at a second location in the venue, wherein the receiver is part of a second target device at the second location, wherein each of the first target device and the second target device comprises at least one of: a power supply unit, a power management unit, a power transfer unit, an energy storage unit, a power generation unit or an energy harvesting unit;   powering each of the transmitter and the receiver based on at least one of: the respective power supply unit, the respective power management unit, the respective power transfer unit, the respective energy storage unit, the respective power generation unit or the respective energy harvesting unit, of the respective target device;   transmitting a wireless signal from the transmitter through a wireless multipath channel of the venue;   receiving the wireless signal by the receiver through the wireless multipath channel, wherein the wireless signal is impacted by the wireless multipath channel and a modulation of an object undergoing a motion in the venue;   obtaining a set of channel information (CI) of the wireless multipath channel based on the wireless signal using a processor, a memory communicatively coupled with the processor and a set of instructions stored in the memory; and   monitoring, based on the set of CI, at least one of the object or a motion of the object.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 powering one of the first and second target devices by the respective energy storage unit of the respective target device charged by at least one of: the respective energy harvesting unit or an external power source;   charging the energy storage unit by the energy harvesting unit.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 positioning a testing transmitter at one of candidate first locations in a testing venue;   positioning a testing receiver at one of candidate second locations in the testing venue;   transmitting a testing wireless signal from the testing transmitter through a testing wireless multipath channel of the testing venue;   receiving the testing wireless signal by the testing receiver through the testing wireless multipath channel, wherein the testing wireless signal is impacted by the testing wireless multipath channel and a modulation of a testing object undergoing a testing motion in the testing venue;   obtaining a set of testing CI of the testing wireless multipath channel based on the testing wireless signal using a testing processor, a testing memory and a set of testing instructions;   performing a testing procedure associated with the monitoring of the at least one of the object or the motion of the object by monitoring at least one of the testing object or the testing motion of the testing object based on the set of testing CI;   selecting, based on the testing procedure, the first and second locations from the candidate first locations and candidate second locations respectively as best locations with respect to a criterion to install the first and second target devices respectively.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 positioning each of the transmitter and the receiver by securing the respective target device to its respective location based on a respective attachment feature, wherein the respective attachment feature comprises at least one of:
 a locking mechanism, push-pull coupling, plug-and-socket coupling, an attachable mechanism, detachable mechanism, a mechanical holder, or a fastener; and 
   attaching the respective attachment feature of the respective target device to a matching attachment feature at the respective location.   
     
     
         26 . A wireless monitoring system, comprising:
 a first target device positioned at a first location in a venue, wherein the first target device comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal through a wireless multipath channel of the venue;   a second target device positioned at a second location in the venue, wherein the second target device comprises a receiver configured to receive the wireless signal through the wireless multipath channel, wherein the wireless signal is impacted by the wireless multipath channel and a modulation of an object undergoing a motion in the venue,   wherein each of the first target device and the second target device comprises at least one of: a power supply unit, a power management unit, a power transfer unit, an energy storage unit, a power generation unit or an energy harvesting unit, for powering the transmitter and the receiver respectively; and   a processor configured for:
 obtaining a set of channel information (CI) of the wireless multipath channel based on the wireless signal, and 
 monitoring, based on the set of CI, at least one of the object or a motion of the object. 
   
     
     
         27 . The wireless monitoring system of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the processor is physically coupled to at least one of: the first target device, the second target device, a server, or another device of the wireless monitoring system;   one of the first and second target devices is powered by the respective energy storage unit of the respective target device charged by at least one of: the respective energy harvesting unit or an external power source; and   the energy storage unit is charged by the energy harvesting unit.   
     
     
         28 . The wireless monitoring system of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a testing transmitter positioned at one of candidate first locations in a testing venue, and configured for transmitting a testing wireless signal through a testing wireless multipath channel of the testing venue;   a testing receiver positioned at one of candidate second locations in the testing venue, and configured for receiving the testing wireless signal by the through the testing wireless multipath channel, wherein the testing wireless signal is impacted by the testing wireless multipath channel and a modulation of a testing object undergoing a testing motion in the testing venue, and   a testing processor configured for:
 obtaining a set of testing CI of the testing wireless multipath channel based on the testing wireless signal, 
 performing a testing procedure associated with the monitoring of the at least one of the object or the motion of the object by monitoring at least one of the testing object or the testing motion of the testing object based on the set of testing CI, 
 selecting, based on the testing procedure, the first and second locations from the candidate first locations and candidate second locations respectively as best locations with respect to a criterion to install the first and second target devices respectively. 
   
     
     
         29 . The wireless monitoring system of  claim 26 , wherein:
 each of the transmitter and the receiver is positioned by securing the respective target device to its respective location based on a respective attachment feature;   the respective attachment feature comprises at least one of:
 a locking mechanism, push-pull coupling, plug-and-socket coupling, an attachable mechanism, detachable mechanism, a mechanical holder, or a fastener; and 
   the respective attachment feature of the respective target device is attached to a matching attachment feature at the respective location.   
     
     
         30 . A wireless device of a wireless monitoring system, comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted by a transmitter through a wireless multipath channel of a venue, wherein:
 the wireless signal is impacted by the wireless multipath channel and a modulation of an object undergoing a motion in the venue, 
 the transmitter is part of a first target device positioned at a first location in the venue, 
 the wireless device is a second target device positioned at a second location in the venue, and 
 each of the first target device and the second target device comprises at least one of: 
   a power supply unit, a power management unit, a power transfer unit, an energy storage unit, a power generation unit or an energy harvesting unit, for powering the transmitter and the receiver respectively;   a processor communicatively coupled with the receiver;   a memory communicatively coupled with the processor; and   a set of instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 perform a test procedure to determine the first and second locations to install the first and second target devices respectively based on a criterion, wherein each of the first and second target devices is powered based on its respective location, 
 obtain a set of channel information (CI) of the wireless multipath channel based on the wireless signal, and 
 monitor, based on the set of CI, at least one of the object or a motion of the object.