Cloud-enabled low power Wi-Fi sensor

Abstract

A cloud-enabled low power Wi-Fi device is provided that includes a transceiver, a programmable processor, and executable control software stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The transceiver can be in a low power sleep mode until the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a first condition. When the programmable processor and the executable control software detect the first condition, the transceiver can exit the low power sleep mode and the programmable processor and the executable software can construct and transmit a message, via the transceiver, to a remote device. When the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a second condition, the transceiver can reenter the low power sleep mode.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A wireless device comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a programmable processor; and 
 executable control software stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, 
 wherein at least the transceiver is in a low power sleep mode until the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a first condition, 
 wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect the first condition, the transceiver exits the low power sleep mode and the programmable processor and the executable software construct and transmit a message, via the transceiver, to a remote device, 
 wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a second condition, the transceiver enters the low power sleep mode, 
 wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a third condition, the transceiver remains out of the low power sleep mode until detection of a fourth condition, and 
 wherein the third condition includes receiving a first acknowledgement message from the remote device that includes an asserted stay awake indication. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein the first condition includes at least one of an event detection and expiration of a first predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       3. The wireless device according to  claim 2  wherein the second condition includes at least one of receiving a second acknowledgement message from the remote device and expiration of a second predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       4. The wireless device according to  claim 3  wherein at least one of the message and the second acknowledgement message is at least partially encrypted or is at least partially protected by a cryptographic message integrity code. 
     
     
       5. The wireless device according to  claim 2  wherein the second condition includes at least one of receiving a second acknowledgement message from the remote device, completing a retransmission of the message a predetermined number of times, and waiting a second predetermined period of time after each retransmission of the message. 
     
     
       6. The wireless device according to  claim 5  wherein the first predetermined period of time is adjustable based on occurrences of the second condition. 
     
     
       7. The wireless device according to  claim 3  wherein the remote device transmits the second acknowledgement message immediately after receiving the message so as to minimize a period of time the transceiver remains out of the low power sleep mode. 
     
     
       8. The wireless device according to  claim 3  wherein the remote device transmits the second acknowledgement message immediately after receiving the message so as to minimize energy consumed by the transceiver before entering the low power sleep mode. 
     
     
       9. The wireless device according to  claim 3  wherein the second predetermined period of time includes a time period longer than an expected round trip time period, and wherein the expected round trip time period includes a time for transmission of the message from the transceiver to the remote device, plus a time for processing the message at the remote device, plus a time for transmission of the second acknowledgement message from the remote device to the transceiver. 
     
     
       10. The wireless device according to  claim 3  wherein the transceiver includes a wake period during which the transceiver remains out of the low power sleep mode during transmission of the message to the remote device and during reception of the second acknowledgement message from the remote device. 
     
     
       11. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein the remote device includes at least one of a cloud server and a web server. 
     
     
       12. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein the message includes a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) message, and wherein the transceiver converts from communicating with the remote device via the UDP message to communicating with the remote device via a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection when a fifth condition is detected. 
     
     
       13. The wireless device according to  claim 12  wherein the fifth condition includes detecting a need for a continued dialog with higher throughput or detecting a need for communication with higher reliability. 
     
     
       14. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein the transceiver is associated with an access point local to a region in which the wireless device is located, and wherein the transceiver maintains an association with the access point while in the low power sleep mode. 
     
     
       15. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein the fourth condition includes receiving a second acknowledgement message from the remote “devices” that includes a de-asserted stay awake indication. 
     
     
       16. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein, after receipt of the first acknowledgement message from the remote device that includes the asserted stay awake indication, the remote device transmits a reconfiguration message to the transceiver. 
     
     
       17. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software fail to detect the second condition for a predetermined period of time, the programmable processor and the executable control software retransmit the message, via the transceiver, to the remote device. 
     
     
       18. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein the message includes at least one of an event message, a periodic time interval report message, a configuration message, a reconfiguration message, and a second acknowledgement message. 
     
     
       19. The wireless device according to  claim 1  wherein the transceiver receives a configuration message from the remote device and responsive thereto, the programmable processor and the executable control software execute configuration actions, and wherein the programmable processor and the executable control software transmit, via the transceiver, a second acknowledgement message of the configuration message to the remote device. 
     
     
       20. The wireless device according to  claim 19  wherein the second condition includes receiving at least one message with a de-asserted stay awake indication and completing transmission of the second acknowledgement message. 
     
     
       21. A method comprising:
 entering a low power sleep mode; 
 remaining in the low power sleep mode until detection of a first condition; 
 responsive to detecting the first condition, exiting the low power sleep mode and constructing and transmitting a message to a remote device; 
 responsive to detecting a second condition, reentering the low power sleep mode; and 
 responsive to detecting a third condition, remaining out of the low power sleep mode until detection of a fourth condition, 
 wherein the third condition includes receiving a first acknowledgement message from the remote device that includes an asserted stay awake indication. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein the first condition includes at least one of an event detection and expiration of a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21  wherein the second condition includes at least one of receiving a second acknowledgement message from the remote device, expiration of a predetermined period of time, and retransmitting the message a predetermined number of times. 
     
     
       24. A cloud server comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a programmable processor; and 
 executable control software stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, 
 wherein, upon receipt of a first message from a wireless device, via the transceiver, the programmable processor and the executable control software determine whether a reconfiguration request for the wireless device is pending and responsive thereto transmit a second message, via the transceiver, to the wireless device, 
 wherein, when the reconfiguration request for the wireless device is pending, the second message includes at least one of a reconfiguration message, a stay awake message, and an acknowledgement message with an asserted stay awake bit instructing a wireless device transceiver to remain out of a low power sleep mode, and 
 wherein, when the reconfiguration request for the wireless device is not pending, the second message includes an acknowledgement message with a de-asserted stay awake bit instructing the wireless device transceiver to enter a low power sleep mode. 
 
     
     
       25. The cloud server of  claim 24  wherein, when the reconfiguration request for the wireless device is pending, the programmable processor and the executable control software retransmit the second message, via the transceiver, to the wireless device until the programmable processor and the executable control software receive, via the transceiver, an acknowledgement message of the second message from the wireless device within a first predetermined period of time, until a second predetermined period of time has expired, or until the programmable processor and the executable control software retransmit the second message, via the transceiver, a predetermined number of times.