Systems, methods, and devices for managing coexistence of multiple transceiver devices using control signals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9679454-B2
Application number	US-201514819376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2015
Priority date	Feb 6, 2015
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A camera device communicates using a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a first communication protocols, signals for configuring the camera device. Furthermore, the camera device communicates with one or more smart home devices using a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a second communication protocols, signals comprising one or more of alerts, control signals and status information to and from the one or more smart home devices. Furthermore, the camera device communicates using a third transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a third communication protocols, data corresponding to video captured by the camera device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for communicating via a plurality of transceivers, comprising:
at a camera device comprising a plurality of distinct transceivers configured for communication over respective communication protocols, one or more processors, and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors, wherein the plurality of distinct transceivers share transmission access for at least some communications:
communicating using a first transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, the first transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a first one of the communication protocols, signals for configuring the camera device;
communicating with one or more smart home devices using, a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, the second transceiver configured to transmit and receive, over a second one of the communication protocols, signals comprising one or more of alerts, control signals and status information to and from the one or more smart home devices, wherein at least some of the alerts, control signals and status information from the one or more smart home devices are high priority signals whose transmission is preferentially granted by a third transceiver of the plurality of transceivers; and
communicating using the third transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, wherein the third transceiver is configured to transmit, over a third one of the communication protocols, data corresponding to video captured by the camera device, and the third transceiver is configured to grant and deny transmission access to the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

wherein communicating using the first transceiver and communicating using the second transceiver are performed in accordance with transmission access being granted or denied by the third transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
data transmitted using the third transceiver comprises a video format configured for high-bandwidth transmissions: and
communicating using the first transceiver and/or communicating using the second transceiver includes transmitting data comprising a video format configured for low-bandwidth transmissions.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating using the second transceiver comprises:
concurrently with the transmission of data using the third transceiver, receiving intermittent signals from the one or more smart home devices and/or retransmitting received signals from the one or more smart home devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating using the third transceiver comprises receiving, and transmitting data at a data rate that is higher than a data rate at which the camera device communicates using the first transceiver and/or a data rate at which the camera device communicates using the second transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first communication protocol is based on the Bluetooth Low Energy standard;
the second communication protocol is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard; and
the third communication protocol is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.

6. The method of claim 1 , .further comprising:
detecting an activated priority control signal;
while detecting the activated priority control signal;
detecting activation of a radio request control signal by the second transceiver; and
in response to detecting activation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver, granting transmission access to the second transceiver and denying transmission access to the third transceiver.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
while continuing to detect the activated radio request control signal and the activated priority control signal, continuing to grant transmission access to the second transceiver and continuing to deny transmission access to the third transceiver.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, while detecting the activated priority control signal:
detecting a transmission request by the third transceiver; and
in response to detecting the transmission request by the third transceiver, and while detecting the activated radio request control signal by the second transceiver, continuing to grant transmission access to the second transceiver while continuing to deny transmission access to the third transceiver.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, while detecting the activated priority control signal:
detecting deactivation of the radio request control by the second transceiver: and
in response to detecting deactivation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver, revoking transmission access to the second transceiver and granting transmission access to the third transceiver.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
granting transmission access to the second transceiver and denying transmission access to the third transceiver comprises activating a grant control signal: and
revoking transmission access to the second transceiver and granting transmission access to the third transceiver comprises deactivating the grant control signal.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the activated priority control signal corresponds to an alarming mode of the second transceiver.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a deactivated priority control signal;
while detecting the deactivated priority control signal:
detecting activation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver;
in response to detecting activation of the radio request control signal by the second transceiver, granting transmission access to the second transceiver and denying transmission access to the third transceiver:
while transmission access is granted to the second transceiver, detecting a transmission request by the third transceiver and
in response to detecting the transmission request by the third transceiver, revoking transmission access to the second transceiver and granting transmission access to the third transceiver.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the transmission request by the third transceiver is detected while detecting the activated radio request control signal.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
while transmission access is granted to the third transceiver, detecting that a high priority transmission by the third transceiver is in progress: and
upon completion of the high priority transmission, granting transmission access to the second transceiver and revoking transmission access to the third transceiver.

15. A camera device, comprising:
a first and second antenna;
a first, second, and third transceiver, the first, second, and third transceivers sharing transmission access for at least some communications, wherein:
the first transceiver is configured to transmit and receive, over a first one of a plurality of distinct communication protocols, signals for configuring the camera device;
the second transceiver is configured to transmit and receive, over a second one of the plurality of distinct communication protocols, signals comprising one or more of alerts, control signals and status information to and from the one or more smart home devices, wherein at least some of the alerts, control signals and status information from the one or more smart home devices are high priority signals whose transmission is preferentially granted by the third transceiver: and
the third transceiver is configured to transmit, over a third one of the plurality of distinct communication protocols, data corresponding to video captured by the camera device, and is configured to grant and deny transmission access to the first transceiver and the s

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Mishra Shridhar Mubaraq
• Sivasithambaresan Arjuna

Classifications

• G08B25/10

  using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H04N7/188

  Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position (signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253) · CPC title

• G08B25/004

  Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi® not available use GSM · CPC title

• H04N7/183

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• G08B25/002

  Generating a prealarm to the central station · CPC title