FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a cluster based system, and more particularly a wireless cluster based system for communication between sensor networks.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Based on current technology, a tire pressure monitoring system typically involves sensors attached to each tire of the vehicle and each sensor will transmit their readings to an in-car unit (where the readings are displayed to be viewed by the user) typically located at the head of the vehicle. Each sensor on each tire needs to be paired with the in-car unit. However, when dealing with trucks, lorries and other vehicles that have many tires and an elongated body, the sensors at the back end of the vehicle may not be able to transmit data to the in-car unit due to insufficient strength of such transmissions. This is further complicated when detachable trailers are involved as the distance of the sensors from the in-car unit may further increase.

The usual manner of overcoming the above problem is by incorporating signal boosters or routers along the vehicle whereby the booster or repeater will act to amplify or replicate the signal of sensors located further away from the in-car unit in order for it to be able to reach the in-car unit at the head of the vehicle. This however is not an efficient manner of transmitting signals / data as its power consumption is significantly higher. Furthermore, where more than one booster / repeater is required, the path of communications is one way whereby one booster / repeater carries the signal / data to the next booster / repeater. In the event where any one of the booster / repeater in the chain of communications is absent, it will be disrupted and the signal / data will not reach the in-car unit. This problem also exists where multiple trailers are involved as trailers are frequently switched in and out of vehicles. Where trailers are switched out or their order rearranged, the initial chain of communications will no longer function as intended and signal / data from the sensors may not be properly communicated to the in-car unit.

In the context of the above problems, where each individual sensor requires to be paired to the in-car unit, any reduction, addition or changes in the positioning of trailers will require a re-pairing of all sensors involved to the in-car unit. This is undoubtedly a tedious and time-consuming process and may even be susceptible to further human errors in the re-pairing process. The use of boosters / repeaters may also pose a problem in terms of security and accuracy of transmissions. A booster's function is predominantly to amplify transmissions whilst a repeater acts to replicate the transmission. This may lead to situations where unrelated transmissions (not originating from the sensors concerned) are coincidentally amplified / replicated or that the amplified / replicated transmissions from the sensors may be intercepted.

The use of such one way method of communication may also lead to longer delays between the in-car receiving updated transmissions as depending on the strength of the transmission from the sensors and/or the boosters as well as whether the transmission has been properly amplified from one booster / router to the next, the transmission may not reach the in-car unit at all possible times. As such, a better system of communication is desirable in order to preserve the accuracy of sensor signals / data as well as to provide the highest chance of all senso r signals / data to be communicated to the in-car unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless cluster based system for communication between sensor networks. Accordingly, the wireless cluster based system includes: a) at least one cluster module having a repeater in communication with at least one sensor unit for measuring at least one parameter relating to the condition of an article; wherein the repeater is adapted for sufficiently transmitting, storing, receiving, retrieving, accumulating, pairing, sharing and/or broadcasting data or other related information of the sensor unit among the at least one cluster module; and wherein the at least one cluster module is adapted to be either communicated or paired with any other cluster module(s) or with a main controller via the repeater.

It will be appreciated that the wireless communication between at least one cluster module, the repeater, the at least one sensor unit, and the controller is preferably performed by using Bluetooth Technology, WiFi, near field communication (NFC), Zigbee, ANT+ or any other wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection.

In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the article is preferably, but not limited to, a vehicle such as a trailer, truck or lorry, or other moving object.

It will be appreciated that the at least one sensor unit of the present invention is preferably disposed at each tire of the vehicle for measuring at least one parameter relating to the condition of the tire. By way of example but not limitation, the parameter relating to the condition of the tire measured by the sensor unit includes tire pressure, temperature, wheel speed, acceleration, and/or distance information of the vehicle. It will be appreciated that the cluster module of the present invention is adapted to be communicated or paired with other cluster module(s) via the repeater, such that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units are able to be retrieved from, transmitted to, shared or accumulated with any or all other cluster modules that are in communication or paired with each other.

Accordingly, the cluster modules are able to communicate or be paired with the main controller, such that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units or that have been received and accumulated from other cluster modules are able to be transmitted to or shared with the main controller.

By way of example but not limitation, the main controller is preferably an in-car unit of the vehicle.

Accordingly, the main controller of the present invention is adapted to communicate or be paired with a mobile device, such that data and/or related information received or collected by the main controller from the cluster modules are able to be transmitted to or shared with the mobile device.

It will be appreciated that the mobile device is adapted to be communicated with a cloud or network server, such that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units are able to be transmitted to, stored in, and retrieved from the cloud or network server.

The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless cluster based system for parallel communication between each cluster module amongst themselves and between each cluster module with the main controller in accordance with preferred exemplary of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cluster module of the present invention is adapted to be communicated or paired with other cluster module in series manner via a repeater according to preferred exemplary of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the cluster module of the present invention is adapted to be parallel communicated or paired with the main controller via the repeater according to preferred exemplary of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a wireless cluster based system for communication between sensor networks. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred exemplary of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred exemplary of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The wireless cluster based system for communication between sensor networks according to the preferred mode of carrying out the present invention will now be described in accordance to the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 3, either individually or in any combination thereof.

With reference to FIG. 1 , the wireless cluster system (100) generally includes at least one cluster module (200) having a repeater (300) in communication with at least one sensor unit (400) for measuring at least one parameter relating to the condition of an article in accordance with preferred exemplary of the present invention. By way of example but not limitation, the article may be a vehicle such as a trailer, truck or lorry, or other moving object.

In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the repeater (300) is adapted for sufficiently transmitting, storing, receiving / retrieving, accumulating, pairing, sharing and/or broadcasting data or other related information of the sensor unit (400) among at least one cluster module (200). It should be noted that at least one cluster module (200) is adapted to be either communicated or paired with any other cluster module(s) (200) or with a main controller (500) via the repeater (300).

By way of example but not limitation, the main controller (500) may be an in-car unit of the vehicle such as the trailer, truck or lorry, or other moving object. It will be appreciated that the wireless communication between the least one cluster module (200), the repeater (300), the at least one sensor unit (400), and the controller (500) may preferably, but not limited to, be performed by using Bluetooth Technology, WiFi, near field communication (NFC), Zigbee, ANT+ or any other wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection.

In the preferred exemplary, the at least one sensor unit (400) is preferably disposed at each tire of the vehicle for measuring at least one parameter relating to the condition of the tire. Accordingly, the parameter relating to the condition of the tire measured by the sensor unit (400) may include, but not limited to, tire pressure, temperature, wheel speed, acceleration, and/or distance information of the vehicle. It will be appreciated that the sensor unit (400) may be disposed inside the tire or at a valve stem of the tire. Optionally, the sensor unit (400) may either be wired or wireless communication with the repeater (300) depending upon the nature of application and/or usage requirements.

It should be noted that the cluster module (200) of the present invention is adapted to communicate or be paired with other cluster module(s) in a series manner via the repeater (300) (see FIG. 2). Accordingly, the cluster module (200) is adapted to communicate or be paired with other cluster module(s) via the repeater (300), such that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units are able to be retrieved from, transmitted to, shared or accumulated with any or all other cluster modules that are in communication or are paired with each other. The cluster modules are then adapted to communicate or be paired with the main controller (500) via the repeater (300), so that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units (400) or that have been received and accumulated from any or all other cluster module(s) (200) are able to be transmitted to or shared with the main controller (500).

In another preferred exemplary, at least one cluster module (200) of the present invention is adapted to be communicated or paired with the main controller (500) (see FIG. 3). Accordingly, the cluster module (200) may be communicated or paired with the main controller (500) via the repeater (300), such that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units are able to be transmitted to or shared with the main controller (500).

It will be appreciated that the wireless cluster system (100) is facilitated to allow any faulty or missing sensor unit(s) (400) to be replaced, such that each unpaired replacement sensor unit does not require to be paired with the main controller (500) and merely needs to be paired with the repeater (300) in its own cluster module (200). The main controller (500) will then accordingly be in receipt of updated signals / data from the repeater (300) concerned. Moreover, in the event that there are any changes to the tire numbers or positions of the cluster modules (200), the wireless cluster system (100) may still allow seamless communication to the main controller (500). This is possible since all cluster modules (200) are able to share and accumulate data / information amongst each other, the full set of accumulated data / information can thereafter be transmitted / shared to the main controller (500) by any one of the cluster module(s) (200) involved regardless of its positioning or distance in the chain of communication. Thus, as long as any one of the cluster module(s) (200) is in close enough proximity with the main controller (500), the chances of ensuring that the full set of accumulated data / information is consistently transmitted / shared to the main controller (500) is significantly improved. Additionally, the intermission between any updates of the sensor networks including the data or other related information of the sensor units among the cluster modules can be shortened because the system does not need to wait for each individual sensor to send up data via a one-way chain of communication.

It will also be appreciated that the wireless cluster system (100) is capable of integrating or incorporating encryption between at least one cluster module (200), the repeater (300), the at least one sensor unit (400), and the controller (500) into the wireless communication such that to ensure all units are in association therewith to avoid any violation or theft issues. Thus, the security is increased because each repeater has specific identification (ID) (e.g. the encryption data) and locked with each paired sensor.

Besides, the accuracy and efficiency for transmitting, storing, receiving / retrieving, accumulating, pairing, sharing and/or broadcasting data or other related information among the sensor networks can also be increased because the system does not boost random or unrelated signals from other sources. In addition, reassigning of ID can be made easier as the system does not require each sensor disposed at the tire to be repaired with the main controller (500). In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the main controller (500) is adapted to be communicated or paired with a mobile device (600), such that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units are able to be transmitted to or shared with the mobile device (600). If desired, the main controller (500) may optionally be provided with a display to exhibit all readings, sharing or related information, or parameters relating to the condition of the tire. It will be appreciate that any tire's pressure, for example, falls below a pre-determined threshold a trigger will be transmitted to the associated units to alert the user; otherwise it may be in sleep mode to conserve power consumption. By way of example but not limitation, the mobile device (600) may be a smartphone, cellular or mobile phone, IOS, Android, smart tablet, computer, laptop, personal digital assistants or any smart devices and the like. It will be appreciated that the pairing process may be initiated at anytime in the event that the user wishes to substitute, change, or switch to other different mobile communication unit or device.

If desired, the mobile device (600) is adapted to be wireless communicated with a cloud or network server (700), such that data and/or related information collected from the sensor units are able to be transmitted to or stored in the cloud or network server (700). Accordingly, all data and/or other related information / identities in the system can be stored in the cloud or network server (700) via the mobile device (600). It will be appreciated that the cloud or network server (700) may serve to store all parameters relating to the condition of the tire measured by the sensor unit (400). By the way of example but not limitation, the wireless communication between the mobile device (600) and the cloud or network server (700) may be by way of WiFi, near field communication (NFC), cellular network, or any other wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection. It will be appreciated that the mobile device (600) and the main controller (500) may also be adapted to receive data / information via Bluetooth or near field communication (NFC) from the repeater (300) of the cluster module(s) (200) even when the vehicle's ignition is switched off or the vehicle is stationary indefinitely.

Benefits or advantages of implementing the wireless cluster based system (100) are as follows:

a) the system does not require the paring of each individual sensor unit (400) disposed at each individual tire to the main controller (500);

b) any changes to the number of tires or position of cluster modules (200) would still allow seamless communication to the main controller (500); intermission between updates of data or other related information of the sensor units (400) among the cluster modules (200) can be shortened as the system does not need to wait for each sensor unit (400) to send up data to the main controller (500);

security is increased as each repeater (300) and sensor unit (400) can accommodate specific identification (ID) (e.g. the encryption data) and can be locked with each paired sensor;

accuracy and efficiency for transmitting, storing, receiving, retrieving, accumulating, pairing, sharing and/or broadcasting data or other related information among the sensor networks can be increased as the system does not boost random or unrelated signals from other sources;

easier for reassigning of ID as the system does not require the main controller (500) to be paired with each sensor unit (400) disposed at each tire. It should be noted that the arrangements or configurations of various units, components and/or elements used to carry out the above-mentioned embodiments are illustrative and exemplary only, and are not restrictive of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that those arrangements or configurations, components and/or elements used herein may be altered in a manner so as to obtain different effects or desired operating characteristics. As such, the above-described should not be construed as limiting in any way, but as a best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the principle and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would obvious to one skilled in the art intended to be included within the scope of following claims.