Wireless networking communication methods, systems, and devices operable using harvested power

US10187177B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Washington · US

Inventors

• Shyamnath Gollakota · Seattle, US
• Joshua R. Smith · Seattle, US
• David Wetherall · Burlingame, US
• Bryce Kellogg · Seattle, US
• Aaron N. Parks · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 11, 2015
• Grant date: Jan 22, 2019
• Expiry date: Jul 15, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

Example devices described herein include endpoint devices which may communicate with an access point device by modulating a channel associated with the wireless communication to encode transmit data. The channel modulation may be performed by utilizing a switch to control an impedance of an antenna at the endpoint device to either reflect or absorb wireless network communication signals received by the endpoint device. The access point device may extract the transmit data by decoding changes in the channel caused, at least in part, by the modulation. Access point devices may transmit a pattern of packets—the presence or absence of which may correspond with transmit data. Endpoint devices may decode this data by using an energy detector to differentiate between the presence or absence of a packet.