abstract |
A low aggregate power consumption wireless communication network comprising: a plurality of wireless transceiver subsystems systems configured for distributed installation within a physical region, each transceiver subsystem comprising: a listening device configured to receive radio frequency transmissions; a wireless transceiver; and a power controller operatively connected to the listening device and the wireless transceiver, the power controller being configured to cause the wireless transceiver to assume a low power sleep state and transition to an awake state in response to a trigger from the listening device, the listening device being configured to monitor received transmissions for a network access request signal, indicative of a need for utilisation of the wireless transceiver, and in response to receiving the network access request signal, trigger the power controller to cause transition of the transceiver from a sleep state to an awake state, whereby network communication functionality is enabled for the subsystem. |