Synchronized delivery from multiple devices

Abstract

Synchronizing data delivery from a multitude of devices includes receiving, at a first one of the devices, a transmission containing data and delaying initiation of delivery of the received data from the first device to a module by am amount of time. After passage of the amount of time, delivery of the received data from the first device to the module is initiated. This can allow the first device to initiate delivery of the data to the module in synchronized fashion with other ones of the devices initiating delivery of the data to respective modules.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of synchronizing data delivery from a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a first one of the devices, a transmission containing data;   delaying initiation of delivery of the received data from the first device to a module, wherein the initiation of delivery of the data is delayed by a first amount of time based, at least in part, on (i) a predetermined value representing a second amount of time over which a maximum number of attempted data transmissions needs to occur in order to achieve at least a specified probability that all the devices receive the data, and (ii) a time interval indicative of how long it took, since an initial transmission attempt, for the first device to receive the data; and   after passage of the first amount of time, initiating delivery of the received data from the first device to the module.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first device initiates delivery of the data to the module in synchronized fashion with other ones of the devices initiating delivery of the data to respective modules. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first device receives the transmission containing the data at a time that differs from a time at which at least one of the other devices received a transmission containing the data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further including powering down the first device for operation in a low-power mode during the first amount of time while the initiation of the delivery of the data is delayed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the initiation of delivery of the data from the first device is delayed by a first amount of time equal to a difference between the predetermined value and the time interval. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transmission containing the data also contains a transmission attempt number indicating a number of times transmission of the data to the first device has been attempted during a particular time period. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the particular time period commences with the initial transmission attempt and concludes when the second amount of time passes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the time interval indicative of how long it took, since the initial transmission attempt, for the first device to receive the data is based, at least in part, on the transmission attempt number contained in the transmission received by the first device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first device wirelessly receives the transmission containing the data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the specified probability that all the device receive the data is at least 99%. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first transceiver operable to receive and transmit communications; and   a timer to track a first amount of time based, at least in part, on (i) a predetermined value representing a second amount of time over which a maximum number of attempted data transmissions needs to occur in order to achieve at least a specified probability that each of a plurality of transceivers receives the data, and (ii) a time interval indicative of how long it took, since an initial transmission attempt, for the first transceiver to receive the data; and   a processor, and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 in response to receiving a transmission containing data, delay, by the first amount of time, initiation of delivery of the received data by the first transceiver to another device; and 
 after passage of the first amount of time, initiate delivery of the received data by the first transceiver to the other device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the processor is operable to power down the apparatus for operation in a low-power mode during the first amount of time while the initiation of the delivery of the data is delayed. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the processor is operable to delay initiation of delivery of the data by the first transceiver by a first amount of time equal to a difference between the predetermined value and the time interval. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the time interval indicative of how long it took, since the initial transmission attempt, for the apparatus to receive the data is based, at least in part, on a transmission attempt number contained in the transmission received by the apparatus, wherein the transmission attempt number indicates a number of times transmission of the data to the apparatus has been attempted during a particular time period. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the particular time period commences with the initial transmission attempt and concludes when the second amount of time passes. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the first transceiver is operable to wirelessly receive the transmission containing the data. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the specified probability that all the transceivers receive the data is at least 99%. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a sensor;   a plurality of devices operable to receive and send communications;   a transmitter coupled to the sensor and operable to send communications containing sensor data to the plurality of devices; and   a plurality of output modules each of which is operable to receive communications from a respective one of the devices,   wherein each particular one of the plurality of devices is operable to:
 receive, from the transmitter, a respective communication containing sensor data; 
 delay initiation of delivery of the received sensor data from the particular device to a respective one of the output modules by a first amount of time based, at least in part, on (i) a predetermined value representing a second amount of time over which a maximum number of attempted data transmissions needs to occur in order to achieve at least a specified probability that all the devices receive the sensor data, and (ii) a time interval indicative of how long it took, since an initial transmission attempt by the transmitter, for the particular device to receive the sensor data; and 
 after passage of the first amount of time, initiate delivery of the sensor data from the particular device to the respective one of the output modules. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of devices are operable to initiate delivery of the sensor data to the respective output modules in synchronized fashion. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the devices receives the respective communication containing the sensor data at a time that differs from a time at which one or more other ones of the devices receive the respective communication containing the sensor data. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the amount of delay is customized for each respective one of the plurality of devices.