A sensor device comprising: a transceiver; a programmable processor; and executable control software stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein at least the transceiver is in a low power sleep mode until the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a first condition, said first condition is a clock interrupt comprising a Manchester edge triggering event, expiration of a beacon, or check-in time event, wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect the first condition, the transceiver 1218) exits the low power sleep mode and the programmable processor and the executable software construct and transmit a check-in message, via the transceiver, to a remote device, and wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a third condition, the transceiver enters the low power sleep mode, characterized in that when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a second condition, the transceiver remains out of the low power sleep mode until detection of the third condition, and wherein the second condition includes receipt of an acknowledgement message from the remote device that includes an asserted stay awake indication, wherein, after receipt of the acknowledgement message from the remote device that includes the asserted stay awake indication and receipt of a reconfiguration message from the remote device, said sensor device after successful reconfiguration of itself transmits an acknowledgement to indicate successful reconfiguration, and wherein said third condition is detected subsequent to said transmission of said acknowledgement indicating successful reconfiguration, said third condition is the reception from the remote device of an acknowledgement indicating that reconfiguration is complete and/or that the sensor device may return to the low power sleep mode a transceiver; a programmable processor; and executable control software stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein at least the transceiver is in a low power sleep mode until the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a first condition, said first condition is a clock interrupt comprising a Manchester edge triggering event, expiration of a beacon, or check-in time event, wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect the first condition, the transceiver 1218) exits the low power sleep mode and the programmable processor and the executable software construct and transmit a check-in message, via the transceiver, to a remote device, and wherein, when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a third condition, the transceiver enters the low power sleep mode, characterized in that when the programmable processor and the executable control software detect a second condition, the transceiver remains out of the low power sleep mode until detection of the third condition, and wherein the second condition includes receipt of an acknowledgement message from the remote device that includes an asserted stay awake indication, wherein, after receipt of the acknowledgement message from the remote device that includes the asserted stay awake indication and receipt of a reconfiguration message from the remote device, said sensor device after successful reconfiguration of itself transmits an acknowledgement to indicate successful reconfiguration, and wherein said third condition is detected subsequent to said transmission of said acknowledgement indicating successful reconfiguration, said third condition is the reception from the remote device of an acknowledgement indicating that reconfiguration is complete and/or that the sensor device may return to the low power sleep mode