System and method for using mobile collectors for accessing a wireless sensor network
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- using at least one mobile data collector, having mobility that is unpredictable to a wireless sensor network, for performing at least one of data collection from and data communication to at least one sensor in said wireless sensor network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided that use mobile collectors for accessing a wireless sensor network. In certain embodiments, one or more mobile collectors having mobility that is unpredictable to a wireless sensor network are deployed for use in accessing the wireless sensor network. Thus, rather than relying on an access technique having certainty designed therein with regard to the access of a wireless sensor network, certain embodiments utilize an access technique that relies on statistical probability for accessing the wireless sensor network. For instance, by deploying a plurality of mobile collectors that are operable for accessing a wireless sensor network, a statistical probability exists that at some point (or at various points in time) at least one of the mobile collectors will travel within range of the wireless sensor network to enable access thereof.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
using at least one mobile data collector, having mobility that is unpredictable to a wireless sensor network, for performing at least one of data collection from and data communication to at least one sensor in said wireless sensor network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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deploying a plurality of mobile collectors that are each operable to communicatively access a node of a wireless sensor network and that are each independently movable; and
employing an application that desires communication access with at least one node of the wireless sensor network, wherein said application relies on statistical probability that at least one of the plurality of mobile collectors will travel in communication range of the at least one node of the wireless sensor network for performing the desired communication. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system comprising:
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a wireless sensor network having a plurality of nodes, wherein at least one of said plurality of nodes comprises a) an interface for communicating via wireless communication with other nodes of said wireless sensor network and b) an interface for communicating via a transient communication link with a mobile collector;
at least one mobile collector comprising a first interface having a first range of communication for communicating with a node in said wireless sensor network, and said at least one mobile collector comprising a second interface for communicating with a node external to said wireless sensor network wherein said second interface is operable for communicating a range longer than said first range; and
wherein said node external to said wireless sensor network relies on said at least one mobile collector for accessing said wireless sensor network for performing at least one of a) collecting data from said wireless sensor network and b) communicating data to said wireless sensor network, and wherein an access pattern of said at least one mobile collector accessing of said wireless sensor network is not predefined. - View Dependent Claims (35, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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36. The system of 34 wherein said interface for communicating via wireless communication with other nodes of said wireless sensor network and said interface for communicating via a transient communication link with a mobile collector are a common interface of said at least one of said plurality of nodes.
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41. A system comprising:
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a wireless sensor network comprising a plurality of means for measuring a characteristic of an environment and communicating via short range wireless communication; and
a plurality of means for accessing at least one of the measuring means for performing a desired communication therewith, wherein said plurality of access means are independently movable and are capable of travelling outside communication range of the wireless sensor network, and wherein a statistical probability exists that at least one of the accessing means will travel within range of said at least one of the measuring means to enable the accessing means to perform the desired communication with said at least one of the measuring means. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A method comprising:
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using at least one mobile data collector for performing at least one of data collection from and data communication to at least one node of a wireless sensor network;
said at least one mobile data collector determining if it is in range for transient communication with said at least one node; and
if determined that said at least one mobile data collector is in range for transient communication with said at least one node, said at least one mobile data collector communicating a wake-up signal to said at least one node to cause it to increase its power to a level suitable for communication. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification