Aggregation and retrieval of network sensor data

• US 20060026118A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence T., Jung, Edward K.Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems that aggregate and retrieve network sensor data. In one approach, an exemplary method includes receiving a plurality of instances of correlated sensor data from a plurality of remote data storages, each instance of sensor data respectively correlating to an occurrence. In another approach, an exemplary method includes receiving from an input-selector an input selection corresponding to a target-occurrence having at least one representative feature, and searching stored sensor data for sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence.

Claims

1. A data system, comprising:

(a) a computing device operable to communicate with a local data storage device and with a remote data storage operable to store a plurality of instances of sensor data, each instance of sensor data correlating to a respective occurrence; and

(b) instructions, which when implemented in a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps including;

(i) receive the plurality of instances of sensor data from the remote storage device;

(ii) store the received plurality of instances of correlated sensor data in the local data storage device;

(iii) receive an input selection corresponding to a target-occurrence having at least one representative feature;

(iv) automatically search the stored plurality of instances of sensor data for sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence; and

(v) if sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence is found, provide the correlating sensor data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the search for sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence includes correlating to at least one representative feature of the occurrence.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one occurrence includes a real world event.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one occurrence includes a real world incident.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one occurrence includes a change in a data sequence.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one occurrence includes a change in a time domain.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instances of sensor data include a first instance of sensor data correlating to a respective first occurrence and a second instance of sensor data correlating to a respective second occurrence.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second occurrences relate to substantially a common time.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second occurrences relate to substantially a same location.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second occurrences include an at least substantially similar representative feature.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor data of the first occurrence relates a first matter and the sensor data of the second occurrence relates to a second matter.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second matters are substantially similar.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the representative feature is a frequency characteristic.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the frequency characteristic is an acoustic frequency characteristic.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the acoustic frequency characteristic includes an acoustic signature of a known event.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the frequency characteristic is a light frequency characteristic.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the representative feature is an amplitude characteristic.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the representative feature includes a frequency characteristic and an amplitude characteristic.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the representative feature is a magnetic characteristic.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the representative feature includes a repetitive sequence.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the repetitive sequence includes a chronological sequence.

22. An occurrence-data archival system, comprising:

(a) a computing device operable to communicate with a local data storage and a plurality of remote data storages; and

(b) instructions that cause a computing device to perform steps including;

(i) receive a plurality of instances of correlated sensor data from the plurality of remote data storages, each instance of sensor data respectively correlating to an occurrence; and

(ii) store the received plurality of instances of correlated sensor data in the archival data storage.

23. The system of claim 22, further including (c) a local data storage device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the local data storage device is operable as an archival data storage.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the correlating to an occurrence includes correlating to at least one representative feature of the occurrence.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one representative feature includes a sequence.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the occurrence includes a real world event.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the occurrence includes a real world incident.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of instances of sensor data include a first instance of sensor data correlating to a respective first occurrence and a second instance of sensor data correlating to a respective second occurrence.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the sensor data of the first occurrence relates a first matter and the sensor data of the second occurrence relates to a second matter.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first and second matters are substantially similar.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein each instance of sensor data includes a respective sequence.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the sequence includes a chronological sequence.

34. The system of claim 22, wherein each instance of sensor data was acquired by at least one sensor node of a plurality of distributed sensor nodes.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein each sensor node is part of a network of sensor nodes.

36. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one instance of the sensor data was acquired by a sensor node operable to sense at least one parameter.

37. The system of claim 22, further including (c) an information security measure operable to protect the plurality of instances of sensor data stored in the local data storage.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the information security measure protects by providing at least one item selected from a group consisting of information confidentiality, information integrity, and access control.

39. The system of claim 22, wherein the instructions further include (iii) delete a portion of the stored data from the at least one remote data storage.

40. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one instance of the received sensor data includes an associated tentative occurrence-identifier.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the tentative occurrence-identifier is associated by a method including:

(a) receiving an input selection corresponding to a target-occurrence having at least one representative feature;

(b) automatically selecting a pattern recognition criteria corresponding to at least one representative feature of the target-occurrence;

(c) searching sensor data for data correlating to the target-occurrence using the selected pattern recognition criteria; and

(d) if sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence representative feature is found, associating the tentative occurrence-identifier with the correlating sensor data.

42. A method implemented in a computing device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a plurality of instances of correlated sensor data from a plurality of remote data storages, each instance of sensor data respectively correlating to an occurrence;

(b) storing the received plurality of instances of correlated sensor data in a local data storage device; and

(c) protecting the stored plurality of instances of correlated sensor data with an information security measure.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the receiving step further includes receiving the plurality of instances of sensor data in response to a data push.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising (d) requesting the plurality of instances of sensor data from the remote data storage.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the information security measure protects the plurality of received instances of sensor data by providing at least one selected from a group consisting of information confidentiality, information integrity, and access control.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the occurrence includes a real world event.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the occurrence includes a real world incident.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the occurrence includes a change in a data sequence.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein the occurrence includes a change in a time domain.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the plurality of instances of sensor data include a first instance of sensor data correlating to a respective first occurrence and a second instance of sensor data correlating to a respective second occurrence.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the first and second occurrences happened at substantially a same time.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the first and second occurrences happened at substantially a same location.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the first and second occurrences include an at least substantially similar representative feature.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the sensor data of the first occurrence relates a first matter and the sensor data of the second occurrence relates to a second matter.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the first and second matters are substantially similar.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein each instance of sensor data includes a respective sequence.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the sequence includes a chronological sequence.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein each occurrence includes a sequence and representative feature.

59. The method of claim 50, wherein each instance of sensor data includes an associated tentative occurrence-identifier.

60. The method of claim 50, further comprising (d) deleting at least one of the plurality of instances of sensor data from its respective remote data storage.

61. A communication media containing computer instructions, which, when run on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the method of claim 50.

62. The communication media of claim 61, wherein the communication media is carried by a computer readable carrier.

63. A method comprising:

(a) moving a portable central computing device to location such that the portable central computing device communicates with at least one sensor node of a network of distributed sensor nodes, each sensor node operable to sense and store a plurality of data sets each respectively representing a respective feature, each respective feature having a correlation to an occurrence; and

(b) causing the central computing device to acquire at least one sensor data set.

64. The method of claim 63, further including (c) selecting through the central computing device a sensor data set to be transmitted from the at least one sensor node to the central computing device.

65. The method of claim 64, further including (d) confirming that the at least one selected sensor data set is acquired by the central computing device.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein each sensor node further includes operability to filter the plurality of data sets for a feature correlating to a target-occurrence.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein causing the central computing device to acquire at least one data set further includes causing the central computing device to acquire at least one data set having a feature correlating to the target occurrence.

68. An occurrence-data retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a computing device operable to communicate with a data storage operable to store a plurality of instances of sensor data acquired by at least one sensor node of a sensor network, each instance of sensor data correlating to a respective occurrence; and

(b) instructions, which when implemented in a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps including;

(i) receive from an input-selector an input selection corresponding to a target-occurrence;

(ii) automatically search the plurality of instances of sensor data stored in the data storage for sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence; and

(iii) if sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence is found, provide the correlating sensor data.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein each occurrence includes a representative feature.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the data storage is remote to the computing device.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the computing device communicates with at least one remote data storage through an intermediate computing device.

72. The system of claim 68, wherein the data storage is local to the computing device.

73. The system of claim 68, wherein the provide instruction further includes provide the correlating sensor data to the input-selector.

74. The system of claim 68, wherein the provide instruction further includes provide the correlating sensor data to a third party.

75. The system of claim 68, wherein the instructions further include:

(iv) receive the plurality of instances of sensor data from at least one remote data storage; and

(v) store the received plurality of instances of correlated sensor data in a local data storage.

76. An occurrence-data retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a local digital data storage device operable to store a plurality of instances of sensor data acquired from a plurality of sensor nodes of a network of distributed sensor nodes, each instance of sensor data correlating to at least one representative feature of an occurrence;

(b) a central computing device operable to communicate with the local digital data storage device; and

(c) instructions that cause the computing device to perform steps, including;

(i) receive from an input-selector an input selection corresponding to a target-occurrence having at least one representative feature;

(ii) automatically select a pattern recognition criteria corresponding to at least one representative feature of the target-occurrence;

(iii) in response to the input selection corresponding to the target-occurrence, automatically search the plurality of instances of stored sensor data for data correlating to the target-occurrence using the selected pattern recognition criteria; and

(iv) if sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence representative feature is found, provide the correlating sensor data.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the input-selector includes a machine.

78. The system of claim 76, wherein the input-selector includes a user.

79. The system of claim 76, wherein the pattern recognition criteria is automatically selected by the instructions in response to the target-occurrence.

80. The system of claim 76, wherein the input selection further includes a selection of a representative feature of the target-occurrence.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the pattern recognition criteria is automatically selected by the instructions in response to the input-selected representative feature.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the automatic search instruction includes using the pattern recognition criteria selected in response to the input-selected representative feature.

83. The system of claim 76, wherein the instructions further include (v) protect the plurality of instances of sensor data stored in the local digital data storage device from unauthorized access.

84. An occurrence-data retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a computing device operable to communicate with a plurality of data storage devices, each data storage device being a respective part of a sensor node of a network of distributed remote sensor nodes and operable to store plurality of instances of sensor data, and each instance of sensor data representing a feature sensed by a sensor element of the sensor node and correlating to a respective occurrence; and

(b) instructions, which when implemented in a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps including;

(i) receive from an input-selector an input selection corresponding to a target-occurrence having a representative feature, a recipient selection, and a tendered access authorization;

(ii) in response to the tendered access authorization, determine if at least one of the input-selector and recipient have an access right;

(iii) automatically select a pattern recognition criteria corresponding to the representative feature of the target-occurrence;

(iv) in response to the input selection corresponding to the target-occurrence, automatically search the plurality of instances of sensor data stored in the data storage device for data correlating to the target-occurrence using the selected pattern recognition criteria; and

(v) if sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence representative feature is found, and if at least one of the input-selector and recipient have an access right, provide the correlating sensor data to the recipient.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the input-selector includes a machine.

86. The system of claim 84, wherein the input-selector includes a user.

87. The system of claim 84, wherein the input-selector and the recipient are a same party.

88. The system of claim 84, wherein the recipient is a user.

89. The system of claim 84, wherein the recipient is a program running on another computing device.

90. The system of claim 84, wherein the data storage device includes a device selected from a group consisting of a local data storage device and a remote data storage device.

91. The system of claim 84, wherein the instructions further include, if neither the input-selector and recipient have an access right, not providing the correlating sensor data.

92. The system of claim 84, further including an information security measure protecting the sensor data stored in the data storage device from unauthorized access.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the information security access allows access to the sensor data upon receipt of a recognized data entry by the input-selector.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the recognized data entry includes a password.

95. The system of claim 92, wherein the information security access allows access to the sensor data upon receipt of a recognized biometric.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein the biometric includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a voice, finger, hand, face, and eye recognition.

97. An occurrence-data retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a data storage operable to store a plurality of instances of sensor data, each instance of sensor data correlating to at least one representative feature of a respective occurrence and including an associated tentative occurrence-identifier;

(b) a computing device operable to communicate with at the least one data storage device;

(c) an information security measure that controls access to the stored plurality of instances of sensor data; and

(d) instructions, which when implemented in a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps including;

(i) store the plurality of instances of sensor data in the data storage;

(ii) receive from an input-selector an input selection corresponding to a target tentative occurrence-identifier, and a tender of access authorization;

(iii) in response to the input selection corresponding to the target tentative occurrence-identifier, automatically search the plurality of instances of sensor data for tentative occurrence-identifiers correlating to the target tentative occurrence-identifier; and

(iv) if sensor data correlating to the target tentative occurrence-identifier is found, and if at least one of the input-selector and recipient possess an access right, provide the correlating sensor data.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein the data storage device includes a device selected from a group consisting of a local data storage device and a remote data storage device.

99. The system of claim 97, wherein the instructions further include, if neither the input-selector and recipient have an access right, not providing the correlating sensor data.

100. The system of claim 97, further including an information security measure protecting the sensor data stored in the data storage device from unauthorized access.

101. A method comprising:

(a) receiving from an input-selector an input selection corresponding to a target-occurrence having at least one representative feature;

(b) automatically searching a plurality of instances sensor data for sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence, each instance of sensor data correlating to an occurrence having at least one representative feature; and

(c) if sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence is found, providing the correlating sensor data.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the plurality of instances of sensor data are stored in a data storage.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the data storage includes a device selected from a group consisting of a data storage device local to the computing device and a data storage device remote to the computing device.

104. The method of claim 101, wherein the providing further includes indicating a ranking of at least two instances of the correlating sensor data in a hierarchy of the found correlating sensor data.

105. A communication media containing computer instructions which, when run on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the method of claim 101.

106. The communication media of claim 105, wherein the communication media is carried by a computer readable carrier.

107. A method implemented in a computing device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an input selection from an input-selector corresponding to a target-occurrence having a representative feature, a recipient selection, and a tendered access authorization;

(b) automatically selecting a pattern recognition criteria corresponding to the representative feature of the target-occurrence;

(c) in response to the input selection corresponding to the target-occurrence, automatically searching a plurality of instances of correlated sensor data for data correlating to the target-occurrence using the selected pattern recognition criteria, each instance of sensor data correlating to at least one representative feature of a respective occurrence;

(d) in response to the tendered access authorization, determine if at least one of the input-selector and the recipient posses an access right; and

(e) if sensor data correlating to the target-occurrence representative feature is found, and if at least one of the input-selector and the recipient have an access right, providing the correlating sensor data.

108. The method of claim 107, wherein the plurality of instances correlated sensor data are stored in a data storage device.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the data storage device is local to the computing device.

110. A method implemented in a computing device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an input selection from an input-selector corresponding to a tentative target-occurrence identifier, the target-occurrence having at least one representative feature, a recipient selection, and a tendered access authorization;

(b) in response to the input selection corresponding to the tentative target-occurrence identifier, automatically searching a plurality of instances of stored correlated sensor data for data correlating to the tentative target-occurrence identifier; and

(c) if sensor data correlating to the tentative target-occurrence identifier is found, providing the correlating sensor data.

111. The method of claim 110, wherein the instances of correlated sensor data are stored in a data storage device local to the computing device.

112. An occurrence-data archival system, comprising:

(a) a computing device operable to communicate with an archival data storage and remote data storage devices; and

(b) instructions that cause the computing device to perform steps, including;

(i) receive a plurality of sensor data sets from at least one of the remote data storage devices, each sensor data set representing a respective feature sensed by its respective remote storage device, the respective feature having a correlation to a reference; and

(ii) store the received plurality of sensor data sets in the archival data storage.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the reference of a first data set is a first occurrence

114. The system of claim 112, wherein the reference of a second data set is a second occurrence.

115. The system of claim 114, wherein the first occurrence and the second occurrence are at least substantially the same.

116. A method implemented in a computing device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a plurality of sensor data sets from remote data storage devices, each sensor data set representing a respective feature sensed by its respective remote storage device, the respective feature having a correlation to a reference;

(b) storing the received plurality of sensor data sets in a local data storage device; and

(c) Applying an information security measure to the stored plurality of sensor data sets.

117. The method of claim 116, wherein the reference of a first data set is a first occurrence.

118. The method of claim 117, wherein the first reference is a temporal reference related to the first occurrence.

119. The method of claim 116, wherein the reference of a second data set is a second occurrence.

120. The method of claim 119, wherein the second reference is a temporal reference related to the second occurrence.

121. The method of claim 119, wherein the first occurrence and the second occurrence are at least substantially the same.

122. The method of claim 116, further including (c) protecting the received plurality of instances of correlated sensor data with an information security measure.

123. A data retrieval system, comprising:

(a) a local data storage device operable to store sensor data sets from remote data storage devices, each sensor data set representing a respective feature sensed by its respective remote storage device and having a correlation to a reference;

(b) a computing device operable to communicate with a local data storage device; and

(c) instructions, which when implemented in a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps including;

(i) receive from an input-selector an input selection corresponding to a target-reference;

(ii) automatically search the instances of sensor data stored in the data storage device for sensor data correlating to the target-reference; and

(iii) if sensor data correlating to the target-reference is found, provide the correlating sensor data.