Method and apparatus reporting a vehicular sensor waveform in a wireless vehicular sensor network

• US 20060097894A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Original Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Inventors: Kavaler, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/941
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

The invention includes using multiple wireless vehicular sensor nodes to wirelessly receive multiple, time-interleaved vehicular waveform reports from the nodes. Each vehicular waveform report approximates a raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a magnetic sensor at the node based upon the presence of a vehicle. The vehicular waveform reports are products of this wirelessly receiving process. The invention includes apparatus supporting the above outlined process. The vehicular waveform reports may be time synchronized.

Claims

1. A method of using a first wireless vehicular sensor node and a second wireless vehicular sensor node, comprising the steps of:

wirelessly receiving a first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node time-interleaved with a second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

wherein said first vehicular waveform report approximates the first raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a first magnetic sensor at said first wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a first vehicle;

wherein said second vehicular waveform report approximates the second raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a second magnetic sensor at said second wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a second vehicle;

wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node operates said first magnetic sensor; and

wherein said second wireless vehicular sensor node operates said second magnetic sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second vehicle is said first vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second vehicle is distinct from said first vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node are included in a wireless vehicular sensor network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said wireless vehicular sensor network, includes:

each of said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said wireless vehicular sensor network, further includes:

an access point wirelessly communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node and with said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step wirelessly receiving is comprised of the step:

wirelessly receiving via said access point said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step:

said first wireless sensor node and said second wireless sensor node both receiving a time synchronization message;

wherein said first raw vehicular sensor waveform observed at said first wireless vehicular sensor node is time synchronized with said second raw vehicular sensor waveform observed at said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of said first and second wireless nodes both receiving said time synchronization message, further comprises the step:

said first wireless sensor node and said second wireless sensor node both wirelessly receiving said time synchronization message.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprises the step:

said access point sending said time synchronization message to said first wireless sensor node and said second wireless sensor node.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step wirelessly receiving said first vehicular waveform report time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report, further comprises the step:

wirelessly receiving said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node, when said first vehicle is within a first distance of said first magnetic sensor, and when said second vehicle is within a second distance of said second magnetic sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first distance is essentially the same as said second distance.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said first distance is distinct from said second distance.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein both said first distance and said second distance are at most three meters.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node includes said first magnetic sensor.

16. The method of claim 1, the step wirelessly receiving further comprises at least one of the steps of the group consisting of:

wirelessly receiving said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node

time-interleaved with a third vehicular waveform report from a third wireless vehicular sensor node;

wirelessly receiving said second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node

time-interleaved with said third vehicular waveform report from said third wireless vehicular sensor node; and

wirelessly receiving said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node

time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node, and

time-interleaved with said third vehicular waveform report from said third wireless vehicular sensor node.

17. The first vehicular waveform report and the second vehicular waveform report as products of the process of claim 1.

18. An apparatus implementing the method of claim 1, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a wireless vehicular sensor network, including;

said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node; and

an access point wirelessly communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving comprises:

means for wirelessly receiving via said access point said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said first wireless sensor node and said second wireless sensor node both wirelessly receive a time synchronization message;

wherein said raw vehicular sensor waveform observed at said first wireless vehicular sensor node is time synchronized with said second raw vehicular sensor waveform observed at said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprises:

said access point sending said time synchronization message to said first wireless sensor node and said second wireless sensor node.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said wireless vehicular sensor network supports at least one wireless communications standard.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said wireless vehicular sensor network supports at least one member of the group consisting of:

a version of the IEEE 802[period]15 communications standard;

a version of the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications standard;

a version of the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communications standard;

a version of the IS-95 communications standard; and

a version of the IEEE 802[period]11 communications standard.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said access point supports a wireless communications protocol incorporating elements of a Code Division Multiple Access communications scheme.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node includes said first magnetic sensor.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second wireless vehicular sensor node includes said second magnetic sensor.

28. The apparatus of claim 18,

wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node transmits said first vehicular waveform report when said first raw vehicular sensor waveform indicates said first vehicle is within said first distance;

and

wherein said second wireless vehicular sensor node transmits said second vehicular waveform report when said second raw vehicular sensor waveform indicates said second vehicle is within said second distance.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving may include at least one instance of at least one member of the group consisting of:

a computer at least partly implementing said method by wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node, and accessibly coupled to a memory including at least one program step included in a program system directing said computer in implementing said method;

a finite state machine at least partly implementing said method by wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

an inferential engine at least partly implementing said method by wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

wherein wirelessly communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node, includes;

communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report; and

wherein wirelessly communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node, includes;

communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report.

30. The apparatus of claim 29,

wherein said computer communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report, further comprises:

said computer communicating via an access point with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report;

wherein said computer communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report, further comprises;

said computer communicating via said access point with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report;

wherein said finite state machine communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report, further comprises;

said finite state machine communicating via an access point with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report;

wherein said finite state machine communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report, further comprises;

said finite state machine communicating via said access point with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report;

wherein said inferential engine communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report, further comprises;

said inferential engine communicating via an access point with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report; and

wherein said inferential engine communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report, further comprises;

said inferential engine communicating via said access point with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report;

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said access point, includes said means for wirelessly receiving.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said access point is a base station communicating with at least one member of the group consisting of:

said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node.