System and method for autonomous interaction among neighboring sensors in a network of sensors

• US 20070080799A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Werenka, Leon
• Granted Patent: US 7,518,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Sensors in a network each have a geographical location and they each periodically broadcast this information to all the sensors in the network. Each receiving sensors then builds a list of sensors (neighbor list) that are closest to that sensor by computing the distance between itself and the other sensors. This list can then be used along with a decision algorithm to decide whether that sensor should act or perform a command when it receives a message from other sensors. In one embodiment, a sensor can use the neighbor list to command a specific other sensor(s) to perform a specific function.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

memory for storing geographical location information therein, said location information pertaining to other sensors; and

a communication device for sending to a network of sensors a geographical location of said sensor.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said communication device is further operable for sending data pertaining to a particular sensor observed phenomenon.

3. The sensor of claim 2 wherein said sent data comprises, at least in part, data pertaining to the identity of said sending sensor.

4. The sensor of claim 2 wherein said sent data comprises, at least in part, data pertaining to the physical location of said sending sensor.

5. The sensor of claim 2 wherein said particular sensor phenomenon is sent only to certain of said sensors in said network.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein said certain sensors are selected based on geographical location information stored in said sensor.

7. The sensor of claim 2 further comprising:

a processor for taking action based on received one of said sensor observed phenomenon from other sensors, said action in accordance with other data previously stored in said sensor.

8. The sensor of claim 7 wherein said previously stored other data comprises, at least in part, the geographical location of said other sending sensor.

9. The sensor of claim 8 wherein said other data comprises, at least in part, the relative distance between said sensor and said other sending sensor.

10. The sensor of claim 6 wherein said processor is further operable for performing an action under control of received ones of said sensor observed phenomenon, when said sensor observed phenomenon is sent specifically to said sensor.

11. The sensor of claim 6 wherein said data sent to specific other sensors includes instructions to said specific sensor for performing at least one specific task.

12. A method of sensor operation in a network of sensors, said operation comprising:

determining a phenomenon at one of said sensors, and performing a particular task at another one of said sensors based on data sent from said one of said sensors, said data dependent upon said measured phenomenon and said task being controlled, at least in part, based on relative geographical location data transmitted among said network of sensors, and at least in part, by said sent data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said particular task is controlled by said data sending sensor.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said particular task is controlled by program logic at said another one of said sensors.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said another one of said sensors is a particular sensor identified as being in a specific geographical area relating to said sending sensor.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said another of said sensors is a particular sensor which identifies itself based on the fact that said particular sensor is in a specific geographical area relative to said sending sensor.

17. A sensor comprising:

means for measuring physical attributes at the geographical location of said sensor; and

means for transmitting at least one of said measured physical attributes to at least one other sensor in a geographical area related to said geographical location of said sensor.

18. The sensor of claim 17 further comprising:

means for determining the geographical locations of a plurality of other sensors; and

means for determining said at least one other sensor based on geographical location data of a plurality of sensors determined by said sensor.

19. The sensor of claim 17 further comprising:

means for determining the geographical location of said sensor; and

means for including in said transmitting of said measured attribute said determined geographical location.

20. The sensor of claim 19 wherein said sensor further comprises:

means for receiving from other sensors transmitted measured attributed; and

means for initiating an action based upon the relative geographical locations between said receiving sensors and a sending sensor and based on the content of said transmitted physical attributes.