Adaptive network and method

• US 20070132846A1
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aceinna Transducer Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Memsic Transducer Systems Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Xu, Ning, Kapur, Rahul, Broad, Alan, Prabhu, Jaidev, Miller, Matt, Yang, Xin, Turon, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network. Interactions of local processors in modules that sense an intrusion determine the location and path of movements of the intruding object and control cameras in the modules to retrieve video images of the intruding object. Multiple operational frequencies in adaptive networks permit expansions by additional networks that each operate at separate radio frequencies to avoid overlapping interaction. Additional modules may be introduced into operating networks without knowing the operating frequency at the time of introduction. Remote modules operating as leaf nodes of the adaptive network actively adapt to changed network conditions upon awaking from power-conserving sleep mode. New programs are distributed to all or selected modules under control of the base station.

Claims

1. An adaptive network including a plurality of interactive modules, and comprising:

at least one of the modules operable as a leaf node in the network and operable in sleep mode of low-power expenditure and in active mode including, following transition from sleep mode, transmitting a burst of N number of messages;

at least another of the modules receiving the burst transmission and counting the messages received up to the number N of messages, said another module determining the portion of N messages received for transmitting a response message indicative of the portion of N messages received;

the at least one module receiving from said another module and other of the plurality of modules response messages that each indicate a portion of the N messages received thereby; and

said at least one of the modules selecting to communicate with a module of the plurality thereof from which response messages were received containing selection parameters including indication of portion of N messages received by each such module.

2. An adaptive network according to claim 1 in which the at least one module transmits the N number of messages at successive time intervals TI for a burst duration of N×

TI.

3. An adaptive network according to claim 1 in which successive ones of the N number of messages are transmitted at varied transmission strengths.

4. An adaptive network according to claim 1 in which a response message transmitted by said another module and by other of the plurality of modules includes indication of expenditure of energy associated with transmission through the network by each such module that transmits a response message;

and

said one module selects to communicate with a module of the plurality thereof from which a response message was received including indication of portion of N messages received and indication of energy expended associated with transmission through the network.

5. An adaptive network according to claim 4 in which said one module selects according to a logical combination of weighted parameters including highest indication of portion of N messages received and lowest indication of energy expenditure in response messages received from a plural number of modules in the network.

6. An adaptive network according to claim 4 in which said one module selects according to a logical combination of weighted parameters including indication of portion of N messages received and indication of energy expenditure and strength of response message received at said one module.

7. An adaptive network according to claim 2 in which said one module reverts to sleep mode of operation after an interval of N×

TI and receipt of response messages from a plural number of modules in the network.

8. An adaptive network according to claim 1 in which each of the modules transmitting a response message includes identification of such transmitting module;

and

said one module stores the identification of the selected module and reverts to sleep mode of operation.

9. A method of operating an adaptive network of a plurality of interactive modules including at least one module operable in a sleep mode of low-power expenditure and in active mode for receiving and transmitting messages, the method comprising:

transmitting from the at least one module a burst of N number of messages following transition from sleep mode to active mode;

receiving the burst transmission by at least another of the modules and by other of the plurality of modules and counting messages received by each such module up to the N number of messages;

determining the portion of N number of messages received by each of the at least another module and by other of the plurality of modules for transmitting from each such receiving module a response message indicative of the portion of N messages received thereby;

receiving by the one module response messages from said another module and other of the plurality of modules that each indicate a portion of the N messages received thereby; and

said one module selecting to communicate with a module of the plurality thereof from which response messages were received containing selection parameters including indication of the portion of N messages received by each such module.

10. The method according to claim 9 in which the at least one module transmits the N number of messages at successive time intervals TI for a burst duration of N×

TI.

11. The method according to claim 10 in which successive ones of the N number of messages are transmitted at varied transmission strengths.

12. The method according to claim 9 in which a response message transmitted by said another module and by other of the plurality of modules includes indication of expenditure of energy associated with transmission through the network by each such module that transmits a response message;

and

said one module selecting to communicate with a module of the plurality of modules from which a response message was received including indication of portion of N messages received and indication of energy expended associated with transmission through the network.

13. The method according to claim 12 in which said one module selects according to a logical combination of weighted parameters including highest indication of portion of N messages received and lowest indication of energy expenditure in response messages received from a plural number of modules in the network.

14. The method according to claim 12 in which said one module selects according to a logical combination of weighted parameters including indication of portion of N messages received and indication of energy expenditure and strength of response message received at said one module.

15. The method according to claim 10 in which said one module reverts to sleep mode of operation after an interval of N×

TI and receipt of response messages from a plural number of modules in the network.

16. The method according to claim 9 in which each of the modules transmitting a response message includes identification of such transmitting module;

and

said one module stores the identification of the selected module and reverts to sleep mode of operation.

17. An adaptive network including a control module and a plurality of interactive modules adaptively communicating with the control module, the network comprising:

at least one of the plurality of modules operable in sleep mode and in interactive mode as a leaf node in the network to selectively transmit a first message to the control module via communication channels between one or more of the plurality of modules in the network;

said control module being responsive to a first message received thereby to transmit a second message acknowledging receipt of the first message and inhibiting said one module from reverting to sleep mode for duration of a command transmitted thereto; and

said one module reverting to sleep mode following the duration of the command transmitted thereto from the control module.

18. An adaptive network according to claim 17 in which the control module retains a command for transmission to said one module in response to next transmission of said first message thereby and received by the command module.

19. A method for operating a self-adaptive network including a control module and a plurality of interactive modules adaptively communicating with the control module in which at least one of the plurality of modules is operable in sleep mode and in interactive mode as a leaf node in the network, the method comprising:

selectively transmitting a first message from said one module to the control module via communication channels between one or more of the plurality of modules and the control module;

transmitting from the control module in response to receipt thereby of a first message a second message acknowledging receipt of the first message and inhibiting said one module from reverting to sleep mode for duration of a command transmitted thereto; and

reverting said one module to sleep mode following the duration of the command transmitted thereto from the command module.

20. The method according to claim 19 in which the control module retains a command for transmission to the one module for transmission thereto in response to next transmission of said first message thereby received by the command module.

21. In an adaptive network of interactive modules, a computer-implemented program operable in a plurality of the modules for transmitting from at least one of the plurality of modules a burst of N number of messages;

receiving from other of the plurality of modules signals indicating a portion of N messages received by said other of the plurality of modules, and

communicating with a selected other of the plurality of modules from which a signal is received indicating largest portion of N messages received thereby.

22. The computer-implemented program according to claim 21 for transmitting successive ones of the N number of messages at successive time intervals TI for a burst duration of N×

TI.

23. The computer-implemented program according to claim 21 operable to determine the strength of said signals received from other of the plurality of modules;

and

selecting to communicate with other of the plurality of modules from which signal of greatest strength is received.

24. The computer-implemented program according to claim 23 operable to analyze signals received from other of the plurality of modules indicative of expenditures of energy by each such other of the plurality of modules in communicating within the adaptive network along communication channels including other of the interactive modules;

and

selecting to communicate with a module from which is received a logical combination of signals indicating highest portion of N messages and lowest expenditure of energy.

25. A computer-implemented program according to claim 21 operable for transmitting successive ones of the N number of messages at varied transmission strength.

26. In an adaptive network of interactive modules, a computer-implemented program operable in a plurality of the modules for receiving a portion of N number of messages transmitted thereto by another of the plurality of modules;

and

transmitting a responsive signal indicating the portion of the N number of messages received thereby.

27. The computer-implemented program according to claim 26 also operable to designate in the responsive message transmitted thereby an indication of expenditure of energy by such modules in communicating within the adaptive network along communication channels including other of the interactive modules.

28. In an adaptive network of interactive modules, a computer-implemented program operable in a plurality of the modules for transmitting from at least one of the plurality of modules an initial signal requesting response from other of the plurality of modules within transmission vicinity;

analyzing signal strength of responsive signals received from other of the plurality of modules within transmission vicinity of the at least one module; and

communicating with a selected other of the plurality of modules from which a response signal of highest signal strength is received.

29. The computer-implemented program according to claim 28 in which each of the plurality of modules is identified by a unique address, and

communicating includes selecting said other of the plurality of modules by the address thereof to communicate exclusively therewith.

30. In an adaptive network of interactive modules, a computer-implemented program operable in a plurality of the modules for transmitting from at least one of the plurality of modules an initial signal requesting response from other of the plurality of modules within transmission vicinity;

analyzing responsive signals containing indications of energy expenditures received by said at least one module from other of the modules within the transmission vicinity and incurred by other of the plurality of modules in communicating within the adaptive network along communication channels including one or more of the plurality of modules; and

communication with a selected other of the plurality of modules from which a responsive signal is received containing indication of the lowest energy expenditure.

31. The computer-implemented program according to claim 30 in which each of the plurality of modules is identified by a unique address;

and

communicating includes selecting said other of the plurality of modules by the address thereof to communicate exclusively therewith.

32. In an adaptive network of interactive modules, a computer-implemented program operable in a plurality of the modules for receiving a request signal from other of the plurality of modules requesting a responsive transmission;

and

transmitting from one of the plurality of modules in response to a request signal received thereby, a responsive signal containing indication of energy expenditure by said one module to communicate within the adaptive network along communication channels containing other of the plurality of modules.

33. The computer-implemented program according to claim 32 in which each of the plurality of modules is identified by a unique address;

and

transmitting a responsive signal from one of the plurality of modules includes indication of the unique address thereof.

34. A plurality of interactive modules for operating in a self-adaptive network, each module including a unique address and comprising:

means for transmitting a burst of a plural number N of messages;

means for analyzing a portion of N messages received thereby from another module;

means for transmitting a responsive signal including at least one of address, and analysis of portion of N messages received, and energy expended thereby communicating with one or more other modules forming a self-adaptive network;

means for analyzing strength of responsive signal received thereby; and

means for controlling communications exclusively with another module selected in response to one of address, and analysis of strength of received responsive signal, and analysis of portion of N messages received, and indication received thereby of energy expended by other modules to communicate within a self-adaptive network.

35. A module according to claim 34 in which the means for transmitting a burst alters transmission strength of successive ones of the N number of message.