AUTONOMOUS TRACKING WIRELESS IMAGING SENSOR NETWORK
First Claim
1. A wireless sensor network comprising:
- a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes are self-configurable and coupled to at least one remote system via at least one coupling and components over a wide area network, the nodes automatically organize to form the sensor network in response to information communicated among the nodes, the information including amount of power available to each of the nodes, the automatic organizing comprises automatically coupling and configuring the nodes to form the sensor network and automatically controlling data transfer, processing, and storage within the sensor network, functions of the nodes are remotely controllable and programmable via internetworking among the nodes by the remote system, and the nodes include at least one sensor to collect data from an environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless integrated network sensor (WINS) system is provided that integrates articulating tracking systems with WINS network components including visual or infrared sensors and imaging devices to enable precise tracking and targeting of objects moving through a sensor field or past a single integrated sensing and targeting unit. Further, arrays of sensors together with local signal processing are used to trigger cameras and tracking systems, and to provide an alternative location capability for improved robustness. The system is self-configuring and remotely controllable, and enables remote systems and operators to query for collected data, including sensory and image data, and control the system in response to the collected data.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wireless sensor network comprising:
- a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes are self-configurable and coupled to at least one remote system via at least one coupling and components over a wide area network, the nodes automatically organize to form the sensor network in response to information communicated among the nodes, the information including amount of power available to each of the nodes, the automatic organizing comprises automatically coupling and configuring the nodes to form the sensor network and automatically controlling data transfer, processing, and storage within the sensor network, functions of the nodes are remotely controllable and programmable via internetworking among the nodes by the remote system, and the nodes include at least one sensor to collect data from an environment.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A sensor node of a wireless sensor network comprising:
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at least one processor coupled to at least one communication device, the at least one processor automatically couples the sensor node to and configures the sensor node among a plurality of network elements and automatically controls communication with and control of a flow of information among the network elements, the information including amount of power available to each of the network elements, the network elements are self-configurable and couple among an environment and at least one remote client system, via at least one coupling and components over a wide area network, to support remote controllability of the sensor node via the remote client system; and
at least one articulating sensor to gather information from the environment. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of collecting data in a wireless sensor network, comprising:
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automatically organizing a plurality of network elements including a plurality of nodes locally disposed among an environment and at least one remote client system, the plurality of nodes are self-configurable, the organizing includes automatically coupling and configuring the plurality of nodes for self-assembly and further includes coupling and controlling a flow of information among the network elements, the information including amount of power available to each of the nodes, and at least one of the plurality of nodes includes an articulating sensor;
remotely controlling at least one function of the plurality of nodes, via at least one coupling and components over a wide area network, using the at least one remote client system;
detecting a target in the environment using information gathered by the articulating sensor; and
collecting and transferring data associated with the target to the remote client system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A sensor network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein:
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the plurality of nodes comprises a first node including at least one sensor to collect data from an environment;
the plurality of nodes is coupled to communicate with at least one remote system;
the plurality of nodes automatically couples and configures to form the sensor network in response to information communicated among the plurality of nodes;
at least one function of the plurality of nodes is remotely controllable; and
the plurality of nodes distributes processing of the collected data from the first node to another of the plurality of nodes in response to the available node energy of at least one of the plurality of nodes. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for collecting and processing data in a sensor network, comprising:
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automatically coupling a plurality of nodes among an environment, wherein the plurality of nodes includes a first node having at least one processor and at least one sensor coupled to provide data to the at least one processor, and wherein the plurality of nodes are surveyed at random intervals for new nodes;
collecting data from the environment using the at least one sensor; and
remotely controlling at least one function of the plurality of nodes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification