Automatic discovery and classification of detectors used in unattended ground sensor systems

• US 20080111680A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Presicci, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,605,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• 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: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An interface includes a port that communicates with one of N detectors, where N is an integer greater than 1. A classification module communicates with the port and classifies the detector as one of an analog detector and a digital detector. The classification module selectively generates detector type information based on the classification.

Claims

1. An interface comprising:

a port that communicates with one of N detectors, where N is an integer greater than 1; and

a classification module that communicates with said port and classifies said one of N detectors as one of an analog detector and a digital detector, and that selectively generates detector type information based on said classification.

2. The interface of claim 1 further comprising a detector discovery module that determines that said one of N detectors is connected based on communications from at least one of said port and said classification module.

3. The interface of claim 1 further comprising a detector identification (ID) module that determines a detector type of said one of N detectors based on said detector type information.

4. The interface of claim 3 wherein said classification module comprises a voltage divider that comprises a resistance and that adjusts a voltage of the interface based on said resistance in parallel with a resistance within said one of said N detectors, wherein said classification module classifies said one of N detectors based on said voltage.

5. The interface of claim 4 wherein said classification module further comprises an ammeter that measures a current supplied by the interface to said one of N detectors based on said one of N detectors classified as an analog detector, wherein said detector ID module determines said detector type based on said measurement of said current, wherein said detector type information includes said measurement.

6. The interface of claim 4 wherein said classification module further comprises a digital communications peripheral module that requests digital detector type information from said one of N detectors based on said one of N detectors classified as a digital detector, wherein said detector ID module determines said detector type based on said detector type information, wherein said type identification information includes said digital detector type information.

7. The interface of claim 3 further comprising an algorithm selection module that selects a control algorithm that processes signals from said one of N detectors based on said detector type.

8. The interface of claim 3 further comprising a power control module that regulates power for the interface based on said detector type.

9. A sensor node that comprises the interface of claim 1 further comprising:

said N detectors;

a signal processing module that communicates with said N detectors through the interface and that is operable to generate event messages based on said communications;

at least one of a global positioning system and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that may transmit said event messages over a wireless link; and

a channel access module operable to negotiate access to the wireless link.

10. The sensor node of claim 9 further comprising an internet protocol (IP) sub-net that processes signals from the signal processing module;

and an encryption module that encrypts IP sub-net signals.

11. The sensor node of claim 9 wherein said one of N detectors comprises at least one type of detector including one of a passive infrared (PIR) detector, a seismic detector, a magneto-resistive detector, a radar detector, a lidar detector, an imaging detector, and a smart acoustic detector.

12. The interface of claim 9 further comprising a power control module that regulates power for said one of N detectors based on a type of said one of N detectors.

13. A surveillance system that comprises the sensor node of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one of a standard military radio and a standard military pack radio that communicates wirelessly with said RF transceiver; and

a situational awareness application that communicates wirelessly with said at least one of said military radio and said standard military pack radio and that displays data from said one of N detectors.

14. A method for operating an interface comprising:

automatically determining that one of N external detectors communicates with the interface through at least one port, where N is an integer greater than 1;

automatically classifying said one of N external detectors as one of an analog detector and a digital detector;

selectively generating detector type information based on said classification;

automatically generating a detector type of said one of N external detectors based on said detector type information; and

regulating power for signal processing within the interface based on said detector type.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising selecting a control algorithm for processing signals from said one of N external detectors based on said detector type.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising automatically determining that said one of N external detectors is removed from communication with said port.

17. An interface comprising:

a port that communicates with N external detectors, where N is an integer greater than 1;

a voltage divider that comprises a resistance and that adjusts a voltage of the interface based on said resistance in parallel with a resistance within one of said N external detectors, wherein said classification module classifies said one of said N external detectors as one of an analog and digital detector based on said voltage;

an ammeter that measures a current supplied by the interface to said one of N external detectors based on said one of N external detectors classified as an analog detector;

a digital communications peripheral module that requests detector type information from said one of N external detectors based on said one of N external detectors classified as a digital detector; and

a detector identification (ID) module that generates a detector type signal of said one of N external detectors based on said classification, wherein said detector ID module determines said detector type of said one of N external detectors based on said measurement of said current, wherein said detector ID module determines said detector type of said one of N external detectors based on digital communications peripheral module signals.

18. The interface of claim 17 further comprising a detector discovery module that determines a connection status of said one of N external detectors based on communications from at least one of said port and said classification module.

19. The interface of claim 17 further comprising an algorithm selection module that selects a control algorithm that processes signals from said one of N external detectors based on said detector type.

20. The interface of claim 17 further comprising a power control module that regulates power for the interface based on said detector type.