TIME CODE VALIDATION AND CORRECTION FOR PROXIMITY-BASED AD HOC NETWORKS

• US 20090204354A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Marc E., O'Sullivan, Joseph, Paretti, Christopher, Higgins, Christopher W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/89
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• 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 system and method is described herein for managing power consumption by a plurality of sensors in a proximity-based ad hoc network. The system and method receives sensor data that is provided from a plurality of sensors and constructs a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of sensors based on the sensor data. The system and method also receives and analyzes power status information from each sensor in a group of spatially and temporally proximate sensors in the proximity-based ad hoc network. Based on the analysis, the system and method then modifies a manner in which at least one sensor in the group provides sensor data.

Claims

1. A method for correcting time codes generated by a plurality of sensors, comprising:

receiving sensor data from each sensor in the plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor data received from each sensor includes a time code generated by the sensor;

constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of sensors based on the received sensor data;

analyzing the time codes generated by a group of spatially proximate sensors in the proximity-based ad hoc network; and

modifying a time code generated by at least one sensor in the group based on the analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the time codes generated by the group comprises assigning a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group, and wherein modifying a time code generated by at least one sensor in the group based on the analysis comprises:

selecting one of the time codes generated by the group based on the confidence values; and

replacing a time code generated by at least one sensor in the group by the selected time code.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein assigning a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group comprises:

assigning a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group based at least in part on the number of sensors in the group that generated that time code.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein assigning a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group comprises:

assigning a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group based at least in part on an indicator of the reliability of a sensor that generated that time code.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying an offset to subsequently-received time codes generated by the at least one sensor in the group.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically modifying a state of a clock associated with the at least one sensor in the group.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a user of the at least one sensor in the group that a state of a clock associated with the sensor should be modified.

8. A system, comprising:

a communications manager configured to receive sensor data from each sensor in a plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor data received from each sensor includes a time code generated by the sensor;

a location tracking manager configured to construct a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of sensors based on the received sensor data; and

a time code manager configured to analyze the time codes generated by a group of spatially proximate sensors in the proximity-based ad hoc network and to modify a time code generated by at least one sensor in the group based on the analysis.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the time code manager is configured to assign a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group, to select one of the time codes generated by the group based on the confidence values, and to replace a time code generated by at least one sensor in the group by the selected time code.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the time code manager is configured to assign a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group based at least in part on the number of sensors in the group that generated that time code.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the time code manager is configured to assign a confidence value to each of the time codes generated by the group based at least in part on an indicator of the reliability of a sensor that generated that time code.

12. The system or claim 8, wherein the time code manager is further configured to apply an offset to subsequently-received time codes generated by the at least one sensor in the group.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the time code manager is further configured to automatically modify a state of a clock associated with the at least one sensor in the group.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the time code manager is further configured to notify a user of the at least one sensor in the group that a state of a clock associated with the sensor should be modified.

15. A method for correcting time codes generated by a plurality of sensors, comprising:

receiving sensor data from each sensor in the plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor data received from each sensor includes a time code generated by the sensor;

constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of sensors based on the received sensor data;

determining a geographic location of a first sensor in the proximity-based ad hoc network;

obtaining local time information based on the geographic location of the first sensor;

using the local time information to correct a time code generated by a second sensor that is spatially proximate to the first sensor in the proximity-based ad hoc network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

applying an offset to subsequently-received time codes generated by the second sensor.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

automatically modifying a state of a clock associated with the second sensor.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

notifying a user of the second sensor that a state of a clock associated with the second sensor should be modified.

19. A system, comprising:

a communications manager configured to receive sensor data from each sensor in a plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor data received from each sensor includes a time code generated by the sensor;

a location tracking manager configured to construct a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of sensors based on the received sensor data and to determine a geographic location of a first sensor in the proximity-based ad hoc network; and

a time code manager configured to obtain local time information based on the geographic location of the first sensor and to use the local time information to correct a time code generated by a second sensor that is spatially proximate to the first sensor in the proximity-based ad hoc network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the time code manager is further configured to apply an offset to subsequently-received time codes generated by the second sensor.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the time code manager is further configured to automatically modify a state of a clock associated with the second sensor.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the time code manager is further configured to notify a user of the second sensor that a state of a clock associated with the second sensor should be modified.