DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOL FOR WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS

• US 20090322518A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Jie, Priyantha, Nissanka Arachchige Bodhi, Luo, Liqian, Liang, Chieh-Jan Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,022,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

Systems and methods that provide for collection of sensor data in a wireless network with a dynamically changing structure. A data collection protocol exploits the self-awareness capabilities of nodes in selection of tree structures that form the wireless network during communication with a base station. The data collection protocol can further include a topology control component (which regulates how nodes are distributed among various tree structures and associated communication channels with the base station) and data retrieval component (which coordinates among the sensors to transmit data packets containing sensor data to efficiently employ available bandwidth).

Claims

1. A computer implemented system comprising

a topology control component that distributes sensors as nodes among a dynamic wireless network in form of a tree structure;

and

a data retrieval component that retrieves data from the sensors;

the topology control component and the data retrieval component part of a communication protocol employed by a base station to communicate with the sensors.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1, the topology control component further comprising a tree building component that generates the tree structure.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 2, the topology control component further comprising a channel scanning component that tracks nodes within the tree structure.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 3, the topology control component further comprising a link quality assessment component that evaluates quality of communication with the base station.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 4, the base station represents the root node of the tree structure.

6. The computer implemented system of claim 5, a communication of the base station with a child node being through a parent node.

7. The computer implemented system of claim 6 further comprising a storage medium associated with a sensor for local storage of data during a transition time for change of the dynamic wireless network.

8. The computer implemented system of claim 6 further comprising a channel balancing component that directs nodes to available wireless channels.

9. A computer implemented method comprising:

forming a dynamic wireless network of sensors from a plurality of tree structures;

evaluating quality for communication of the sensors with a base station;

moving a sensor in or out of the dynamic wireless network, and

balancing distribution of sensors among channels of the wireless network.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, the sensor communicating with the base station through other sensors.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10 further comprising regulating distribution of sensors among the plurality of tree structures.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 10 further comprising coordinating among the sensors to transmit data to the base station.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 10 further comprising sending a beacon by the base station throughout the dynamic wireless network.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 10 further comprising evaluating quality of a communication link from a sensor to the base station.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 13 further comprising activating an idle sensor though the beacon.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15 further comprising selecting a parent node based at least on one of a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) or Link Quality Indicator (LQI).

17. The computer implemented method of claim 16 further comprising determining which channel a sensor is to reside on when communicating with the base station.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 16 further comprising identifying a child node to the parent node.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 16 further comprising storing data local to a sensor during a transition time for modifying the wireless network.

20. A computer implemented system comprising:

means for distributing sensors as nodes among a dynamic wireless network in form of a tree structure; and

means for retrieving data from the sensors to a base station.