SENSOR NODE OF WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100074157A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Zhiying, Yao, Kim, Sun-Joong, Doh, Yoonmee, Pyo, Cheol Sig, Park, Noseong
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• 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 sensor node of a wireless sensor network includes a first sensor node module for generating and processing, when it is activated, a first sensing signal to detect occurrence of an event based on the first sensing signal; and a second sensor node module for generating and processing a second sensing signal, when it is activated, to monitor state transition of the event based on the second sensing signal. Further, when the occurrence of the event is detected, the first sensor node module is inactivated and the second sensor node module is activated.

Claims

1. A sensor node of a wireless sensor network, comprising:

a first sensor node module for generating and processing, when it is activated, a first sensing signal to detect occurrence of an event based on the first sensing signal; and

a second sensor node module for generating and processing a second sensing signal, when it is activated, to monitor state transition of the event based on the second sensing signal,

wherein, when the occurrence of the event is detected, the first sensor node module is inactivated and the second sensor node module is activated.

2. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein power consumption of the first sensor node module is lower than that of the second sensor node module.

3. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the amount of the second sensing signal is larger than that of the first sensing signal.

4. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the second sensing signal has more accurate information than that of the first sensing signal.

5. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal have types of information different from each other.

6. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the first sensor node module includes:

a first power supply source for supplying driving power to the first sensor node module;

a program storage unit for storing therein operating programs of the first sensor node module;

a first control unit for controlling overall operation of the first sensor node module;

a first sensing unit for generating the first sensing signal;

a first signal processing unit for processing the first sensing signal; and

a wireless communications unit for transmitting messages to the wireless sensor network.

7. The sensor node of claim 5, wherein the second sensor node module includes:

a second power supply source for supplying driving power to the second sensor node module;

a second control unit for controlling overall operation of the second sensor node module;

a second sensing unit for generating the second sensing signal; and

a signal processing unit for processing the second sensing signal.

8. An operating method of a sensor node of a wireless sensor network, the sensor node operating in a first or a second operation mode, the operating method comprising:

setting the operation mode of the sensor node to the first operation mode;

generating and processing, if the sensor node is in the first operation mode, a first sensing signal;

detecting, if the sensor node is in the first operation mode, occurrence of an event based on the first sensing signal;

changing, if the occurrence of the event is detected, the operation mode to the second operation mode; and

generating and processing, if the sensor node is in the second operation mode, a second sensing signal; and

monitoring, if the sensor node is in the second operation mode, state transition of the event based on the second sensing signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein power consumption of the sensor node in the first operation mode is lower power than that of the sensor node in the second operation mode.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the amount of the second sensing signal is larger than that of the first sensing signal.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second sensing signal has more accurate information than that of the first sensing signal.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal have types of information different from each other.