PLURALITY OF SENSORS COUPLED TO A SERIES OF SWITCHING DEVICES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor network comprising:
- a first plurality of sensors (22, 26);
a first base station (32); and
a first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44), each switching device comprising;
an upstream port (96, 114);
a bus coupled to the upstream port;
a downstream port (98, 116);
a sensor port connectable to the bus (100, 102, 118, 120);
a first switch (94, 110) coupled to the bus and the downstream port; and
a switch controller (92, 108) coupled to the bus and the first switch (94, 110), the switch controller (92, 108) responsive to signals received from the upstream port (96, 114) to selectively connect the bus to the downstream port (98, 116) and disconnect the bus from the downstream port (98, 116);
wherein the first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) includes a first switching device (34) and a last switching device (44), the upstream port (96, 114) of the first switching device (34) is coupled to the first base station (32), the downstream port (98, 116) of each switching device, except the last switching device (44), is coupled to the upstream port (96, 114) of a next switching device in the first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44), and sensors of the first plurality of sensors (22, 26) are connected to sensor ports (100, 102, 118, 120) of the switching devices in the first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of sensors are coupled to switching devices arranged in a series of switching devices. Each switching device has an upstream port and a downstream port. The series of switching devices is formed by coupling the downstream port of each switching device, except a last switching device in the series of switching devices, to the upstream port of a next switching device in the series of switching devices.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A sensor network comprising:
-
a first plurality of sensors (22, 26); a first base station (32); and a first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44), each switching device comprising; an upstream port (96, 114); a bus coupled to the upstream port; a downstream port (98, 116); a sensor port connectable to the bus (100, 102, 118, 120); a first switch (94, 110) coupled to the bus and the downstream port; and a switch controller (92, 108) coupled to the bus and the first switch (94, 110), the switch controller (92, 108) responsive to signals received from the upstream port (96, 114) to selectively connect the bus to the downstream port (98, 116) and disconnect the bus from the downstream port (98, 116); wherein the first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) includes a first switching device (34) and a last switching device (44), the upstream port (96, 114) of the first switching device (34) is coupled to the first base station (32), the downstream port (98, 116) of each switching device, except the last switching device (44), is coupled to the upstream port (96, 114) of a next switching device in the first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44), and sensors of the first plurality of sensors (22, 26) are connected to sensor ports (100, 102, 118, 120) of the switching devices in the first series of switching devices (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of discovering switching devices in a series of switching devices, and sensors attached to the switching devices, wherein each switching device has an upstream port and a downstream port, the series of switching devices is formed by coupling the downstream port of each switching device, except a last switching device in the series of switching devices, to the upstream port of a next switching device in the series of switching devices, the method comprising:
-
signaling (144) the switching devices to disconnect a bus from the downstream port; determining (146) whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; if a previously undiscovered switching device is present; reading and recording (152) data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device; signaling (156) the previously undiscovered switching device to connect a bus to a downstream port; and branching to determining (146) whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; and if a previously undiscovered switch is not present; recording (158) a last undiscovered switching device as a last switching device in the series of switching devices. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A manufacture comprising computer-readable storage media (70) encoded with a program set of computer-executable instructions, said program set for causing a base station (32, 66) to discover switching devices in a series of switching devices, and sensors attached to the switching devices, wherein each switching device has an upstream port and a downstream port, the series of switching devices is formed by coupling the downstream port of each switching device, except a last switching device in the series of switching devices, to the upstream port of a next switching device in the series of switching devices, the program set of the manufacture comprising:
-
signaling (144) the switching devices to disconnect a bus from a downstream port; determining (146) whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; if a previously undiscovered switching device is present; reading and recording at the base station (152) data associated with sensors coupled to the previously undiscovered switching device; signaling (156) the previously undiscovered switching device to connect a bus to a downstream port; and branching to determining (146) whether a previously undiscovered switching device is present; and if a previously undiscovered switch is not present; recording (158) at the base station a last undiscovered switching device as a last switching device in the series of switching devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
Specification