Method for dynamically grouping limited range physical entities in a topological space

• US 6,574,633 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2000
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Jamalabad, Vikram Ramesh, Loskiewicz-Buczak, Anna, Burne, Richard Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US09/501,633
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-10, 707/100-104, 707/200-205, 702/188, 702/91-95, 709/220-224, 370/254-256, 345/744, 345/418, 345/355, 345/357, 706/10, 706/13, 706/15, 706/25, 706/59, 382/118, 382/228, 382/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/18 Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Limited range physical entities located in a topological space are dynamically grouped by partitioning the space into grids for different functional domains, a group being associated with each grid that corresponds to a unique functional domain and a unique topological space. A range of effectiveness for each entity is determined and compared with other groups. Each entity is then assigned to be a member of a particular group. The assigning step may comprise calculating a membership value for each entity, the membership value being equal to the ratio of the intersecting space to total space within a group.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically grouping limited range physical entities located in a topological space, comprising the steps of:

determining functional domains for each entity in said topological space;

partitioning said topological space into grids wherein said partitioning step is performed on said topological space for each different functional domain that exists;

associating a group with each said grid that corresponds to a unique functional domain and unique topological space;

ascertaining a range of effectiveness for each entity wherein said ascertaining step is performed for each functional domain to which an entity belongs;

comparing said range of effectiveness of each entity with each grid space that is associated with each group for each functional domain that the entity and group share in common;

assigning each entity to be a member of each group whose compared range of effectiveness intersects the compared grid space that is associated with the group, said assigning step comprising the step of calculating a membership value for each entity in each group wherein said membership value is equal to the ratio of intersecting space to total space within said group; and

storing said group memberships of each entity.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying when a change of conditions for any entity occurs, said conditions including a change of function, a change in range of effectiveness and a change in location; and

repeating said ascertaining, comparing, assigning and storing steps when said change occurs.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said repeating step is performed for only said entities in which a change in conditions have occurred.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein grid dimensions corresponding to the same functional domain are the same.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said grid dimensions corresponding to the same functional domain are determined independent of grid dimensions for different functional domains.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein grid dimensions for each functional domain correspond to the smallest range of effectiveness of said entities that belong to said functional domain.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storing step stores the membership values of each entity for each group.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said physical entities are data sensing devices.

9. A method for dynamically grouping a plurality of data sensing devices located in a physical space, said method comprising the steps of:

determining functional domains and range of effectiveness in each functional domain for each said data sensing device in said physical space;

partitioning said physical space into functional grids wherein each said grid corresponds to a unique functional domain and physical space; and

assigning each said data sensing device to be a member of a group whose range of effectiveness intersects the space of a functional grid, said data sensing device and said grid sharing the same functional domain and said assigning step including calculating a membership value for each device in each group wherein said membership value is equal to the ratio of the intersecting space to total space within said group.