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Energy aware network management

  • US 7,277,414 B2
  • Filed: 07/30/2002
  • Issued: 10/02/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of building and managing a network including nodes of wireless sensors (100), wherein each sensor is configured to detect environmental parameters, receive digital data, transmit digital data and relay digital data received from another sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

  • (a) deploying (step 41) the sensors over a predetermined geographical area;

    (b) determining (step 42) the geographic location of each sensor;

    (c) grouping (step 43) the sensors into one or more clusters, wherein each of the one or more clusters further includes a gateway that is responsible for relaying data from each sensor in the respective cluster to a control node (11);

    (d) in each of the one or more clusters, setting (step 44) network data routes from among a plurality of topologically-possible routes between each sensor of the cluster and the gateway in the cluster so as to minimize energy consumption using a cluster-wide routing table at the gateway in the cluster and smaller local forwarding tables at the sensors of the cluster, said routing and forwarding tables determining(i) whether each sensor will transmit and receive data, either directly from the gateways of the cluster or indirectly with the gateway of the cluster via relaying from a specific plurality of other of said sensors of the cluster,(ii) whether each sensor will relay data between the gateway in the cluster and any other sensor of the cluster;

    (iii) whether each sensor will relay data between any two other sensors of the cluster; and

    (iv) when each sensor of the cluster will transmit and receive data;

    (e) modeling (step 45) energy available at each sensor by using a mathematical equation, where said equation considers an amount of time that the sensor is performing various functions and an amount of energy each function consumes, said various functions comprising(i) the detection of environmental parameters,(ii) the reception of digital data, and(iii) the transmission of digital data;

    (f) detecting (step 46) environmental parameters and relaying data to the control node; and

    (g) re-setting (step 47) the network data routes to compensate for changes in the amount of energy available at each sensor.

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