Display of information related to data collected via wireless network sensors

• US 8,026,808 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Weaver, Billy L., Gorrell, Eileen M., Bartol, James J., Yi, Jennifer R., Brigham, Scott E., Hagen, Kathy L., Theiss, Silva K., Brott, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/772,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.16, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/506, 340/3.1, 705/10, 705/26
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method for displaying an indication of data collected via a wireless network sensor involves processing the collected data to generate reports. The wireless network sensor includes a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data. The method displays an indication of parsed events, episodes, vectors, links, and paths based upon the received data. Another method displays a representation of a location of each sensor in the wireless network sensors in a monitored environment and information related to data collected via the sensors.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an indication of data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

receiving data from a wireless network sensor having

a plurality of sensors for generating signals relating to ambient conditions proximate the sensors,

a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and

a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

parsing events based upon a change in the signals indicating a corresponding change in the ambient conditions proximate the corresponding sensors;

parsing episodes based upon the parsed events, wherein the parsed episodes are determined to occur when at least two parsed events occur at adjacent sensors in the wireless network sensor within a particular time frame; and

displaying an indication of the parsed episodes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

parsing vectors based upon the parsed episodes, wherein the parsed vectors are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed episodes; and

displaying an indication of the parsed vectors.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

parsing links based upon the parsed vectors, wherein the parsed links are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed vectors; and

displaying an indication of the parsed links.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

parsing paths based upon the parsed link, wherein the parsed paths are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed links; and

displaying an indication of the parsed paths.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the generated signals relating to lighting conditions proximate the sensors.

6. An apparatus for displaying an indication of data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

a module for receiving data from a wireless network sensor having

a plurality of sensors for generating signals relating to ambient conditions proximate the sensors,

a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and

a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

a module for parsing events based upon a change in the signals indicating a corresponding change in the ambient conditions proximate the corresponding sensors;

a module for parsing episodes based upon the parsed events, wherein the parsed episodes are determined to occur when at least two parsed events occur at adjacent sensors in the wireless network sensor within a particular time frame; and

a module for displaying an indication of the parsed episodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a module for parsing vectors based upon the parsed episodes, wherein the parsed vectors are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed episodes; and

a module for displaying an indication of the parsed vectors.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a module for parsing links based upon the parsed vectors, wherein the parsed links are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed vectors; and

a module for displaying an indication of the parsed links.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a module for parsing paths based upon the parsed links, wherein the parsed paths are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed links; and

a module for displaying an indication of the parsed paths.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the module for receiving comprises receiving the generated signals relating to lighting conditions proximate the sensors.

11. An apparatus for displaying an indication of data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

a module for receiving data from a plurality of wireless network sensors, each of the wireless network sensors having a plurality of sensors for generating signals relating to ambient conditions proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

a module for displaying a representation of an environment monitored by the wireless network sensors;

a module for displaying a representation of a location of each of the plurality of sensors in each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment;

a module for displaying a status of each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment; and

a module for displaying an indication of counts and dwell times as determined by each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment, wherein the counts and dwell times are determined based upon changes in the signals, wherein each change in the signals indicates a corresponding change in the ambient conditions proximate the corresponding sensors.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a module for displaying an indication of counts plotted against event levels as determined by each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a module for displaying an indication of filtered counts as determined by each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the generated signals relating to lighting conditions proximate the sensors.

15. A method for displaying an indication of data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

receiving data from a plurality of wireless network sensors, each of the wireless network sensors having a plurality of sensors for generating signals relating to ambient conditions proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

displaying a representation of an environment monitored by the wireless network sensors;

displaying a representation of a location of each of the plurality of sensors in each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment;

displaying a status of each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment; and

displaying an indication of counts and dwell times as determined by each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment, wherein the counts and dwell times are determined based upon changes in the signals, wherein each change in the signals indicates a corresponding change in the ambient conditions proximate the corresponding sensors.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying an indication of counts plotted against event levels as determined by each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying an indication of filtered counts as determined by each of the wireless network sensors in the monitored environment.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the module for receiving comprises receiving the generated signals relating to lighting conditions proximate the sensors.