Method and apparatus reporting time-synchronized vehicular sensor waveforms from wireless vehicular sensor nodes

• US 8,144,034 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Original Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Inventors: Kavaler, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US12/117,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 340/941
• US Class Current: 340/941
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/10 Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

This application discloses using multiple wireless vehicular sensor nodes to wirelessly receive multiple, time-synchronized vehicular waveform reports from the nodes to create a time synchronized system report, and preferably a time synchronized vehicular report. Each vehicular waveform report approximates a raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a magnetic sensor at the node based upon the presence of a vehicle. The vehicular waveform reports, the time-synchronized system report, and the time synchronized vehicular report are products of this wirelessly receiving process. Also disclosed are apparatus supporting the above outlined process. Reception of the vehicular waveform reports may be time interleaved.

Claims

1. An access point, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving a first vehicular waveform report from a first wireless vehicular sensor node with a second vehicular waveform report from a second wireless vehicular sensor node to create a time synchronized system report;

wherein said first vehicular waveform report approximates a first raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a first magnetic sensor at said first wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a first vehicle;

wherein said second vehicular waveform report approximates a second raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a second magnetic sensor at said second wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a second vehicle.

2. The access point of claim 1, wherein said access point is a base station communicating with at least one member of the group consisting of:

said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

3. The access point of claim 1, further comprising:

means for creating a time synchronized vehicular report from said time synchronized system report.

4. The access point of claim 3, wherein the means for creating said time synchronized vehicular report, further comprises:

means for deriving a traffic report from said time synchronized system report; and

means for creating said time synchronized vehicular report based upon said traffic report and based upon said time synchronized system report.

5. The access point of claim 1, wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node both wirelessly receive a time synchronization message;

wherein said raw vehicular sensor waveform observed at said first wireless vehicular sensor node is time synchronized with said second raw vehicular sensor waveform observed at said second wireless vehicular sensor node based upon said time synchronization message.

6. The access point of claim 4, wherein said access point sends said time synchronization message to said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

7. The access point of claim 1, wherein said access point supports a wireless communications protocol incorporating elements of a Code Division Multiple Access communications scheme.

8. The access point of claim 1, wherein a wireless vehicular sensor network, includes:

said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node; and

an access point wirelessly communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

9. The access point of claim 8, wherein said wireless vehicular sensor network supports at least one member of the group consisting of:

a version of the IEEE 802.15 communications standard;

a version of the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications standard;

a version of the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communications standard;

a version of the IS-95 communications standard; and

a version of the IEEE 802.11 communications standard.

10. The access point of claim 9, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving includes at least one instance of at least one member of the group consisting of:

a computer wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node, and accessibly coupled to a memory including at least one program step included in a program system directing said computer;

a finite state machine wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

an inferential engine wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

wherein wirelessly communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node, includes at least one of;

communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report, and

communicating via an access point with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report; and

wherein wirelessly communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node, includes at least one of;

communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report, and

communicating via an access point with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report.

11. The access point of claim 1, where said means for wirelessly receiving further comprises

means for receiving said first vehicular waveform report time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report to create said time synchronized system report.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving a first vehicular waveform report from a first wireless vehicular sensor node time-interleaved with a second vehicular waveform report from a second wireless vehicular sensor node to create a time synchronized system report;

wherein said first vehicular waveform report approximates a first raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a first magnetic sensor at said first wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a first vehicle;

wherein said second vehicular waveform report approximates a second raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a second magnetic sensor at said second wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a second vehicle;

wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node operates said first magnetic sensor; and

wherein said second wireless vehicular sensor node operates said second magnetic sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving comprises:

means for wirelessly receiving via an access point said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node time-interleaved with said second vehicular waveform report from said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

wherein said access point wirelessly communicates with said first wireless vehicular sensor node and said second wireless vehicular sensor node.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node includes said first magnetic sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 12,

wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node transmits said first vehicular waveform report when said first raw vehicular sensor waveform indicates said first vehicle is within said first distance;

and

wherein said second wireless vehicular sensor node transmits said second vehicular waveform report when said second raw vehicular sensor waveform indicates said second vehicle is within said second distance.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for wirelessly receiving include at least one instance of at least one member of the group consisting of:

a computer wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node, and accessibly coupled to a memory including at least one program step included in a program system directing said computer;

a finite state machine wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

an inferential engine wirelessly communicating with at least one of said first wireless vehicular sensor node, and said second wireless vehicular sensor node;

wherein wirelessly communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node, includes at least one of;

communicating with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report, and

communicating via an access point with said first wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said first vehicular waveform report; and

wherein wirelessly communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node, includes at least one of;

communicating with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report, and

communicating via an access point with said second wireless vehicular sensor node to wirelessly receive said second vehicular waveform report.

17. A memory for accessible coupling to at least one computer, comprising a program system further comprising at least one member of the group consisting of the program steps:

creating said time synchronized system report from a first vehicular waveform report from a first wireless vehicular sensor node time-synchronized with a second vehicular waveform report from a second wireless vehicular sensor node; and

creating said time synchronized vehicular report from said time synchronized system report wherein said first vehicular waveform report approximates a first raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a first magnetic sensor at said first wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a first vehicle;

wherein said second vehicular waveform report approximates a second raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a second magnetic sensor at said second wireless vehicular sensor node based upon the presence of a second vehicle;

wherein said first wireless vehicular sensor node operates said first magnetic sensor; and

wherein said second wireless vehicular sensor node operates said second magnetic sensor.

18. The memory of claim 17, wherein said memory includes at least one instance of at least one member of the group consisting of:

a magnetic disk;

an optical disk;

a non-volatile memory component;

a volatile memory component; and

a bar coded medium.

19. The memory of claim 17,

wherein said first vehicular waveform report includes a first transmit time when said first wireless vehicular sensor node transmitted said first vehicular waveform report;

wherein the program step creating said time synchronized system report, further comprises the program step;

creating said time synchronized system report from wirelessly receiving said first vehicular waveform report from said first wireless vehicular sensor node and based upon a reception time for said first vehicular waveform report.