Wireless sensor networks
First Claim
1. A method of relocating a mobile sink in a wireless sensor network, the wireless sensor network comprising sensors for transmitting sensor data and the mobile sink, the method including:
- selecting candidate sink locations;
finding the suitability of each candidate sink location using a calculation producing a result indicating the suitability of the candidate sink location for communication with a plurality of the sensors;
comparing the result for each candidate sink location to determine the most suitable candidate sink location; and
locating the mobile sink at the most suitable candidate sink location by physically positioning the mobile sink.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless sensor network having mobile sensors (64, 65) is provided with a mobile sink (70). To re-position the sink, candidate sink positions are found using information from the sensors. The candidate sink locations are then assessed to give a measure of their suitability to act as the new permanent position. To do this, the sink moves to each of the candidate positions in turn and obtains data and/or signals from the sensors (64, 65) within range to estimate a total throughput expected if the sink is located at that position. The sink then transfers to the most suitable candidate position permanently, until the dynamic repositioning process is triggered again. In this way it is possible to achieve a better performance than if only the center of gravity of the sink range is taken into account to position the sink. In the second embodiment, sensors are allowed to have their say in future positioning of the sink; this involves providing a capability for the sensor that makes it possible to consider both distance from the sink and the remaining battery power to come up with the best desired maximum information rate. In effect, the sensors and sink make a collective decision on the future location of the sink.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of relocating a mobile sink in a wireless sensor network, the wireless sensor network comprising sensors for transmitting sensor data and the mobile sink, the method including:
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selecting candidate sink locations; finding the suitability of each candidate sink location using a calculation producing a result indicating the suitability of the candidate sink location for communication with a plurality of the sensors; comparing the result for each candidate sink location to determine the most suitable candidate sink location; and locating the mobile sink at the most suitable candidate sink location by physically positioning the mobile sink. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless sensor network comprising sensors and a mobile sink, wherein:
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the sensors are operable to transmit sensor data and sensor information to the mobile sink; the mobile sink is operable to select two or more candidate sink locations using the sensor information; the sink is operable to find the suitability of the candidate sink locations using a calculation producing a result indicating suitability for communication with a plurality of the sensors; and the sink is operable to compare the result for each candidate sink location to determine the most suitable candidate sink location and to move to the most suitable candidate sink location thus found.
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14. A device for use as a mobile sink in a wireless sensor network having sensors and the mobile sink, the device comprising:
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a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting data within a communication range; a selection element operable to select two or more candidate sink locations within the communication range;
a calculator operable to provide a measure of the potential sink location'"'"'s suitability for communication with a plurality of the sensors;
a deciding element operable to determine the most suitable candidate sink location based on said measure; anda device repositioner operable to move the device to the most suitable candidate sink location.
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Specification