Self-organizing extensible distributed sensor array architecture
First Claim
1. A sensor array comprising:
- a master node;
a first sensor node configured to transmit a data packet including first sensor data from a first sensor cluster associated with the first sensor node; and
a second sensor node located between the master node and the first sensor node, the second sensor node configured to;
(a) sample second sensor data from a second sensor cluster associated with the second sensor node,(b) receive the data packet from the first sensor node,(c) augment the data packet with the second sensor data to obtain an augmented data packet, and(d) transmit the augmented data packet to the master node or to a third sensor node located in closer proximity to the master node than the first and second sensor nodes.
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Abstract
This invention relates to methods and systems for providing data from a distributed array. In one aspect, the array is a sensor array that includes sensor nodes that are each associated with one or more sensors, and the data includes sensor data acquired from the sensors by the sensor nodes. The sensor array employs modular and interchangeable sensor nodes that are capable of self-organizing in response to a network disruption while maintaining a flow of synchronized data to the event monitor. This self-organizing characteristic enables the overall network of nodes to be self-healing and easily extensible. The improved fault resilience makes it possible to deploy the sensors without requiring complex monitoring or fault diagnosis. Embodiments of the invention can be employed in any number of applications, including without limitation, tunnel activity detection, seismic/acoustic monitoring/detection and other applications where gathering sensor data may be desired.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A sensor array comprising:
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a master node; a first sensor node configured to transmit a data packet including first sensor data from a first sensor cluster associated with the first sensor node; and a second sensor node located between the master node and the first sensor node, the second sensor node configured to; (a) sample second sensor data from a second sensor cluster associated with the second sensor node, (b) receive the data packet from the first sensor node, (c) augment the data packet with the second sensor data to obtain an augmented data packet, and (d) transmit the augmented data packet to the master node or to a third sensor node located in closer proximity to the master node than the first and second sensor nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An array of nodes in a network, the array comprising:
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a terminal node configured to transmit data in a first data packet only in response to receiving a control packet; and a first node configured to transmit data in a second data packet in response to receiving the first data packet originated by the terminal node, wherein the first node is further configured to automatically detect that the terminal node is severed from the network and to automatically assume a role of the terminal node. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A node comprising a processor configured to:
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prepare, in response to receiving a first data packet or a first control packet, data for transmission during a subsequent cycle; generate an augmented data packet that includes the data for transmission and data from a second data packet if the second data packet is received at the node within a predefined time period; generate a new data packet that includes the data for transmission if the second data packet is not received within the predefined time period; and transmit the augmented data packet or the new data packet during the subsequent cycle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of providing data using an array of nodes, the method comprising:
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sampling the data by a node in the array in response to receiving a first control packet or a first data packet; and transmitting an augmented data packet in response to receiving a second data packet, wherein the augmented data packet includes data received in the second data packet and the data sampled by the node. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification