Transmission of sensor data based on geographical navigation data

• US 8,594,933 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Neugebauer, Mario, Anke, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holwerda, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/351,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,847 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/400, 701/408, 701/461, 701/484, 700/200, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/991, 340/996, 340/994, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.23, 340/995.28, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/512
• US Class Current: 701/484
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sensor data transmission in a mobile device includes receiving sensor data and generating a sensor data packet therefrom. The method and apparatus further includes receiving navigation data relating to the movements of the mobile device from a navigation device and receiving network data including transmission areas for one or more transmission mediums from a network availability database. The method and apparatus includes assigning a priority term to the sensor data packet, which may be based on predetermined priority levels. The method and apparatus thereupon includes determining a transmission technique for transmitting the sensor data packet to a back end processing device based on the priority term, the network data and the navigation data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensor data transmission in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor data packet generating device to receive sensor data and generate a sensor data packet including the sensor data, a value of the sensor data indicating a measurement taken at the sensor;

a navigation device generating navigation data relating to movements of the mobile device;

a network availability database storing network data including transmission areas for one or more transmission mediums; and

an evaluation device to assign a priority level to the sensor data packet and determine a transmission technique for transmitting the sensor data packet based on the priority level, the network data, transmission cost for each of one or more transmission mediums, and the navigation data,

wherein the priority level to the sensor data packet is assigned according to which data ranges the value of the sensor data belong to such that the value of the sensor data within different data ranges are assigned different priority levels,

wherein the data ranges include a first data range having a low priority level, a second data range having an intermediate priority level, and a third range having a high priority level, and

wherein the evaluation device is configured to determine whether there should be an adjustment of the navigation data based on the network data, and if there should be an adjustment, to generate navigation adjustment data to the navigation device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor disposed within the mobile device to generate the sensor data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of transmission devices to transmit the sensor data packet using an associated one of the one or more transmission mediums.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of priority buffers, each of the priority buffers associated with the plurality of transmission devices such that when the mobile device is within a transmission range of the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with the priority level, the transmission device transmits the sensor data to a back end processing system using the transmission medium associated with the priority level.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a priority level database including the priority terms stored therein such that the evaluation device is to assign the priority level to the sensor data packet by referencing the priority level database based on the sensor data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the navigational device adjusts the navigational route of the mobile device to move within the transmission area for one of the one or more transmission mediums.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network data within the network availability database includes the transmission areas supplied from at least one wireless carrier that provides the one or more transmission mediums.

20. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein multiple low priority events may be upgraded to a higher priority level.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission technique includes transmitting a portion of the sensor data packet using one of the one or more mediums which is more costly and then, once the mobile device is in transmission range of a less costly medium of the one or more transmission mediums, completing the transmission with the latter.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the evaluation device is to determine whether the mobile device will pass into a transmission area within a predetermined time based on the network data and the navigation data, if the mobile device will pass into a transmission area within a predetermined time, the evaluation device to temporarily store the sensor data packet in one of a plurality of priority buffers, each of the priority buffers associated with the plurality of transmission devices such that if the mobile device is within a transmission range of the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with a priority level, the transmission device is to transmit the sensor data to a back end processing system using the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with the priority term, and

if the mobile device will not pass into a transmission area within a predetermined time, the evaluation device is to adjust a routing of the mobile device to enter a transmission area.

8. A computer implemented method for sensor data transmission in a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving sensor data and generating a sensor data packet including the sensor data, a value of the sensor data indicating a measurement taken at the sensor;

receiving navigation data relating to movements of the mobile device from a navigation device;

receiving network data including transmission areas for one or more transmission mediums from a network availability database;

assigning a priority level to the sensor data packet, wherein the priority level to the sensor data packet is assigned according to which data ranges the value of the sensor data belong to such that the value of the sensor data within different data ranges are assigned different priority levels, wherein the data ranges include a first data range having a low priority level, a second data range having an intermediate priority level, and a third range having a high priority level;

determining a transmission technique for transmitting the sensor data packet based on the priority level, the network data, transmission cost for each of one or more transmission mediums, and the navigation data; and

determining whether there should be an adjustment of the navigation data based on the network data, and if there should be an adjustment, generating navigation adjustment data to the navigation device.

9. The method of claim 8,further comprising:

receiving the sensor data from a sensor disposed within the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein a plurality of transmission devices transmit the sensor data packet using an associated one of the one or more transmission mediums, the method further comprising:

storing the sensor data packet in one of a plurality of priority buffers, each of the priority buffers associated with the plurality of transmission devices such that when the mobile device is within a transmission range of the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with the priority level, the transmission device transmits the sensor data to a back end processing system using the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with the priority level.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein a priority term database includes the priority level stored therein such that the assigning of the priority level to the sensor data packet includes referencing the priority level database based on the sensor data.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

adjusting the navigational route of the mobile device to move within the transmission area for one of the one or more transmission mediums.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the network data within the network availability database includes the transmission areas supplied from at least one wireless carrier that provides the one or more transmission mediums.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmission technique includes transmitting a portion of the sensor data packet using one of the one or more mediums which is more costly and then, once the mobile device is in transmission range of a less costly medium of the one or more transmission mediums, completing the transmission with the latter.

25. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

if based on the network data and the navigation data the evaluation device determines that the mobile device will pass into a transmission area within a predetermined time, temporarily storing the sensor data packet in one of a plurality of priority buffers, each of the priority buffers associated with the plurality of transmission devices such that when the mobile device is within a transmission range of the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with a priority level, the transmission device transmits the sensor data to a back end processing system using the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with the priority term, and

if based on the network data and the navigation data the evaluation device determines that the mobile device will not pass into a transmission area within a predetermined time, adjusting a routing of the mobile device to enter a transmission area.

14. A mobile device for providing sensor data transmissions, the mobile device comprising:

a sensor to generate sensor data;

a sensor data packet generating device to receive the sensor data and generate a sensor data packet including the sensor data, a value of the sensor data indicating a measurement taken at the sensor;

a navigation device generating navigation data relating to movements of the mobile device;

a network availability database storing network data including transmission areas for one or more transmission mediums; and

an evaluation device to assign a priority level and determine a transmission technique for transmitting the sensor data packet based on the priority level, the network data and the navigation data,

wherein the priority level to the sensor data packet is assigned according to which data ranges value of the sensor data belong to such that the value of the sensor data within different data ranges are assigned different priority levels,

wherein the data ranges include a first data range having a low priority level, a second data range having an intermediate priority level, and a third range having a high priority level, and

wherein the evaluation device is configured to determine whether there should be an adjustment of the navigation data based on the network data, and if there should be an adjustment, to generate navigation adjustment data to the navigation device.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 further comprising:

a plurality of transmission devices to transmit the sensor data packet using an associated one of the one or more transmission mediums.

16. The mobile device of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of priority buffers, each of the priority buffers associated with the plurality of transmission devices such that when the mobile device is within a transmission range of the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with the priority level, the transmission device transmits the sensor data to a back end processing system using the one of the one or more transmission mediums associated with the priority level.

17. The mobile device of claim 14 further comprising:

a priority level database including the priority levels stored therein such that the evaluation device is to assign the priority level to the sensor data packet by referencing the priority level database based on the sensor data.

18. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein:

the navigation device to adjust a navigational route of the mobile device to move within the transmission area for one of the one or more transmission mediums.

19. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein the network data within the network availability database includes the transmission areas supplied from at least one wireless carrier that provides the one or more transmission mediums.

23. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the transmission technique includes transmitting a portion of the sensor data packet using one of the one or more mediums which is more costly and then, once the mobile device is in transmission range of a less costly medium of the one or more transmission mediums, completing the transmission with the latter.