Apparatus for internetworked wireless integrated network sensors (WINS)
First Claim
1. A network comprising:
- a plurality of network elements including at least one node configured to be coupled among an environment,wherein the at least one node is further configured to provide node information to the plurality of network elements,wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to;
be self-assembled into a multi-cluster network;
select a start node as a base node, wherein the base node is operable to communicate an assembly packet throughout the network;
receive the assembly packet and become a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for a current node to become a base node, or become a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the current node to become a remote node;
become a member of a particular cluster in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an indication of a particular cluster number;
modify information of the assembly packet to direct at least one next node to become a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the current node to become a remote node, or to direct at least one next node to become a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the current node to become a base node;
increment the particular cluster number indicated in the information of the assembly packet; and
send the assembly packet to the at least one next node;
wherein the plurality of network elements is further configured so that the assembly packet is ignored by a node that has previously seen the assembly packet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The Wireless Integrated Network Sensor Next Generation (WINS NG) nodes provide distributed network and Internet access to sensors, controls, and processors that are deeply embedded in equipment, facilities, and the environment. The WINS NG network is a new monitoring and control capability for applications in transportation, manufacturing, health care, environmental monitoring, and safety and security. The WINS NG nodes combine microsensor technology, low power distributed signal processing, low power computation, and low power, low cost wireless and/or wired networking capability in a compact system. The WINS NG networks provide sensing, local control, remote reconfigurability, and embedded intelligent systems in structures, materials, and environments.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A network comprising:
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a plurality of network elements including at least one node configured to be coupled among an environment, wherein the at least one node is further configured to provide node information to the plurality of network elements, wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to; be self-assembled into a multi-cluster network; select a start node as a base node, wherein the base node is operable to communicate an assembly packet throughout the network; receive the assembly packet and become a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for a current node to become a base node, or become a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the current node to become a remote node; become a member of a particular cluster in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an indication of a particular cluster number; modify information of the assembly packet to direct at least one next node to become a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the current node to become a remote node, or to direct at least one next node to become a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the current node to become a base node; increment the particular cluster number indicated in the information of the assembly packet; and send the assembly packet to the at least one next node; wherein the plurality of network elements is further configured so that the assembly packet is ignored by a node that has previously seen the assembly packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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selecting a start node as a base node; broadcasting an assembly packet by the base node, wherein the assembly packet comprises information including an indication of a particular cluster number and an instruction to become a base node or a remote node; receiving the assembly packet at an unconfigured node; joining, by the unconfigured node, a cluster based on the particular cluster number indicated by the assembly packet; in response to joining the cluster, becoming a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the unconfigured node to become a base node, or becoming a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the unconfigured node to become a remote node; modifying, by the unconfigured node, the information of the assembly packet, wherein the modifying includes; incrementing the particular cluster number, and directing at least one next node to become a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the unconfigured node to become a remote node, or directing at least one next node to become a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the unconfigured node to become a base node; and broadcasting a second assembly packet from the unconfigured node to the at least one next node, wherein information of the second assembly packet is the modified information of the assembly packet, wherein each of the nodes are further configured to ignore received assembly packets when the node has previously seen an assembly packet.
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17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to select a start node as a base node; instructions to broadcast, by the base node, an assembly packet, wherein the assembly packet comprises information including an indication of a particular cluster number and an instruction to become a base node or a remote node; instructions to receive the assembly packet at an unconfigured node; instructions to join a cluster based on the particular cluster number indicated by the assembly packet; instructions to become a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction to become a base node, or become a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction to become a remote node; instructions to modify, by the unconfigured node, the information of the assembly packet, wherein the modifying includes; incrementing the particular cluster number, and directing at least one next node to become a base node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the unconfigured node to become a remote node, or directing at least one next node to become a remote node in response to the information of the assembly packet comprising an instruction for the unconfigured node to become a base node; instructions to broadcast a second assembly packet to the at least one next node, wherein information of the second assembly packet is the modified information of the assembly packet; and instructions to ignore received assembly packets when the node has previously seen an assembly packet.
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Specification