End node personal definition and management

• US 9,204,320 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Rasband, Paul B., Hall, Stewart E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, CLEMENCE S
• Application Number:
  US14/596,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20150327081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/418 Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems (100) and methods (200) for dynamically managing Functional Configurations (“FCs”) of network nodes (104, 134-138). The methods involve performing operations by a First End Node (“FEN”) in accordance with a first FC. FEN (104) has a first Software Module (“SM”) stored thereon specifying the first FC. The first SM (122) comprises a total set of codes/functions which determine how a network node is to behave. The first EN detects a trigger event for triggering a transition from the first FC to a second FC. In response to the trigger event, the FEN automatically and dynamically obtains, from a remote network node (134, 136, 138 or 144), a second SM (150 or 126) that is different than the first SM. The first SM (stored on FEN) is then replaced with the second SM. The FEN executes the second SM such that it operates in accordance with the second FC.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically managing functional configurations of network nodes, comprising:

performing operations by a first end node of a wireless network in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, where the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detecting by the first end node a first trigger event for triggering a transition of the first end node'"'"'s operations from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtaining from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replacing the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

executing the second software module at the first end node such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the first trigger event comprises at least one of (a) detection of an emergency condition in a surrounding environment, (b) interception of an alarm message, (c) determination that at least one neighbor node is not in communication with a sub-coordinator node of the wireless network, (d) determination that a current number of sub-networks within said wireless network falls below a first threshold value, (e) detection that a total number of neighbor nodes operating in accordance with the second functional configuration exceeds a second threshold value, and (f) an interrupt occurrence on an input pin of the first end node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote network node comprises a second end node, a cloud computing device or a data store of said wireless network.

3. A method for dynamically managing functional configurations of network nodes, comprising:

performing operations by a first end node of a wireless network in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, where the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time

detecting by the first end node a first trigger event for triggering a transition of the first end node'"'"'s operations from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtaining from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replacing the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

executing the second software module at the first end node such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein said first trigger event comprises a detection of an emergency condition in a surrounding environment by the first end node or another network node.

4. A method for dynamically managing functional configurations of network nodes, comprising:

performing operations by a first end node of a wireless network in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, where the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time,

detecting by the first end node a first trigger event for triggering a transition of the first end node'"'"'s operations from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtaining from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replacing the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

executing the second software module at the first end node such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein said trigger event comprises an interception of an alarm message communicated between a second end node and a third end node.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising processing the alarm message by the first end node to infer an alarm condition.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the alarm condition is inferred based on at least one of:

the first end node'"'"'s estimated proximity to an origin of the alarm message;

a number of intercepted alarm messages within a period of time;

a damping factor broadcast to at least one of said network nodes by at least one access point of said wireless network; and

tuning factors derived by optimization algorithms operating on past false positive and false negative alarm incidents.

7. A method for dynamically managing functional configurations of network nodes, comprising:

performing operations by a first end node of a wireless network in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, where the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detecting by the first end node a first trigger event for triggering a transition of the first end node'"'"'s operations from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtaining from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replacing the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

executing the second software module at the first end node such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a determination that at least one neighbor node is not in communication with a sub-coordinator node of the wireless network, and the second functional configuration comprises a sub-coordinator functional configuration.

8. A method for dynamically managing functional configurations of network nodes, comprising:

performing operations by a first end node of a wireless network in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, where the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detecting by the first end node a first trigger event for triggering a transition of the first end node'"'"'s operations from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtaining from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replacing the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

executing the second software module at the first end node such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a determination that a current number of sub-networks within said wireless network falls below a threshold value, and the second functional configuration comprises a sub-coordinator functional configuration.

9. A method for dynamically managing functional configurations of network nodes, comprising:

performing operations by a first end node of a wireless network in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, where the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detecting by the first end node a first trigger event for triggering a transition of the first end node'"'"'s operations from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtaining from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replacing the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

executing the second software module at the first end node such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a detection that a total number of neighbor nodes operating in accordance with the second functional configuration exceeds a first threshold value.

10. A method for dynamically managing functional configurations of network nodes, comprising:

performing operations by a first end node of a wireless network in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, where the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detecting by the first end node a first trigger event for triggering a transition of the first end node'"'"'s operations from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtaining from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replacing the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

executing the second software module at the first end node such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a communications link failure between the first end node and another network node of said wireless network.

11. A system, comprising:

a first end node configured to;

perform operations in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, and the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detect a first trigger event for triggering a transition from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtain from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replace the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

execute the second software module such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the first trigger event comprises at least one of (a) detection of an emergency condition in a surrounding environment, (b) interception of an alarm message, (c) determination that at least one neighbor node is not in communication with a sub-coordinator node of the wireless network, (d) determination that a current number of sub-networks within said wireless network falls below a first threshold value, (e) detection that a total number of neighbor nodes operating in accordance with the second functional configuration exceeds a second threshold value, and (f) an interrupt occurrence on an input pin of the first end node.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the remote network node comprises a second end node, a cloud computing device or a data store.

13. ,A system, comprising:

a first end node configured to;

perform operations in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, and the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detect a first trigger event for triggering a transition from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtain from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replace the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

execute the second software module such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein said first trigger event comprises a detection of an emergency condition in a surrounding environment by the first end node or another network node.

14. A system, comprising:

a first end node configured to;

perform operations in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, and the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detect a first trigger event for triggering a transition from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtain from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replace the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

execute the second software module such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein said trigger event comprises an interception of an alarm message communicated between a second end node and a third end node.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the first end node further processes the alarm message to infer an alarm condition.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the alarm condition is inferred based on at least one of:

the first end node'"'"'s estimated proximity to an origin of the alarm message;

a number of intercepted alarm messages within a period of time;

a damping factor broadcast to at least one of said network nodes by at least one access point of said wireless network; and

tuning factors derived by optimization algorithms operating on past false positive and false negative alarm incidents.

17. A system, comprising:

a first end node configured to;

perform operations in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, and the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detect a first trigger event for triggering a transition from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtain from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replace the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

execute the second software module such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a determination that at least one neighbor node is not in communication with a sub-coordinator node of the wireless network, and the second functional configuration comprises a sub-coordinator functional configuration.

18. A system, comprising:

a first end node configured to;

perform operations in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, and the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detect a first trigger event for triggering a transition from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtain from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replace the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

execute the second software module such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a determination that a current number of sub-networks within said wireless network falls below a threshold value, and the second functional configuration comprises a sub-coordinator functional configuration.

19. A system, comprising:

a first end node configured to;

perform operations in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, and the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detect a first trigger event for triggering a transition from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtain from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replace the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

execute the second software module such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a detection that a total number of neighbor nodes operating in accordance with the second functional configuration exceeds a first threshold value.

20. ,A system, comprising:

a first end node configured to;

perform operations in accordance with a first functional configuration, where the first end node has a first software module stored thereon specifying the first functional configuration, and the first software module comprises a total set of codes and functions which determine how a network node is to behave during a given period of time;

detect a first trigger event for triggering a transition from the first functional configuration to a second functional configuration;

in response to said first trigger event, automatically and dynamically obtain from a remote network node a second software module that is different than the first software module;

replace the first software module stored on the first end node with the second software module; and

execute the second software module such that the first end node operates in accordance with said second functional configuration specified by the second software module;

wherein the trigger event comprises a communications link failure between the first end node and another network node of said wireless network.