Wireless network for sensor array
First Claim
1. A linear sensor network, comprising:
- a plurality of network nodes forming, and being members of, a plurality of partially overlapping branches, each branch of the plurality of branches having a respective first end and a respective second end, the plurality of branches having a common root, at least one network node of the plurality of network nodes being a member of at least two branches of the plurality of branches, each network node of the plurality of network nodes having a respective unique network node identifier associated therewith for each branch of which the network node is a member, the plurality of network nodes being logically arranged along the plurality of branches according to the nodes'"'"' respective network node identifiers, such that the network node identifiers vary monotonically along each branch, from the first end of the branch to the second end of the branch; and
a base station adjacent the common root of the plurality of branches, comprising a wireless transceiver and having a network node identifier associate therewith;
wherein;
each network node stores a representation of each of the network node'"'"'s network node identifiers;
each network node comprises a respective sensor and a respective wireless transceiver;
each network node collects data with its sensor and, in response to receiving a command originating at the base station, transmits the data via its wireless transceiver using at least one network packet; and
each network node of the plurality of network nodes, except a respective first network node at the first end and a respective last network node at the second end of the branch of which the network node is a member, forwards, via its wireless transceiver, network packets, such that each network packet is forwarded by a respective succession of network nodes whose respective network node identifiers vary monotonically along the succession of network nodes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A linear wireless sensor network includes network nodes having monotonically varying network node identifiers along each branch of the network. The network identifiers enable the nodes to forward network packets without use of routing tables. Low duty cycle wireless communication protocols enable network packets to be routed to all nodes of very large networks while consuming very little electrical power. Broadcast, rather than unicast, transmissions between nodes take advantage of favorable signal propagation conditions to forward messages using largest possible hops, skipping over nodes when possible, as well as automatically adapting to time- or spatially-varying conditions. A group of network packets is broadcast and forwarded by a most distant receiving node that received all packets of the group. A receiving node'"'"'s clock is automatically adjusted, based on which packet(s) of a group of packets was received. A sending node synchronizes near-by receiving nodes. Nodes are provisioned over-the-air, with built-in scheduling. Health and welfare information piggybacks on other network traffic.
21 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A linear sensor network, comprising:
-
a plurality of network nodes forming, and being members of, a plurality of partially overlapping branches, each branch of the plurality of branches having a respective first end and a respective second end, the plurality of branches having a common root, at least one network node of the plurality of network nodes being a member of at least two branches of the plurality of branches, each network node of the plurality of network nodes having a respective unique network node identifier associated therewith for each branch of which the network node is a member, the plurality of network nodes being logically arranged along the plurality of branches according to the nodes'"'"' respective network node identifiers, such that the network node identifiers vary monotonically along each branch, from the first end of the branch to the second end of the branch; and a base station adjacent the common root of the plurality of branches, comprising a wireless transceiver and having a network node identifier associate therewith;
wherein;each network node stores a representation of each of the network node'"'"'s network node identifiers; each network node comprises a respective sensor and a respective wireless transceiver; each network node collects data with its sensor and, in response to receiving a command originating at the base station, transmits the data via its wireless transceiver using at least one network packet; and each network node of the plurality of network nodes, except a respective first network node at the first end and a respective last network node at the second end of the branch of which the network node is a member, forwards, via its wireless transceiver, network packets, such that each network packet is forwarded by a respective succession of network nodes whose respective network node identifiers vary monotonically along the succession of network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
6. A method for forwarding network packets, the method comprising:
-
forming a plurality of partially overlapping branches from a plurality of network nodes, each branch of the plurality of branches having a respect first end and a respective second end, the plurality of branches having a common root, at least one network node of the plurality of network nodes being a member of at least two branches of the plurality of branches; to each network node of the plurality of network nodes, assigning a unique network node identifier for each branch of which the network node is a member, such that the plurality of network nodes is logically arranged along the plurality of branches according to the respective network node identifiers, such that the network node identifiers vary monotonically along each branch, from the first end of the branch to the second end of the branch; disposing a base station adjacent the common root of the plurality of branches, the base station comprising a wireless transceiver and having a network node identifier associate therewith; storing in each network node a representation of each of the network node'"'"'s network node identifiers; at each network node, collecting data using a sensor of the network node; in at least one of the plurality of network nodes, in response to receiving a command originating at the base station, transmitting the data via the network node'"'"'s wireless transceiver using at least one network packet; and in each network node of the plurality of network nodes, except a respective first network node at the first end and a respective last network node at the second end of the branch of which the network node is a member, forwarding, via the network node'"'"'s wireless transceiver, network packets, such that each network packet is forwarded by a respective succession of network nodes whose respective network node identifiers vary monotonically along the succession of network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification