APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING DATA COLLECTED VIA WIRELESS NETWORK SENSORS

• US 20090009317A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Weaver, Billy L., Gorrell, Eileen M., Bartol, James J., Yi, Jennifer R., Free, M. Benton, Hill, Anthony L., Brigham, Scott E., Hagen, Kathy L., Theiss, Silva K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,013,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/517
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor includes modules for receiving and processing the data. The wireless network sensor includes a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data. The apparatus also includes modules for parsing events, episodes, vectors, links, and paths based upon the received data. The paths can be used to generate a representation of traffic patterns in a space monitored by wireless network sensors.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

a module for receiving data from a wireless network sensor having a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data; and

a module for parsing events based upon the received data, wherein the parsed events are determined by applying particular criteria to the detected events.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a module for generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed events.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a module for parsing episodes based upon the parsed events, wherein the parsed episodes are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed events.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a module for generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed episodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a module for parsing vectors based upon the parsed episodes, wherein the parsed vectors are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed episodes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a module for generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed vectors.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a module for parsing links based upon the parsed vectors, wherein the parsed links are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed vectors.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a module for generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed links.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a module for parsing paths based upon the parsed links, wherein the parsed paths are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed links.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a module for generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed paths.

11. A method for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

receiving data from a wireless network sensor having a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data; and

parsing events based upon the received data, wherein the parsed events are determined by applying particular criteria to the detected events.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed events.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising parsing episodes based upon the parsed events, wherein the parsed episodes are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed events.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed episodes.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising parsing vectors based upon the parsed episodes, wherein the parsed vectors are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed episodes.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed vectors.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising parsing links based upon the parsed vectors, wherein the parsed links are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed vectors.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed links.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising parsing paths based upon the parsed links, wherein the parsed paths are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed links.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating and storing a report providing an indication of the parsed paths.

21. A method for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

receiving data from a wireless network sensor having a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors in a monitored space, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

parsing events based upon the received data, wherein the parsed events are determined by applying particular criteria to the detected events including start and end times of the events;

parsing episodes based upon the parsed events, wherein the parsed episodes are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed events including which one of the sensors detected the events and a time when the parsed events occurred;

parsing vectors based upon the parsed episodes, wherein the parsed vectors are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed episodes including a geometric direction in which the parsed episodes occurred;

parsing links based upon the parsed vectors, wherein the parsed links are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed vectors including valid paths a person can take when traversing the monitored space; and

parsing paths based upon the parsed links, wherein the parsed paths are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed links including the valid paths a person can take when traversing the monitored space.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating from the parsed paths an indication of traffic patterns of persons traversing the monitored space.

23. A method for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor using tiles, comprising:

receiving data from a wireless network sensor having a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors in a monitored space, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

parsing events based upon the received data, wherein the parsed events are determined by applying particular criteria to the detected events including start and end times of the events;

generating tiles representing the monitored space, each of the tiles having intersections;

combining the tiles to form a map of the intersections;

tracking a detection of the parsed events at the intersections in the map and a movement of the parsed events among the intersections in the map; and

generating vectors, based upon the tracking, representing the movement of the parsed events among the intersections and a direction of the movement of the parsed events.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising tracking for each of the tiles the following information:

an identifier for the tile;

active intersections representing one of the intersections where one of the parsed events was detected; and

connections of the intersections to another one of the tiles.

25. An apparatus for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor, comprising:

a module for receiving data from a wireless network sensor having a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors in a monitored space, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

a module for parsing events based upon the received data, wherein the parsed events are determined by applying particular criteria to the detected events including start and end times of the events;

a module for parsing episodes based upon the parsed events, wherein the parsed episodes are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed events including which one of the sensors detected the events and a time when the parsed events occurred;

a module for parsing vectors based upon the parsed episodes, wherein the parsed vectors are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed episodes including a geometric direction in which the parsed episodes occurred;

a module for parsing links based upon the parsed vectors, wherein the parsed links are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed vectors including valid paths a person can take when traversing the monitored space; and

a module for parsing paths based upon the parsed links, wherein the parsed paths are determined by applying particular criteria to the parsed links including the valid paths a person can take when traversing the monitored space.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a module for generating from the parsed paths an indication of traffic patterns of persons traversing the monitored space.

27. An apparatus for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor using tiles, comprising:

a module for receiving data from a wireless network sensor having a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors in a monitored space, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data;

a module for parsing events based upon the received data, wherein the parsed events are determined by applying particular criteria to the detected events including start and end times of the events;

a module for generating tiles representing the monitored space, each of the tiles having intersections;

a module for combining the tiles to form a map of the intersections;

a module for tracking a detection of the parsed events at the intersections in the map and a movement of the parsed events among the intersections in the map; and

a module for generating vectors, based upon the tracking, representing the movement of the parsed events among the intersections and a direction of the movement of the parsed events.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a module for tracking for each of the tiles the following information:

an identifier for the tile;

active intersections representing one of the intersections where one of the parsed events was detected; and

connections of the intersections to another one of the tiles.