Collecting And Analyzing Data In A Distributed Sensor Network

• US 20140162711A1
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Robert Raymond II, Vesonder, Gregory T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,288,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for collecting and analyzing data in a distributed sensor network. The distributed sensor network can include a number of distributed sensor systems having data sources such as sensors, communication equipment, and/or other systems and components. The distributed sensor systems also can include lighting systems, if desired. The distributed sensor systems can collect data from the data sources and provide the data to a local or remote entity such as a data analysis engine. The data analysis engine can request data from the distributed sensor systems, receive the data, and analyze the data for various purposes.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

determining if data for analysis during a data analysis operation is available,

if a determination is made that the data for analysis is not available, obtaining the data from a distributed sensor system comprising a plurality of data sources and a communications component that supports cellular communications in a coverage area associated with the distributed sensor system,

analyzing the data in a data analysis operation, and

outputting results of the data analysis operation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

obtaining the data from the distributed sensor system by generating a data request specifying the data;

transmitting the data request to the distributed sensor system; and

receiving the data from the distributed sensor system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor system further comprises a lighting system that illuminates a portion of the coverage area, wherein the plurality of data sources generate the data, and wherein the plurality of data sources comprises a sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor system further comprises:

a temperature sensor;

a wind sensor;

a pressure sensor; and

an air quality sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor system further comprises:

an image system that captures images at the distributed sensor system; and

a sound system that captures audio at the distributed sensor system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor system further comprises a spectrum sensor that detects available and used frequency spectrum at the coverage area.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor system further comprises:

a radome that covers the plurality of data sources; and

an environmental control device that heats and cools a portion of the distributed sensor system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the lighting system is located within the radome, and wherein the lighting system comprises a light emitting diode.

9. A method comprising:

obtaining, at a server computer executing a data analysis engine, data from a distributed sensor system comprising a plurality of data sources and a communications component that supports cellular communications in a coverage area associated with the distributed sensor system;

analyzing, at the server computer, the data in a data analysis operation; and

outputting, at the server computer, results of the data analysis operation.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a request to analyze the data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein obtaining the data comprises:

identifying data to be analyzed during the data analysis operation;

generating a data request specifying the data;

transmitting the data request to the distributed sensor system; and

receiving the data from the distributed sensor system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the data from the distributed sensor system comprises receiving, from the distributed sensor system,

sensor data comprising data collected from a sensor at the distributed sensor system, and

spectrum data specifying spectrum usage at the coverage area associated with the distributed sensor system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the data request specifies an instance of data to be collected at the distributed sensor system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the data from the distributed sensor system comprises receiving, from the distributed sensor system,

spectrum data specifying spectrum usage at the coverage area associated with the distributed sensor system, and

utilization data specifying available and used resources at the distributed sensor system.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the data request specifies a category of data to be collected at the distributed sensor system, the category of data comprising a plurality of instances of data.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the category of data comprises weather data, and wherein the plurality of instances of data comprises temperature data, pressure data, wind data, and radiation data.

17. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

obtaining data from a distributed sensor system comprising a plurality of data sources and a communications component that supports cellular communications in a coverage area associated with the distributed sensor system, the data comprising data obtained at the plurality of data sources;

analyzing the data during a data analysis operation; and

outputting results of the data analysis operation.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

identifying data to be analyzed during the data analysis operation;

generating a data request specifying the data;

transmitting the data request to the distributed sensor system; and

receiving the data from the distributed sensor system in a data response.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein receiving the data from the distributed sensor system comprises receiving, from the distributed sensor system, sensor data comprising data collected from a sensor at the distributed sensor system, spectrum data specifying spectrum usage at the coverage area associated with the distributed sensor system, and utilization data specifying available and used resources at the distributed sensor system.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising generating an instruction for charging a recipient of the results of the data analysis operation.