Identifying substantially related objects in a wireless sensor network

• US 7,639,135 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hottinger Bruel & Kjaer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MicroStrain, Inc. (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Townsend, Christopher, Arms, Steven Willard, Churchill, David Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/260,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/539.13, 340/10.1, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/686.6, 235/375, 235/385, 235/492, 382/103
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/12 for forcibly arresting or disabling vehicles, e.g. spiked mats
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

Substantially related objects are identified by providing a first wireless sensing device having a first sensor and providing a second wireless sensing device having a second sensor. Next, comparing data derived from the second sensor with data derived from the first sensor to determine whether data from the first sensor is substantially related to data from the second sensor. The first wireless sensing device is identified as substantially related to the second wireless sensing device if data derived from the first sensor is substantially related to data derived from the second sensor.

Claims

1. A method of detecting substantially related objects, comprising:

a. providing a first wireless sensing device having a first acceleration sensor;

b. providing a second wireless sensing device having a second acceleration sensor;

c. obtaining a first signature from the group consisting of a first acceleration signature and a first acceleration spectral signature from said first acceleration sensor and obtaining a second signature from the group consisting of a second acceleration signature and a second acceleration spectral signature from said second acceleration sensor;

d. providing an input to at least said second wireless sensing device during a time frame, comparing said first signature with said second signature to identify whether said first wireless sensing device also received said input and to determine whether said first signature is substantially related to said second signature; and

e. identifying said first wireless sensing device as substantially related to said second wireless sensing device if said first signature is substantially related to said second signature.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein in (d) said first signature is from a first time frame and wherein said second signature is from a second time frame, wherein said second time frame corresponds to said first time frame.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said second time frame is the same as said first time frame.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method is for detecting members of a subgroup, wherein (e) comprises identifying said first wireless sensing device as a member of a subgroup if said first signature is substantially related to said second signature.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method is for detecting order of objects, wherein (e) comprises identifying order of said first wireless sensing device with respect to said second wireless sensing device based on a property of said first signature and said second signature.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said second wireless sensing device includes a base station.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said base station includes a base station transmitter, and wherein said first wireless sensing device includes a first wireless sensing device receiver.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said first wireless sensing device further comprises a first processor, further comprising the step of transmitting data derived from said second sensor with said base station transmitter and receiving said data derived from said second sensor in said first wireless sensing device receiver, wherein (d) includes comparing said data derived from said first sensor with data derived from said second sensor in said first processor.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said base station includes a base station receiver and wherein said first wireless sensing device includes a first wireless sensing device transmitter.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said base station further comprises a base station processor, further comprising the step of transmitting data derived from said first sensor with said first wireless sensing device transmitter and receiving said data derived from said first sensor in said base station receiver, wherein (d) includes comparing said first signature with said second signature in said base station processor.

11. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said base station includes a transmitter and a receiver.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said base station further includes a processor, further comprising said base station transmitting a signal to said first wireless device to begin logging data while said base station is logging data.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising transmitting said second signature to said first wireless device for said comparing in (d).

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said second wireless sensing device comprises a base station, wherein said providing an input involves providing a movement to said base station.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said input includes an acceleration of said base station.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a third wireless sensing device having a third sensor and obtaining a third signature from the group consisting of a third acceleration signature and a third spectral acceleration signature, comparing a plurality of points of said third signature with a plurality of points of at least one from the group consisting of said first signature and said second signature during a time frame, and identifying said third wireless sensing device as a member of a subgroup if data from said third signature is substantially related to at least one from the group consisting of said first signature and said second signature during said time frame.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first wireless sensing device further includes a transmitter and a memory device, wherein said memory device includes an identity code.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first wireless sensing device is connected to at least one from the group, merchandise, a vehicle, a component, a document, and a living thing.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said vehicle includes a motor vehicle, a trailer or a railroad car.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said vehicle includes earth moving equipment.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said document includes a smart staple, wherein said first wireless sensing device is located in said smart staple.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said first wireless sensing device is located in a bracelet or a necklace for wearing by said living thing.

23. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein (e) further comprises identifying said first and second wireless sensing devices as members of a subgroup if said first signature and said second signature demonstrate that they are heading in about the same direction.

24. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said first wireless sensing devices, wherein each said first wireless sensing device includes a processor.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein in (a) each of said plurality of first wireless sensing devices further includes a receiver.

26. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein in (a) said first wireless sensing device and said second wireless sensing device each further includes an RFID circuit, wherein said RFID circuit provides an identity code.

27. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a subgroup includes said first wireless sensing device and said second wireless sensing device, further comprising wirelessly identifying a customer moving with said subgroup.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said subgroup is located on a platform and wherein the customer generally moves with said platform.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising identifying the customer to said platform.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein said platform comprises at least one from the group consisting of:

a cart, a grocery cart, or a vehicle.

31. A method as recited in claim 27, further comprising listing ES-RFID objects in said subgroup moving with said customer.

32. A method as recited in claim 27, further comprising listing prices with said listing of ES-RFID objects in said subgroup moving with said customer, and providing a sum of said prices.

33. A method as recited in claim 32, further comprising charging said customer based on said price listing.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, further comprising filling up containers of merchandise directly in said platform.

35. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a platform and mounting said first wireless sensing device and said second wireless sensing device to said platform.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein said platform comprises a grocery cart.

37. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising providing a trigger signal to initiate data logging by said first wireless sensor device and by said second wireless sensing device.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising logging data for a period of time long enough to distinguish said first wireless sensor device from said second wireless sensing device.

39. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing data in said first wireless sensing device.

40. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein said data includes data derived from said first sensor.

41. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein said data includes data received from said second wireless sensing device.

42. A method as recited in claim 39, further comprising a base station, wherein said data includes data derived from said base station.

43. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein said data derived from said base station includes information about said first wireless sensing device.

44. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said information about said first wireless sensing device includes at least one from the group consisting of history of use, wear, association with another assembly, association with a vehicle, association with a structure, accident history, maintenance history, time in service, flight hours, and number of landings.

45. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first signature includes a first number of zero crossings and wherein said second signature includes a second number of zero crossings and wherein said first signature has a first spacing between zero crossings and wherein said second signature has a second spacing between corresponding zero crossings, wherein said first signature is determined to be substantially related to said second signature when said first number equals said second number and when said first spacing equals said second spacing.

46. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first wireless sensing device is located in an article for wearing by said living thing.

47. A method of detecting substantially related objects and for detecting nearest neighbors, comprising:

a. providing a first wireless sensing device having a first acceleration sensor;

b. providing a second wireless sensing device having a second acceleration sensor;

c. providing a third wireless sensing device having a third acceleration sensor;

d. obtaining a first signature from the group consisting of a first acceleration signature and a first acceleration spectral signature from said first acceleration sensor, obtaining a second signature from the group consisting of a second acceleration signature and a second acceleration spectral signature from said second acceleration sensor, and obtaining a third signature from the group consisting of a third acceleration signature and a third acceleration spectral signature from said third acceleration sensor;

e. comparing said first signature with said second signature and determining whether said first signature is substantially related to said second signature, and identifying said first wireless sensing device as a nearest neighbor to said second wireless sensing device if a data point in said first signature is closer in time to a corresponding data point in said second signature than to a corresponding data point in said third signature; and

f. identifying said first wireless sensing device as substantially related to said second wireless sensing device if said first signature is substantially related to said second signature.

48. A method of detecting substantially related objects, comprising:

a. providing a first wireless sensing device having a first acceleration sensor;

b. providing a second wireless sensing device having a second acceleration sensor;

c. obtaining a first signature from the group consisting of a first acceleration signature and a first acceleration spectral signature from said first acceleration sensor and obtaining a second signature from the group consisting of a second acceleration signature and a second acceleration spectral signature from said second acceleration sensor;

d. providing an input to at least said second wireless sensor during a time frame, comparing said first signature with said second signature to identify whether said first sensor also received said input and to determine whether said first signature is substantially related to said second signature; and

e. identifying said first wireless sensing device as substantially related to said second wireless sensing device if said first signature is substantially related to said second signature, and identifying said first and said second wireless sensing devices as members of a subgroup, wherein a signature from each member of said subgroup is substantially related to a signature of another member of said subgroup, further comprising a common platform, wherein each member of said subgroup is located on said common platform.

49. A method as recited in claim 48, wherein (e) comprises identifying a plurality of wireless sensing devices whose data demonstrates that they started moving at about the same time.

50. A method as recited in claim 48, wherein (e) comprises identifying a plurality of wireless sensing devices whose data demonstrates that they started moving from about the same location at about the same time.

51. A method as recited in claim 48, further comprising providing a plurality of said wireless sensing devices on said common platform and providing a movement to said common platform.

52. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein said common platform is part of a vehicle.

53. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein said wireless sensing devices include merchandise, and wherein said common platform is part of a forklift truck.

54. A method of detecting members of a subgroup of objects comprising:

a. providing a plurality of objects, wherein each object of said plurality of objects includes;

(1) an identity code;

(2) an acceleration sensor; and

(3) a transmitter, wherein said transmitter can transmit said identity code;

b. providing a substantially common input to a subgroup of said plurality of objects;

c. obtaining a signature from the group consisting of an acceleration signature and an acceleration spectral signature from said acceleration sensor from each of said plurality of objects;

d. comparing said signatures from said plurality of objects to identify a member of said subgroup;

e. transmitting said identity code from said transmitter of each said member of said subgroup; and

f. receiving and storing said identity code of each said member of said subgroup.

55. A method as recited in claim 54, wherein each said object further comprises a receiver, further comprising transmitting a signature to one of said objects for comparison within said object.

56. A method as recited in claim 55, further comprising providing a base station and transmitting said signature from said base station.

57. A method as recited in claim 55, wherein each said object further comprises a processor, further comprising performing said comparing in said processor.

58. A method as recited in claim 54, wherein said providing a substantially common input to a subgroup of said plurality of objects involves ordinarily using said objects.

59. A method as recited in claim 54, wherein each said signature includes zero crossings, further comprising at least one from the group consisting of counting said zero crossings and determining time between zero crossings.