Method and unit for the reliable allocation of network elements to a wireless sensor network

• US 9,219,785 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Muesch, Guido, Klabunde, Karin, Baldus, Heribert
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Suhail
• Application Number:
  US10/552,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,284 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 340/825, 455/432.1, 455/450
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• 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: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The reliable and controlled allocation of network elements particularly medical sensors (2) to a network (4) without prior configuration of the wireless sensors or of the network administration system can be carried out using an allocation unit (1) for allocating network elements (2) to a wireless network (4), which allocation unit (1) comprises a transmitter which transmits, in a user-controlled manner, a code to a first network element (2), which code causes the first network element (2) to transmit its ID together with the code (encoded ID) so that the latter can be received by a second network element (3) which allocates the first network element (2) to its network (4).

Claims

1. A method of allocating network elements to a wireless network, wherein

with a transmitter of an allocation unit, transmitting in a user-controlled manner, a first code to a first network element, which first code causes the first network element to transmit an encoded identification (ID) comprising its ID and the received first code, so that the encoded ID is received by a second network element having network administration function, which allocates the first network element to its wireless network,

wherein a temporary activation of the second network element to receive the encoded ID from the first network element takes place by receiving the first code from the allocation unit,

wherein the second network element accepts only identifications from network elements having the same first code, and

wherein the allocation unit is one of a plurality of differently encoded allocation units, said allocation unit having a short transmission range and the transmitted first code is unique for each allocation unit.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the allocation unit transmits an encoded light pulse.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the allocation unit transmits an encoded radio signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, further including:

in response to receiving the code from the allocation unit, the first network element switches from a light receiving state for receiving encoded light pulses from the allocation unit into a radio transmission state for transmitting the encoded ID, and the second network element switches from a light receiving state for receiving encoded light pulses from the allocation unit into a radio receiving state for receiving the encoded ID.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including:

with the allocation unit, receiving the encoded ID from the first network element and transmitting it to the second network element.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further including:

with the allocation unit, transmitting a second code which causes the first network element to leave the wireless network of the second network element.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second code for removing network elements from the wireless network is the first code transmitted over a longer time period or a number of times.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second network element has a network administration function and further including:

with the allocation unit, transmitting a second code which causes the second network element to break up the wireless network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second code for breaking up the wireless network is the first code transmitted over a longer time period or a number of times.

10. A system for allocating network element to a wireless network comprising:

an allocation unit including a transmitter configured to transmit, in a user-controlled manner, a code to a first network element, the first network element being configured to transmit in response to receiving the code an encoded identification (ID) comprising its ID and the received code,

a second network element having network administration function and being configured to allocate the first network element to its wireless network in response to receiving the encoded ID from the first network element,

wherein the second network element is configured to be activated for a predetermined time to receive the encoded ID from the first network element by receiving the code from the allocation unit,

wherein the second network element is configured to accept only identifications from network elements having the same code, and

wherein the allocation unit is one of a plurality of differently encoded allocation units, said allocation unit having a short transmission range transmitter configured to send out a code that is unique for each allocation unit.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit an encoded light pulse and an encoded radio signal.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, further including:

a receiver configured to receive encoded IDs.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10, further including:

one or more devices for displaying the respective operating state.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit, in a user-controlled manner, a second code which causes the first network element to leave the wireless network of the second network element or which causes the second network element to break up the wireless network.