Collecting and analyzing data in a distributed sensor network

• US 9,288,611 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• 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, II, Robert Raymond, Vesonder, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US13/706,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20140162711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 455446-455
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

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, wherein the data comprises spectrum data that specifies spectrum usage at the coverage area and utilization data that specifies available and used resources of the communications component,

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 further 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:

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

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the lighting system is located within a radome that covers the plurality of data sources.

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

determining if the data is available; and

obtaining the data in response to a determination that the data is not available.

8. 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, wherein the data comprises spectrum data that specifies spectrum usage at the coverage area and utilization data that specifies available and used resources of the communications component;

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

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

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a request to analyze the data.

10. The method of claim 8, 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.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data comprises data collected from a sensor at the distributed sensor system.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the data request specifies an instance of data to be collected at the distributed sensor system.

13. The method of claim 10, 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.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the data comprises temperature data, pressure data, wind data, and radiation data.

19. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining if the data is available; and

obtaining the data in response to a determination that the data is not available.

15. 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, wherein the data comprises spectrum data that specifies spectrum usage at the coverage area and utilization data that specifies available and used resources of the communications component;

analyzing the data during a data analysis operation; and

outputting results of the data analysis operation.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, 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.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising generating an instruction to charge a recipient of the results of the data analysis operation.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

determining if the data is available; and

obtaining the data in response to a determination that the data is not available.