Synchronized wireless data concentrator for airborne wireless sensor networks
First Claim
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1. A system for airborne wireless sensor networks, the system comprising:
- at least one wireless data concentrator (WDC) operable as a router;
at least one processor that is to run hosted applications related to the at least one WDC operable as a router;
at least one network switch that is connected to the at least one WDC operable as a router and the at least one processor;
at least one node that is wirelessly in communication with the at least one WDC operable as a router; and
at least one WDC operable as a coordinator,wherein the at least one WDC operable as a coordinator is capable of (a) coordinating communications of the at least one WDC operable as a router, (b) acting as a trust center manager that securely manages keys, maintains a key list comprising a new master key and a last-known master key, and is capable of changing the new master key for at least one of the at least one WDC operable as a router, and (c) distributing its coordinator function to at least one of the at least one WDC operable as a router,wherein the new master key corresponds to a medium access control (MAC) address of one of the at least one WDC operable as a router.
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Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus for a synchronized wireless data concentrator are provided for facilitating a precisely synchronized system of nodes in a wireless sensor network for airborne data systems. The wireless data concentrator contains a plurality of IEEE 802.15.4 radio/micro-processor subsystems, which are connected to a local host microprocessor, which is in turn connected to an aircraft data network. The airplane data network also contains a precision clock source and a plurality of specialized network switches, which have a low-jitter data-path routing capability.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for airborne wireless sensor networks, the system comprising:
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at least one wireless data concentrator (WDC) operable as a router; at least one processor that is to run hosted applications related to the at least one WDC operable as a router; at least one network switch that is connected to the at least one WDC operable as a router and the at least one processor; at least one node that is wirelessly in communication with the at least one WDC operable as a router; and at least one WDC operable as a coordinator, wherein the at least one WDC operable as a coordinator is capable of (a) coordinating communications of the at least one WDC operable as a router, (b) acting as a trust center manager that securely manages keys, maintains a key list comprising a new master key and a last-known master key, and is capable of changing the new master key for at least one of the at least one WDC operable as a router, and (c) distributing its coordinator function to at least one of the at least one WDC operable as a router, wherein the new master key corresponds to a medium access control (MAC) address of one of the at least one WDC operable as a router. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for airborne wireless sensor networks, the method comprising:
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transmitting state information from at least one node; receiving, by at least one wireless data concentrator (WDC) operable as a router, the state information; transmitting the state information from the at least one WDC operable as a router; receiving, by at least one WDC operable as a coordinator, the state information; and sending the state information, by the at least one WDC operable as a coordinator, to at least one processor for processing, wherein the at least one WDC operable as a coordinator is capable of (a) coordinating communications of the at least one WDC operable as a router, (b) acting as a trust center manager that securely manages keys, maintains a key list comprising a new master key and a last-known master key, and is capable of changing the new master key for at least one of the at least one WDC operable as a router, and (c) distributing its coordinator function to at least one of the at least one WDC operable as a router, wherein the new master key corresponds to a medium access control (MAC) address of one of the at least one WDC operable as a router. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A wireless data concentrator (WDC) for airborne wireless sensor networks, the WDC comprising:
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at least one router, wherein at least one node is in communication with the at least one router; at least one microprocessor, wherein the at least one microprocessor is for processing signals received by the at least one router from the at least one node; and at least one clock crystal, wherein the at least one clock crystal is used for synchronizing communications for the at least one router, wherein the WDC is capable of (a) coordinating communications of at least one other WDC, (b) acting as a trust center manager that securely manages keys, maintains a key list comprising a new master key and a last-known master key, and is capable of changing the new master key for at least one of the at least one other WDC, and (c) distributing a coordinator function to at least one of the at least one other WDC, wherein the new master key corresponds to a medium access control (MAC) address of one of the at least one other WDC.
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Specification