Synchronized wireless data concentrator for airborne wireless sensor networks

摘要

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.

主权项

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.