Emergent information pattern driven sensor networks

摘要

Emergent information is created and utilized by an array of sensors. Each sensor is programmed with a trigger rule, which describes a local condition that must be met for the sensor to trigger an event signal, and a relationship rule, which describes a hierarchy of communication control among sensors in the array of sensors. When a predetermined percentage or weighting of the sensors trigger event signals, emergent information that describes conditions at the array location is generated.

主权项

1. A method for utilizing emergent information from an array of sensors, the method comprising:
deploying an array of sensors to an array location, wherein the array of sensors comprises a plurality of different types of sensors; programming each sensor in the array of sensors with at least one trigger rule, wherein the at least one trigger rule describes a local condition that must be met for the sensor to trigger an event signal to the other sensors in the array of sensors; programming each sensor in the array of sensors with a relationship rule, wherein the relationship rule describes a hierarchy of communication control among sensors in the array of sensors; providing each sensor of the array of sensors with controlling software that defines a set of search patterns that utilizes the plurality of different types of sensors within the array of sensors, wherein the set of search patterns is stored within each sensor in the array of sensors, and wherein each sensor in the array of sensors is capable of generating emergent information about the array location; activating the array of sensors, wherein each sensor in the array of sensors monitors at least one condition of a plurality of conditions at the array location and transmits an event signal to the other sensors in the array of sensors in response to detecting an external stimulus that matches any of the set of search patterns stored within the sensor; and in response to the plurality of conditions at the array location causing a predetermined percentage of sensors, from the array of sensors, to each transmit an event signal which conforms to a known search pattern of the set of search patterns:
a first one or more sensors in the array of sensors generating emergent information about the array location, wherein the emergent information describes the plurality of conditions at the array location, and wherein the emergent information exists only when the predetermined percentage of sensors in the array of sensors each transmits an event signal; andthe first one or more sensors sharing the generated emergent information with a remote server via a first one or more communication channels.