3252 results about "Sensor web" patented technology

A system and device for harvesting various frequencies and polarizations of ambient radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy for making a passive sensor (tag) into an autonomous passive sensor (tag) adapted to collect and store data with time-stamping and some primitive computation when necessary even when an interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is not present (not transmitting). A specific source of ambient RF EM energy may include wireless fidelity (WiFi) and / or cellular telephone base stations. The system and device may also allow for the recharging of energy storage units in active and battery assisted passive (BAP) devices. The system could be a “smart building” that uses passive sensors with RF EM energy harvesting capability to sense environmental variables, security breaches, as well as information from “smart appliances” that can be used for a variety of controls and can be accessed locally or remotely over the Internet or cellular networks.

When individual persons or vehicles move through a transportation network, they are likely to be both actively and passively creating information that reflects their location and current behavior. In this patent, we propose a system that makes complete use of this information. First, through a broad web of sensors, our system collects and stores the full range of information generated by travelers. Next, through the use of previously-stored data and active computational analysis, our system deduces the identity of individual travelers. Finally, using advanced data-mining technology, our system selects useful information and transmits it back to the individual, as well as to third-party users; in short, it forms the backbone for a variety of useful location-related end-user applications.

An integrated passive wireless chip diagnostic sensor system is described that can be interrogated remotely with a wireless device such as a modified cell phone incorporating multi-protocol RFID reader capabilities (such as the emerging Gen-2 standard) or Bluetooth, providing universal easy to use, low cost and immediate quantitative analyses, geolocation and sensor networking capabilities to users of the technology. The present invention can be integrated into various diagnostic platforms and is applicable for use with low power sensors such as thin films, MEMS, electrochemical, thermal, resistive, nano or microfluidic sensor technologies. Applications of the present invention include on-the-spot medical and self-diagnostics on smart skin patches, Point of Care (POC) analyses, food diagnostics, pathogen detection, disease-specific wireless biomarker detection, remote structural stresses detection and sensor networks for industrial or Homeland Security using low cost wireless devices such as modified cell phones.

An RF addressable sensor network architecture is provided. The RF addressable sensor network includes one or more RF addressable sensors, one or more wireless sensor readers coupled to a communications network, and one or more end user devices coupled to the communications network. The RF addressable sensor network may also include a sensor network processor. An RF addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements, one or more antennas for communicating with the wireless sensor reader, an RF power and communications interface, and RFID control module, and a sensor interface. The wireless sensor reader includes one or more antennas, a user interface, a controller, a network communications module, and an RF addressable sensor logic module.

A sensor network collects time-series data from a process tool and supplies the data to an analysis system where pattern analysis techniques are used to identify structures and to monitor subsequent data based on analysis instructions or a composite model. Time-series data from multiple process runs are used to form a composite model of a data structure including variation. Comparison with the composite model gives an indication of tool health. A sensor network may have distributed memory for easy configuration.

A system and method for calibrating a set-point for climate control includes a sensor network having a plurality of sensors configured to report a climate condition. A database is configured to receive reports from the sensors and generate one or more profiles reflecting at least one of historic climate control information and occupant preferences. A controller is configured to receive information from the profiles to generate a set-point based upon an optimization program. The optimization program is implemented to balance competing goals to generate the set-point for controlling climate control equipment in accordance with the set-point.

Macroelectronic substrate materials incorporating nanowires are described. These are used to provide underlying electronic elements (e.g., transistors and the like) for a variety of different applications. Methods for making the macroelectronic substrate materials are disclosed. One application is for transmission an reception of RF signals in small, lightweight sensors. Such sensors can be configured in a distributed sensor network to provide security monitoring. Furthermore, a method and apparatus for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is described. The RFID tag includes an antenna and a beam-steering array. The beam-steering array includes a plurality of tunable elements. A method and apparatus for an acoustic cancellation device and for an adjustable phase shifter that are enabled by nanowires are also described.

The navigation system method described herein could guide people around urban environments, detect guide and navigate them to destinations, add-on to the portable phone. We have focused on the task of detecting and navigating even in situations in which Global Positioning Systems (GPS) cannot provide this information, such as when the person is indoors or in crowded urban areas where there is no line of site to the GPS satellites. The information will be received directly from RF sensors and will display on the existing cellular phone as Bluetooth application

A power saving device for a light emitting diode (LED) lamp mounted to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp having a ballast assembly and LEDs positioned within a tube and electrical power delivered from the ballast assembly to the LEDs. The LED lamp includes a device for controlling the delivery of the electrical power from the ballast assembly to the LEDs wherein the use of electrical power can be reduced or eliminated automatically during periods of non-use. Such device for controlling can include an on-off switch mounted in the tube or can also include a current driver dimmer mounted in the tube that regulates the amount of power delivered to the LEDs. A computer or logic arrays control the dimmer or power switch. A sensor such as an occupancy motion detection sensor mounted external to the tube or within the tube can send signals to the computer or logic array to trigger a switch or control a dimmer. Two or more such LED lamps with one or more computers or logic arrays in network communication with sensors can be controlled, so as to reduce flickering between lamps when illumination areas are being alternately occupied. Preset or manually set timers can control switches or be used in combination with the computer, logic array, and dimmer.

A measurement and communication system for use with a tubular string, comprises a tubular string having a plurality of self-powered, autonomous telemetry stations disposed at predetermined locations along the tubular string. Each autonomous telemetry station is adapted to receive at least one first signal and transmit at least one second signal related to the at least one first signal. Power is extracted from potential energy sources proximate each autonomous telemetry station. A method of communicating information along a tubular string comprises, disposing an autonomous telemetry station at predetermined locations along the tubular string. A preferred transmission path is autonomously determined at each of the autonomous telemetry stations. Information is transmitted along the tubular string according to the autonomously determined preferred path.

An attribute value of a matter accompanied by a sensor is transmissibly accessible in a sensor node system constituted by wireless terminal computers having the sensor, the wireless communication base stations and server computers. The wireless terminal computer reports at the time of wireless communication an identification number of a wireless communication base station with which it communicates previously. A relay processing service is dynamically constituted so that when a wireless communication base station different from itself is reported, the wireless base station as the communication counter-part can transmissbly look up the wireless terminal computer from a host computer.

The present invention relates to a sensor network having node architecture for performing trust management of neighboring sensor nodes, and to an adaptive method for performing trust management of neighboring sensor nodes for monitoring security in the sensor network. The sensor network includes a base station and a plurality of sensor nodes for reporting sensed information packets to the base station through radiofrequency signals relayed by other sensor nodes. A judge sensor node may have a trust estimator in its node architecture to evaluate trustworthiness of a neighboring suspect sensor node by determining a personal reference and receiving personal references from jury sensor nodes. Based on the trustworthiness of the suspect, the judge may modify a route for transmitting packets to the base station.

A method and system for performing a distributed verification with respect to measurement data in a sensor network. The method of performing the distributed verification with respect to measurement data in a sensor network includes: verifying, by an aggregator, the measurement data received from each of a plurality of sensors; generating, by the aggregator, verification request data by using the verified measurement data; transmitting the verification request data to a verifier; and verifying, by the verifier, the aggregator via a predetermined number of sensors of the plurality of sensors and the verification request data. The method of performing a distributed verification with respect to measurement data in a sensor network further includes transmitting, by the aggregator, an aggregation result with respect to the measurement data to a base station when the aggregator is verified; and verifying, by the base station, the aggregation result.

The present invention relates to a method of and system for managing sensor data in a computer database environment. An exemplary method of the invention is described, comprising the steps of: defining a Sensor Network environment in terms of zones, each zone being defined by its entrance or exit condition, and having a distinct and consistent property associated with it; collecting sensor data regarding the state of objects within the Sensor Network environment; analyzing the collected sensor data in the context of said Sensor Network environment and the zones; and storing the analyzed sensor data as records in a database, in an application agnostic form, and in terms of the zones. A corresponding system is also described.

A power saving device for a light emitting diode (LED) lamp mounted to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp having a ballast assembly and LEDs positioned within a tube and electrical power delivered from the ballast assembly to the LEDs. The LED lamp includes means for controlling the delivery of the electrical power from the ballast assembly to the LEDs wherein the use of electrical power can be reduced or eliminated automatically during periods of non-use. Such means for controlling can include an on-off switch mounted in the tube or can also include a current driver dimmer mounted in the tube that regulates the amount of power delivered to the LEDs. A computer or logic arrays control the dimmer or power switch. A sensor such as an occupancy motion detection sensor mounted external to the tube or within the tube can send signals to the computer or logic array to trigger a switch or control a dimmer. Two or more such LED lamps with one or more computers or logic arrays in network communication with sensors can be controlled, so as to reduce flickering between lamps when illumination areas are being alternately occupied. Preset or manually set timers can control switches or be used in combination with the computer, logic array, and dimmer.

An intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system is usable with mobile robots, and is applicable to stationary industrial arms. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system provides a large work envelope and a controlled and directed rotational movement for a flexible snake robot arm. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system has the ability to change end effector tools and sensors. The platform computers have the ability to interact with other subsystems for coordinated as well as independent tasks. The flexibly snake robot arm can be covered with a flexible sensor network, or “skin”. The intelligent modular hybrid robot arm system can manage its energy use, stores the arm in a compact shape and uses a central support tube offering unobstructed arm access to all sectors of its working envelope.

A Wide Area Sensor Network (WASN) is disclosed that utilizes wideband software defined radios (SDRs) to monitor RF energy over a wide frequency range, detect when critical frequencies are being jammed or otherwise interfered with, and locate the source of the interference so that the interference can be eliminated. The WASN may use one or more geolocation techniques In addition, the WASN may detect and locate unauthorized transmitters as well as estimate the transmitted power of authorized transmitters to assure they are not transmitting more power than authorized.

A patient care monitoring system and method employ active RFID devices integrated with digital processing, memory and timing circuitry for patient identification, care giver identification and for identification of each prescribed treatment, procedure, medication and general and / or special care action. At the point-of-care, each care action identity device will match directly with the targeted patient identity device or issue an error warning to prevent mistakes. The patient identity device will also interact with an associated sensor network to proactively prompt care givers to provide general care actions, such as altering a patient's laying position, changing bed pan / clothing / bed sheet, etc. for invalid patients. Also the patient identity tag will furnish periodic records of every care action, mistakes, remedies, care givers' identities and time and date for a central processor of a healthcare facility to monitor the quality of patient care. Such record can also be potentially accessed via the Internet by the responsible regulatory agencies, accreditation associations, insurance firms and even patients' families to ensure patient care is meeting the standards as well as medical billing accuracy.

A scalable network architecture adapted to interface with various sensor types and sensor access mechanisms while providing real-time access to sensor data for distributed applications and organizations is described. A centralized sensor network service manages the registration, capabilities, near real-time status of the sensors and their current network connections. New sensors are discovered automatically through messaging between network access nodes and the sensor registry. The registry service can be made available to distributed sensor applications and sensor middleware, and facilitates the sharing of sensors across organizations. The sensor registry is automatically updated by network software and does not require manual configuration or reconfiguration each time a sensor is added to or relocated within the network. Authentication and authorization policies can be implemented to ensure that only authorized applications can query and view the registry. The registry can be implemented for multi-vendor sensor networks and can accommodate multiple addressing schemes.

An energy efficient MAC protocol for a sensor network that extends the battery life of remotely located wireless nodes by employing MAC operations involving transmission of a wake-up signal with more processing gain, dynamic adjustment of a transmission rate of synchronization messages for fast time synchronization and an energy efficient neighboring node discovery technique.

The sensor network may include a location capture processing unit; and a plurality of sensors in communication with the location capture processing unit. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors includes a controller and a RF receiver configured to receive RF signals. The RF receiver is in communication with the controller. A localization engine is configured to receive beacon signals transmitted by other sensors in the sensor network. The localization engine is in communication with the controller. The controller of each of the plurality of sensors is further configured to determine a position of its respective sensor using either RF receiver or localization engine or both. The plurality of sensors communicates their position to the location capture processing unit.

Methods and apparatus for a multi-waveform wireless sensor network based on widely distributed sensor nodes operating in wireless local area networks and gateway connection to an operations center via wide area network protocol. The scaleable network consists of a tiered structure of sensor nodes within wireless local area networks using an ad hoc protocol to form the network and at least one gateway node within each LAN to provide a link to an operations center. The sensor network can be used to detect and track Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive events.

The present invention provides a technique for continuous measurement of blood pressure based on pulse transit time and which does not require any external calibration. This technique, referred to herein as the ‘Composite Method’, is carried out with a body-worn monitor that measures blood pressure and other vital signs, and wirelessly transmits them to a remote monitor. A network of body-worn sensors, typically placed on the patient's right arm and chest, connect to the body-worn monitor and measure time-dependent ECG, PPG, accelerometer, and pressure waveforms. The disposable sensors can include a cuff that features an inflatable bladder coupled to a pressure sensor, three or more electrical sensors (e.g. electrodes), three or more accelerometers, a temperature sensor, and an optical sensor (e.g., a light source and photodiode) attached to the patient's thumb.

The wireless sensor network with energy efficient protocols includes a network of external sensors in communication with a data sink. The network utilizes an algorithm integrating a modified S-MAC (an algorithm for medium access control) protocol for decreasing energy usage in operating the node and associated sensors. A routing protocol is further integrated into the algorithm, the routing protocol being based upon cluster head rotation.

A power saving device for a light emitting diode (LED) lamp mounted to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp having a ballast assembly and LEDs positioned within a tube and electrical power delivered from the ballast assembly to the LEDs. The LED lamp includes means for controlling the delivery of the electrical power from the ballast assembly to the LEDs wherein the use of electrical power can be reduced or eliminated automatically during periods of non-use. Such means for controlling can include an on-off switch mounted in the tube or can also include a current driver dimmer mounted in the tube that regulates the amount of power delivered to the LEDs. A computer or logic arrays control the dimmer or power switch. A sensor such as an occupancy motion detection sensor mounted external to the tube or within the tube can send signals to the computer or logic array to trigger a switch or control a dimmer. Two or more such LED lamps with one or more computers or logic arrays in network communication with sensors can be controlled, so as to reduce flickering between lamps when illumination areas are being alternately occupied. Preset or manually set timers can control switches or be used in combination with the computer, logic array, and dimmer.

A method and apparatus for continuous measurement of blood pressure, based on pulse transit time, which does not require any external calibration. This technique, referred to herein as the ‘composite technique’, is carried out with a body-won sensor that measures blood pressure and other vital signs, and wirelessly transmits them to a remote monitor. A network of disposable sensors, typically placed on the patient's right arm and chest, connect to the body sensor and measure a time-dependent electrical waveform, optical waveform, and pressure waveform. The disposable sensors typically include an armband that features an inflatable bladder coupled to a pressure sensor, at least 3 electrical sensors (e.g. electrodes), and an optical sensor (e.g., a light source and photodiode) attached to a wrist-worn band.