Characteristic Functions for Sensor Data Annotation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data processing techniques face challenges in efficiently analyzing and annotating large volumes of sensor data from environmental sensors, particularly in representing and querying sensor data effectively.

Innovation Solution

The system represents sensor data using characteristic functions, which are stored as binary decision diagrams, allowing for efficient querying and annotation, and transforms Boolean functions into arithmetic functions to determine equivalence through hash code calculation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sensor data is stored in traditional formats, then data volume is preserved, but data processing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing efficiencyVSAvoidtime to analyze sensor data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms sensor data from traditional tabular formats into a mathematical function space representation. By changing the parameterization of data storage from discrete samples to continuous function parameters, the system achieves more efficient processing and analysis of environmental sensor data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical data processing methods (iterative searching, filtering, and analysis of raw sensor samples) with mathematical function-based operations. Characteristic functions and query functions enable direct analytical solutions rather than step-by-step computational processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If sensor data is represented in detail, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor data accuracyVSAvoiddata structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates characteristic functions that serve as mathematical copies or representations of the actual sensor data sets. Instead of storing and processing every raw sensor sample, the system uses compact function representations that capture the essential characteristics of the data while enabling efficient querying and analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If traditional data storage methods are used, then data completeness is preserved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of querying sensor dataVSAvoiddata retrieval efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces characteristic functions as intermediary mathematical representations between the raw sensor data and the query operations. These functions serve as mediators that enable efficient searching and filtering by transforming both the data and queries into the same mathematical space, making operations simpler and more intuitive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9002781B2Annotating environmental data represented by characteristic functions

Publication Date: 2015.04.07 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

According to certain embodiments, a set of samples of sensor data is accessed. The set of samples records environmental measurements taken by one or more environmental sensors. A characteristic function is generated from the set of samples. The characteristic function indicates whether a given sample is a member of the set of samples. One or more samples of the set of samples that are associated with a given environmental annotation are identified according to the characteristic function.