Modular Surveillance System With Synchronized Sensor Timestamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surveillance and maintenance systems struggle to effectively manage large and complex infrastructures and vehicles, often facing delays and inefficiencies due to high data loads and varying network conditions.
Innovation Solution
A modular surveillance and maintenance system comprising multiple sensor modules, an access module, and a clock module, which collects and synchronizes sensor data using a common time signal, allowing for flexible and reliable monitoring and maintenance across large and complex environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional surveillance system is used to monitor large and complex infrastructures, then it can cover the entire area, but it experiences delays and inefficiencies due to high data loads and varying network conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the surveillance network into multiple hierarchical levels (sensor modules, access modules, output modules, analysis modules) that can independently process and forward data. This segmentation allows local processing at sensor modules, reducing the burden on central systems and minimizing transmission delays while maintaining reliable data flow across the entire infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensor modules perform preliminary processing and filtering of data before transmission to access modules. This preliminary action reduces the volume of data that needs to be transmitted over the network, thereby reducing transmission delays and improving overall system reliability by ensuring only relevant data is forwarded upstream.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple sensor modules are deployed to cover large areas, then monitoring coverage is improved, but system complexity and data management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system organizes multiple sensor modules into a hierarchical structure with access modules and output modules that independently manage specific regions or functions. This segmentation allows each module to operate semi-autonomously, simplifying the overall system management while maintaining comprehensive coverage of large areas through coordinated operation of distributed modules.
Solution Approach 2:
Access modules are designed to handle multiple functions including data reception from multiple sensor modules, data filtering, forwarding to output modules, and supporting multiple types of sensors (acoustic, optical, etc.). This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components for each sensor type, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining broad monitoring coverage.
3Measurement precision
If sensor data is transmitted in real-time to central systems, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but network bandwidth consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sensor modules perform preliminary processing, filtering, and prioritization of data before transmission. This preliminary action ensures that only relevant and high-value data is transmitted to access modules and eventually to central systems, maintaining monitoring accuracy while significantly reducing network bandwidth consumption compared to transmitting all raw sensor data in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
Different data processing and transmission strategies are applied locally at each sensor module based on the specific characteristics of the monitored parameter and environmental conditions. This local quality approach ensures that critical data is transmitted with high fidelity while less critical data is processed or filtered locally, optimizing the balance between monitoring accuracy and network resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a surveillance system for an infrastructure and/or for a vehicle, including at least two sensor modules configured to collect respective sensor data from respectively associated sensors; at least one access module being configured to access the sensor data; and a clock module being configured to provide a common time signal at least to two of the sensor modules; wherein the sensor modules are configured to provide the sensor data with a time stamp, wherein the time stamp is based on the common time signal; and the access module being configured to forward the accessed sensor data by taking into account the time stamp so as to provide an enhanced surveillance and/or maintenance system which is suitable for large and/or complex infrastructures, vehicles, and combinations thereof.