Reconfigurable Optical Sensor Network Architecture for Adaptive Disaster Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor networks are costly and inflexible, making it impractical to build separate networks for various applications, and they struggle to adapt in disaster situations where timely and accurate information is crucial for first responders.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable optical sensor network architecture using software-defined optical sensor networks (SDOSN) with MEMS-based reconfigurable optical space switches, optical star couplers, and fiber optic communication lines, enabling adaptive and secure data transmission through four-dimensional multiplexing, including time-, wavelength-, and orbital angular momentum-based methods, to support a large number of sensors and accommodate diverse applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate sensor networks are built for different applications, then application-specific performance is improved, but cost and system complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-specific performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal optical sensor network infrastructure that can serve multiple applications simultaneously. The reconfigurable optical space switch and software-defined networking enable the same physical network to be dynamically reconfigured for different sensing applications (environmental monitoring, structural damage detection, tsunami detection, etc.), eliminating the need for separate dedicated networks for each application while maintaining application-specific performance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The network employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities through reconfigurable optical space switches and software-defined networking controllers. The network topology, routing paths, and resource allocation can be dynamically adjusted in real-time to accommodate different application requirements, transitioning from static application-specific networks to a dynamic multi-purpose infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional sensor networks are used, then initial deployment is simpler, but adaptability to changing conditions and disaster scenarios is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to changing conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-deploys a comprehensive optical sensor network infrastructure with redundant pathways, multiple sensing modalities, and reconfigurable switching capabilities before disasters occur. This preliminary deployment ensures that when disasters strike, the network is already in place and can be rapidly reconfigured through software control to meet the specific information needs of first responders and decision-makers without requiring physical reinstallation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The software-defined networking controller acts as an intermediary between the physical optical network infrastructure and the application requirements. It translates high-level adaptability requirements into low-level network configuration commands, enabling the network to adapt to changing conditions and disaster scenarios through software control rather than physical reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If optical sensor networks with reconfigurable switches are deployed, then adaptability and runtime reconfiguration are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveruntime reconfiguration capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical reconfiguration approaches with optical and software-based control mechanisms. Instead of physically reconfiguring network connections through manual intervention or mechanical switches, the system uses reconfigurable optical space switches controlled by software-defined networking protocols, eliminating the need for complex mechanical assembly while enabling rapid runtime reconfiguration through electronic control signals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10295751B2Optically-secured adaptive software-defined optical sensor network architecture

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 NEC CORP

AI summary

A method and network are provided for a reconfigurable optical sensor network. The method includes configuring, by a controller, the reconfigurable optical sensor network, including one or more reconfigurable optical space switches, for a type of sensor data. The method also includes generating sensor data in the type of sensor data with one or more of a plurality of bidirectional sensors. The method additionally includes sending the sensor data to one or more optical star couplers. The method further includes forwarding the sensor data from one of the one or more optical star couplers to the one of one or more reconfigurable optical space switches.