Sensor Group Virtual Sensors Edge Control Smart City Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized management schemes for remotely controlling actuators in smart city networks face limitations due to increased information processing and transmission demands, leading to inefficiencies and potential bottlenecks.
Innovation Solution
A sensor and actuator network control method that utilizes sensor groups to efficiently manage and propagate relevant data, allowing for flexible data management and processing at multiple nodes, including the use of virtual sensors and edge computing to reduce the burden on central systems and enhance data privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If centralized management scheme is used for remote control of actuators, then control capability is achieved, but information processing load and communication bandwidth requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control function into distributed control nodes. Each actuator or group of actuators has its own control node that processes local sensor data and generates control commands independently, eliminating the need for a single centralized server to handle all information processing loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual sensors and control nodes that replicate the functionality of physical components. Virtual sensors subscribe to sensor group publications and generate control commands locally, copying the behavior of centralized control without requiring actual centralized processing infrastructure.
2Loss of information
If all sensor data is transmitted to central server, then comprehensive data processing is enabled, but communication bandwidth and transmission time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the necessary sensor data at local control nodes rather than transmitting all sensor data to a central server. Control nodes filter and process data locally, extracting only relevant information for local actuator control, thereby reducing communication bandwidth requirements and transmission time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs data processing and filtering actions preliminarily at local control nodes before data needs to be transmitted or used for control decisions. This preliminary processing reduces the volume of data that needs to be communicated and allows for faster local response times.
3Loss of information
If sensor data is published to all nodes, then data availability is maximized, but unnecessary communication and processing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by having each control node selectively process and act on data relevant to its local actuators. Nodes publish sensor data to specific sensor groups that are relevant to their local control needs, rather than broadcasting to all nodes, thereby reducing unnecessary communication and processing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensor groups as intermediary structures that mediate between physical sensors and control nodes. Sensor groups selectively distribute sensor data to subscribed control nodes, acting as filters that prevent unnecessary data from reaching all nodes and reducing overall communication energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an actuator in a sensor and actuator network comprising a first physical sensor at a first node and an actuator at a second node, comprising: associating the first physical sensor to a sensor group: defining the first physical sensor as a publisher for publishing a first state in the sensor group, being based on data sensed by the first physical sensor, from said first node to at least said second node. The method further comprises: creating a virtual sensor having a state at the second node and associating the virtual sensor to the sensor group, defining the virtual sensor as a subscriber for receiving the first state as its state, and controlling the actuator based on the virtual sensor state: or, determining a group state of the sensor group based on the first state, and controlling the actuator based on the group state.