Distributed Sensor Node Task Segmentation for Bandwidth Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Systems with multiple sensors or data sources face overwhelming bandwidth requirements when transferring data to a central processing unit, which can be exacerbated by the need to track multiple targets or objects, leading to costly high-bandwidth connections or unmanageable network loads.
Innovation Solution
Distributing the task across the network so that each node processes and updates a portion of the data locally before sending a reduced packet to another node or the central processor, thereby reducing the bandwidth needed for data transfer and allowing for efficient handling of multiple data products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all data is transferred to a central processing unit, then data assimilation is addressed, but bandwidth requirements become overwhelming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized data processing task into distributed processing units across the network. Each processing unit handles a portion of the data assimilation locally, eliminating the need to transfer all raw data to a single central processor. This segmentation reduces network bandwidth requirements while maintaining the system's ability to assimilate and process data from multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension centralized processing architecture to a multi-dimensional distributed processing architecture. By adding the spatial dimension of distribution across multiple network nodes, the system processes data in parallel throughout the network rather than sequentially through a central bottleneck, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements.
2Productivity
If additional processors are added, then processing capacity increases, but bandwidth requirements are transferred to other areas of the network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by enabling each distributed processing unit to perform data assimilation and processing operations locally on its assigned data portion. This local processing eliminates the need for extensive data transfer between processors, as each unit works independently on its local data segment, thereby increasing processing capacity without proportionally increasing network bandwidth requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If very high bandwidth connections are used, then data transfer capability is sufficient, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing workload across multiple distributed units, which reduces the bandwidth requirement for each individual connection to the central processor. This segmentation allows the system to use lower-cost, lower-bandwidth connections while maintaining overall system capability to handle large data volumes through parallel processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the system architecture parameter from centralized high-bandwidth processing to distributed low-bandwidth processing. By distributing processing tasks across multiple nodes, the system achieves the same overall data transfer capability using multiple lower-bandwidth connections, thereby reducing system cost while maintaining data transfer sufficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing a task by a sensor node in a sensor network includes receiving, at a sensor node, a packet from a central source on the sensor network, extracting a network-wide task to be completed from the packet, determining a portion of the task to be completed by the sensor node, the portion of the task comprising an operation to be performed by the sensor, and performing the portion of the task at the sensor node. A system includes a central source, a network of sensor nodes in communication with the central source, each sensor node having a port for receiving and sending packets, a sensor, a local memory, and a processor to extract a network-wide task from the packet, determine a portion of the task to be completed by the sensor node, and complete the portion of the task.