System, method and apparatus for operating mode configuration in a wireless sensor network
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high installation and maintenance costs of wireless sensor networks limit their penetration into the marketplace due to the need for custom solutions tailored to specific applications, making it challenging to deploy and modify sensor networks without significant downtime or expense.
Innovation Solution
A plug-and-play universal sensor interface allows sensor module units to be easily connected to wireless nodes, enabling flexible deployment and modification of wireless sensor networks without reconfiguring the infrastructure, supporting multiple sensor types and reducing the need for redeployment or requalification of wireless nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless sensor networks are customized for specific applications, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal sensor interface that can accommodate multiple sensor types (temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) through a single standardized connection protocol. This allows the wireless sensor network to handle diverse sensing requirements without requiring separate customization for each sensor type, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through application-specific configuration software.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless sensor networks are modified to meet changing application objectives, then adaptability is improved, but installation and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic reconfiguration of the wireless sensor network through software-based mode selection (sampling mode, reporting mode, event mode) that can be changed without physical hardware modifications. This allows the network to adapt to changing application objectives while avoiding the costs associated with redeployment or requalification of wireless nodes, as the same hardware platform can serve multiple applications through configuration changes.
3Reliability
If sensor module units are connected to wireless nodes, then monitoring capabilities are improved, but downtime during installation and modification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary configuration capabilities where sensor module units can be pre-configured with their operational parameters and modes before being connected to the wireless network. The plug-and-play interface allows these pre-configured modules to be rapidly deployed and integrated without requiring on-site configuration or network requalification, thereby minimizing installation downtime while ensuring full monitoring capabilities are immediately available upon connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote user can specify data collection and processing characteristics of a wireless sensor network. In one example, a configuration station enables a user to activate/deactivate different sensor channels of data to support a delivery of data streams to customers. In another example, a configuration station enables a user to specify reporting intervals for different sensor channels of data. In yet another example, a configuration station enables a user to specify transformation functions for different sensor channels of data. The remote configuration process can be applied to every sensor in every sensor module unit attached to every wireless node at a monitored location.