Surveillance network system

Abstract

Embodiments of a sensor network system provide surveillance capabilities in multiple contexts/environments (e.g., military, commercial, scientific, civic, urban, wilderness, etc.). Network nodes may include devices such as sensors, network routers, network controllers, etc. Network sensors may be configured so that power management objectives are maximized. Network sensors (both individually and as a group) may be capable of intelligent and cooperative information gathering, so that the output of the sensor network does not contain high levels of irrelevant information. The network nodes may communicate among one another via one or more communication links, and in some cases, multiple routes between any two network nodes may be available. The sensor network may include aspects of both high data rate and low data rate network features. One or more network controllers may provide various network management capabilities, including management of network routing, information collection, information exportation, network configuration, etc.

1 . A surveillance network comprising multiple network nodes: 
 a first set of network nodes configured to communicate within the surveillance network using a first type of communications link;    a second set of network nodes configured to communicate within the surveillance network using both the first type of communication link and a second type of communication link; and    at least one controller that is directly or indirectly linked to each of the multiple network nodes, the controller being capable of establishing whether each of the multiple network nodes is a member of the first set or the second set.    
   
   
       2 . The surveillance network of  claim 1  wherein the second set of network nodes includes reduced function devices.  
   
   
       3 . The surveillance network of  claim 1  wherein the first set of network nodes includes endpoint devices, including one or more sensors.  
   
   
       4 . The surveillance network of  claim 1  wherein the first set of network nodes includes full function devices.  
   
   
       5 . The surveillance network of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the multiple nodes communicate via a gateway node that functions as a communication hub, and wherein the gateway node is the controller.  
   
   
       6 . The surveillance network of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the multiple nodes communicate via a gateway node that functions as a communication hub, and wherein the gateway node is a network router.  
   
   
       7 . The surveillance network of  claim 1  wherein the first type of communications link is associated with a bandwidth allowing low data rate information transfer over a specified range of distances.  
   
   
       8 . The surveillance network of  claim 1  wherein the second type of communications link is associated with a bandwidth allowing high data rate information transfer over a specified range of distances.  
   
   
       9 . A system for conducting surveillance in a physical environment, the system comprising: 
 multiple network nodes including endpoint devices and one or more network gateways, the endpoint devices having sensors for detecting environmental conditions, and the one or more network gateways functioning as communication hubs for one or more of the multiple network nodes;    means for employing, with respect to a first group of network nodes from the multiple network nodes, a first communication technique associated with a first type of information; and    means for employing, with respect to a second group of network nodes from the multiple network nodes, a second communication technique associated with the first type information and a second type of information.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9   wherein the second communication technique is configured for high bandwidth, short-range connectivity for transferring data-dense information, and are implemented using supporting applications that allow for on-demand imaging and video capture and transmission to computing devices performing information and decision support processing,    wherein the first communication technique includes information transfer from sensors to computing devices performing information and decision support processing are configured for low bandwidth, long range connectivity for transferring low-density information and may be used to monitor and control aspects of the communication of nodes in both the first group and the second group.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first communication technique is configured for high bandwidth, short-range connectivity for transferring data-dense information.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first communication technique is configured for low bandwidth, long range connectivity for transferring low-density information and facilitate monitoring and controlling aspects of the communication of nodes in both the first group and the second group.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the second communication technique is associated with standards from the IEEE 802.11 family and wherein the first communication technique is associated with standards from the IEEE 802.15 family.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first communication technique facilitates information transfer from sensors to computing devices performing information and decision support processing.  
   
   
       15 . A method for communication in an information gathering network which gathers information from a physical environment, the system comprising: 
 designating a first set of nodes in the information gathering network;    designating a second set of nodes in the information gathering network;    assigning a first communication link type to the first set of nodes to allow nodes from the first set of nodes to communicate with other nodes in the information gathering network; and    assigning the first communication link type and a second communication link type to the second set of nodes to allow nodes from the second set to communicate with other nodes in the information gathering network.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein assigning the first communication link type to the first set of nodes and assigning the first communication link type and the second communication link type to the second set of nodes is based on characteristics of information to be communicated within the information gathering network.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the assigning is further based on power usage requirements of the network node.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein assigning is further based on power usage requirements of a network component sending information to the network node.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  assigning is further based on a distance to a network component which is to receive information from the network node via the selected communication link type.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein first communication link type is associated with low data rate, low bandwidth data transmission that employs link and physical layer protocols in accordance with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first communication link type is associated with a low data rate low bandwidth communication link type that includes means for transferring reference signals to one or more network nodes in a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mode.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first communication link type is associated with low data rate low bandwidth data transmission that includes means for employing a time division multiple access (TDMA) beacon structure.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the second communication link type is associated with high data rate high bandwidth data transmission that employs link and physical layer protocols in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 family of standards.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first communication link type is associated with low data rate low bandwidth data transmission that employs means to define a super-frame and timing reference transferring information using the second communication link type.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the second communication link type is associated with high data rate high bandwidth data transmission, and wherein the second communication link type is configured for transferring information among full functioning devices within the information gathering network.  
   
   
       26 . A surveillance network comprising: 
 a controller;    a plurality of sensors being capable of communicating with the controller, each of the plurality of sensors being capable of collecting information from its environment and sending the collected information to the controller;    the controller being responsive to the communication from each of the plurality of sensors to authenticate a given sensor and compare its collected information to the collected information from a set of sensors located in the vicinity of the given sensor.    
   
   
       27 . The surveillance network of  claim 26  wherein the controller further accepts the collected information if the collected information is in a given tolerances range of the information collected from the set of sensors located in the vicinity of the given sensor and rejects the collected information if the collected information is substantially outside of a tolerance range of the information collected from the set of sensors located in the vicinity of the sensor.  
   
   
       28 . The surveillance network of  claim 26  wherein the controller further disconnects the communication link to the given sensor if the collected information is substantially outside of a tolerance range of the information collected from the set of sensors located in the vicinity of the sensor.  
   
   
       29 . The surveillance network of  claim 26  wherein the controller further disconnects the communication link to the given sensor if the collected information is substantially outside of a tolerance range of the information collected from the set of sensors located in the vicinity of the sensor.  
   
   
       30 . The surveillance network of  claim 26  wherein the controller further disconnects the communication link to the given sensor if the collected information is substantially outside of a tolerance range of the information collected from the set of sensors located in the vicinity of the sensor.  
   
   
       31 . The surveillance network of  claim 26  wherein the set of sensors is from the plurality of sensors.  
   
   
       32 . The surveillance network of  claim 26 , wherein the controller authenticates the given sensor based on its RF signature.  
   
   
       33 . The surveillance network of  claim 26  wherein the controller authenticates the given sensor based on its security key.  
   
   
       34 . The surveillance network of  claim 33  wherein the security pin is field programmed.  
   
   
       35 . The surveillance network of  claim 26  wherein the controller authenticates each sensor based on its RF signature and security key.  
   
   
       36 . The surveillance network of  claim 33  wherein the security pin is field programmed.  
   
   
       37 . A surveillance method comprising: 
 collecting information from one or more network nodes within an environment, the collected information relating to a given factor or set of factors;    comparing the collected information to information received from at least two other network nodes in the same environment, wherein the at least two other network nodes are responsible for collecting information that relates to the given factor or set of factors;    accepting the collected information if a variance range between the collected information and the information received from the at least one other network node satisfies a specified threshold; and    rejecting the collected information if the variance range between the collected information and the information received from the at least one other network node does not satisfy a specified threshold.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the one or more network nodes include multiple sensors operating in at least partial cooperation.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the one or more network nodes include at least one primary sensor, wherein the at least one primary sensor is configured to sense a designated stimulus and send an activation signal to at least one secondary sensor in its vicinity based on sensing the designated stimulus.  
   
   
       40 . A sensor network system comprising: 
 multiple network nodes configured to perform surveillance activities within a physical environment; and    at least one network controller configured to monitor individual states of the multiple network nodes over time and further configured to detect an inconsistency in a behavior of the at least one network node, determine whether the detected inconsistency requires an action, if the detected inconsistency requires an action, generate instructions relating to the action; and deploy the generated instructions to a subset of the multiple network nodes that includes one or more network nodes affected by the inconsistency.    
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40   wherein detecting an inconsistency in a behavior of the at least one network node includes receiving a broadcasted message from the at least one network node concerning the state of the at least one network node, wherein the monitored individual states include RF signal strength, power consumption, power state, response time, latency, and/or thermal condition;    wherein the inconsistency is detected by a non-linear change in behavior or state and results from the at least one network node malfunctioning; and    wherein the action includes conducting further diagnostics of the at least one network node and either terminating network participation of the at least one network node or reconfiguring the at least one network node.    
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the inconsistency is detected by observing a non-linear change in behavior.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the action includes terminating network participation of the at least one network node.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the inconsistency results from the at least one network node malfunctioning.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the action includes conducting further diagnostics of the at least one network node.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the action includes reconfiguring the at least one network node.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the action includes facilitating an automatic software update for the at least one autonomous network node.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the action includes generating a work order for repair of the at least one autonomous network node.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the action includes deploying a new replacement node or set of replacement nodes.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 40  wherein automatically detecting an inconsistency in a behavior of the at least one network node includes receiving a broadcasted message from the at least one network node concerning the state of the at least one network node.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the at least one network node is a newly deployed network node that requires self-configuration instructions.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the monitored individual states include at least one of RF signal strength, power consumption, power state, response time, latency, and/or thermal condition.  
   
   
       53 . A reconfigurable surveillance network comprising: 
 a controller for receiving a mission plan;    a plurality of sensors being capable of communicating with the controller; and    the controller being responsive to the mission plan to create a network of sensors by generating a communication link with a first set of the multiple sensors based on requirements of the mission.    
   
   
       54 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the controller receives an updated mission plan and accordingly disconnects a select number of existing communication links and generates communication links with a second set of the plurality of sensors.  
   
   
       55 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 54  wherein the select number is in the range of one to the maximum number of sensors with existing communication links.  
   
   
       56 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the controller receives an updated mission plan and accordingly generates communication links with a second set of the multiple sensors.  
   
   
       57 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the controller disconnects the communication link of a sensor when a quality of a performance of the sensor falls below a given level and generates a communication link with one of the multiple sensors to replace the sensor with the disconnected communication link.  
   
   
       58 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the generated communication link is based on a gateway to sensor and sensor to gateway communication model.  
   
   
       59 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the multiple sensors include a first sensor and a second sensor, and wherein information collected by the first sensor and the second sensor is integrated into a single information set based on instructions provided by the controller.  
   
   
       60 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the multiple sensors include at least one sensor that lacks processing capabilities and at least one sensor configured for image or acoustical processing.  
   
   
       61 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the controller is configured for deployment in a military environment.  
   
   
       62 . The reconfigurable surveillance network of  claim 53  wherein the controller provides routing information for at least some of the multiple sensors, and wherein the routing information determines how information is routed among the multiple sensors in the information gathering system.  
   
   
       63 . A method for self-configuration of a surveillance network with multiple network nodes, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at a network node, an indication of a new mission, activity, or task to be performed by the surveillance network;    identifying one or more network nodes being capable of performing the new mission, activity, or task; and    enabling each of the identified one or more network nodes to perform the mission.    
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the enabling includes generating an operation specification for each of the identified one or more network nodes, wherein the disseminated information enables automatic re-configuration and/or re-organization of the identified one or more network nodes so that the new mission, activity, or task can be performed.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the generated operation specification for each of the identified one or more network nodes includes software reconfiguration codes.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 63  wherein enabling each of the identified one or more network nodes to perform the mission includes designating communication links between select network nodes within the surveillance network.  
   
   
       67 . A method of self-configuration a surveillance network having multiple network nodes, the method comprising: 
 receiving an indication of a recently deployed network node;    determining a role or operation specification for the recently deployed network node based, at least in part, on the relative location of the recently deployed network node and the capabilities of the recently deployed network node; and    providing information for dissemination within the surveillance network, the provided information including an indication of a role or operation specification for the recently deployed network node and enabling automatic integration of the recently deployed network node into the surveillance network.    
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67   wherein received indication is a broadcast signal sent from the recently deployed network node, and wherein the received indication includes an indication of the actual location of the recently deployed network node and an indication of the capabilities of the recently deployed network node;    wherein determining the role or operation specification is based, at least in part, on an application of network operation rules locally accessible to the network controller; and    wherein the provided information includes configuration instructions for the recently deployed network node and communication instructions for sensor nodes that are to be in at least intermittent communication with the recently deployed network node during operation of the surveillance network.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the provided information includes configuration instructions for the recently deployed network node.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the received indication includes an indication of the actual location of the recently deployed network node.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the received indication includes an indication of the capabilities of the recently deployed network node.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 67  wherein determining the role or operation specification is based, at least in part, on an application of network operation rules locally accessible to the network controller.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 67  the received indication is a broadcast signal sent from the recently deployed network node.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the received indication is a message received from a network node other than the recently deployed network node, the message being passed based on a multi-hop framework.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the recently deployed node is configured to broadcast a signal conveying its presence to network nodes in its vicinity, and wherein one or more of the network nodes in its vicinity is configured to generate the received indication based on the broadcast signal.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the role or operation specification for the recently deployed node is not known until after the recently deployed node is deployed.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the role or operation specification for the recently deployed node is at least partially known by the network controller before the recently deployed node is deployed.