Provisioning and Managing Autonomous Sensors

Abstract

A autonomous sensor includes a sensor configured to measure one or more events, a network interface, and a processor. The autonomous sensor is configured to communicate with a plurality of other autonomous sensors using the network interface. The processor is configured to detect, while in a discovery state, if an event has occurred and enter an active state if he event occurred, when an event has occurred, enter an active state, transmit event data to a parent while in the active state, detect the presence of a neighboring sensor; and when the neighboring sensor is detected, while in a nomadic state, monitor the activity of the neighboring sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous sensor in communication with a plurality of other autonomous sensors, comprising:
 a network interface configured to communicate with one of the other autonomous sensors; and   a processor configured to:
 transmit event data to a parent sensor; 
 receive and transmit data from nearby autonomous sensors; and 
 monitor the activity of a neighboring sensor to observe the frequency and amount of transmitted data from the neighboring sensor, determine the class of data transmitted by the neighboring sensor, or identify a direction and distance of the neighboring sensor based on the direction, strength, and latency of an incoming wireless transmission. 
   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to enter a dormant state for a predefined period of time when no event has been measured. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize dormant and active cycles with the neighboring sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify the parent sensor, a child sensor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising an environmental monitoring sensor, an energy management sensor, an infrastructure management sensor, a building automation sensor, a transportation monitoring sensor, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring sensor includes determining a duration of transmissions or a frequency of transmissions from the neighboring sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring sensor includes determining a spatial correlation of the neighboring sensor based on the path and angle of a signal from the neighboring sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring sensor includes determining a queue length, a queue type, or a data type from the neighboring sensor. 
     
     
         9 . A method performed by an autonomous sensor, comprising:
 detecting, using a sensor, if an event has occurred;   transmitting event data to a parent sensor using a network interface;   receiving and transmitting data from nearby autonomous sensors; and   monitoring network activity of a neighboring autonomous sensor to observe the frequency and amount of transmitted data from the neighboring sensor, determine the class of data transmitted by the neighboring sensor, or identify a direction and distance of the neighboring sensor based on the direction, strength, and latency of an incoming wireless transmission.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining a spatial or temporal correlation with the neighboring autonomous sensor based on the network activity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising entering a dormant state for a predefined period of time when no event has occurred. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising synchronizing dormant and active cycles with the neighboring autonomous sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring autonomous sensor includes determining a duration of transmissions or a frequency of transmissions from the neighboring autonomous sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring autonomous sensor includes determining a spatial correlation of the neighboring autonomous sensor based on the path and angle of a signal from the neighboring autonomous sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring autonomous sensor includes determining a queue length, a queue type, or a data type from the neighboring autonomous sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A sensor network comprising:
 a plurality of autonomous sensors, each autonomous sensor including:
 a sensor configured to measure one or more events; 
 a network interface configured to communicate with one or more of the autonomous sensors; and 
 a processor configured to:
 transmit event data to a parent sensor; 
 receive and transmit data from nearby autonomous sensors; and 
 monitor the activity of a neighboring sensor to observe the frequency and amount of transmitted data from the neighboring sensor, determine the class of data transmitted by the neighboring sensor, or identify a direction and distance of the neighboring sensor based on the direction, strength, and latency of an incoming wireless transmission, and return to the active state after a period of time. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The sensor network of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize dormant and active cycles with the neighboring sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor network of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring sensor includes determining a duration of transmissions or a frequency of transmissions from the neighboring sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor network of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring sensor includes determining a spatial correlation of the neighboring sensor based on the path and angle of a signal from the neighboring sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor network of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring the activity of the neighboring sensor includes determining a queue length, a queue type, or a data type from the neighboring sensor.