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Surveillance network systemRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring, Computer Network ManagingSurveillance network system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070150565, Surveillance network system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to surveillance using networks, such as in a military, scientific, civic, or commercial context. BACKGROUND [0002] Many commercial, civic, scientific, and military operations have the need to remotely conduct surveillance of an environment. For example, military groups may have a need to conduct surveillance on a battlefield or in an urban area. Scientists may need to conduct surveillance of a forest or wetland area. Likewise, examples of surveillance activities in a commercial setting include warehouse surveillance, surveillance of large retail establishments, etc. [0003] Currently, surveillance systems may use one or more deployed sensor devices that are capable of passing on collected information to users and/or user devices. For example, users may be able to go into the field and collect such information directly from field devices. More advanced surveillance systems may use some form of remote connection to automatically send collected information back to a data collection system (or the like), so that the collected information can be analyzed, stored and tracked over time, etc. However, these current systems have limitations, including those related to limited energy supply for field devices, sensor deployment and placement issues, remote information storage and retrieval issues, satellite issues, network bandwidth issues, disruption issues, obstruction issues, etc. In addition, with respect to large surveillance systems (e.g., those having many sensors), information multiplication problems may exist, which may overload human users of the information. For example, current surveillance systems may produce only a small amount of relevant information and a relatively large amount of irrelevant information, which users must then filter through. SUMMARY [0004] The following summary is provided for the benefit of the reader only, and is not intended to limit in any way the invention as set forth by the claims. Aspects of a sensor network system for surveillance of an environment are described herein. Embodiments of the sensor network system may be used in commercial operations, civic operations, scientific operations, military operations, etc. Once deployed (e.g., via an aerial and/or terrestrial deployment strategy), the sensor network system may operate intelligently using an autonomous framework. For example, each node in the network system may operate as an individual device with its own job and purpose. For some designated network nodes (e.g., "full function devices"), this job/purpose may require that the network node act intelligently. In such cases, the network node is equipped with some level of processing/decision-making capabilities. Examples of such capabilities include image processing capabilities, decision fusing capabilities, etc. For other network nodes, this job/purpose may require little, if any, processing capabilities. In such cases, the network node is configured only for simple and/or limited-purpose operation (e.g., configured for sensing and performing basic RF communications). In either case, communication with other nodes in the network allows each node to play an autonomous yet active role in the sensor network system. Accordingly, the sensor network system can efficiently react to an array of conditions, fuse relevant data in an intelligent way, and, to varying extents, self-organize and self-manage. [0005] In an illustrative example, a group of sensors that form part of the sensor network system is deployed on a bridge to monitor traffic for enemy presence in a military context. This group of sensors includes various primary sensors that, in this case, are sensitive to vibrations, as well as secondary sensors that, in this case, are image sensors (which include some basic image processing capabilities) and acoustical sensors (which include some basic sound processing capabilities). Some of the secondary sensors in the sensor network system include information fusing capabilities. That is, these sensors have the ability to aggregate information collected by different sensors/nodes to produce more useful information. [0006] To conserve energy used by the sensor network system, all the sensors in the bridge example are configured to remain in a "sleep mode" with the exception of the primary vibration sensors. If there is activity on the bridge, the vibration sensors will detect it and initiate a process that "wakes" the secondary image sensors and acoustical sensors, which in turn, gather any necessary information. Because some of the image/acoustical sensors in this example are "smart" devices, they can tell whether the traffic on the bridge may be something that human users of the network are interested in. If so, they can activate additional sensors/devices. For example, by employing time/space based local reasoning (e.g., using feature vectors tied to automated exploitation methods), sensors in the network system may be able to determine the best sensor viewpoints for event data. Using their data-fusing capabilities, select intelligent sensors fuse data together, including data received from other endpoints/sensors. [0007] In the bridge example, the sensors and network nodes then transmit aspects of the collected information to a network controller (e.g., through a set of one or more network routers). The network controller then passes the information on to the appropriate system/external network for user consumption and/or additional processing. In this context, the network controller can act as a primary host for application services that allow interchange between nodes of the sensor network and entities within one or more external networks/systems. In some embodiments, interactions between the network controllers and the one or more external networks/systems may be based on, for example, a publisher/subscriber model. This configuration reduces the amount of information that human users filter through, conserves energy expenditures at the network nodes (because nodes that are not currently needed can sleep) and allows network resources to be used in an efficient way. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an example of a configuration of a sensor network system in an embodiment. [0009] FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing and example of one or more network controllers forming a hierarchical network controller system in an embodiment. [0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a sensor network system with features of both a high data rate network and a low data rate network. [0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing examples of deploying a sensor network system in some embodiments. [0012] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing an example of a routine for disseminating information to nodes in a sensor network in an embodiment. [0013] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing an example of a routine for exporting information from nodes in a sensor network. [0014] FIG. 7 is a system diagram showing an example of a sensor network configuration based on mission phases in an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-5 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Well-known structures, systems and methods often associated with network environments have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that additional embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without several of the details described below. [0016] Many embodiments of the invention described below may take the form of computer-executable instructions, including routines executed by programmable network nodes and computers. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced with other computer system and network configurations as well. Aspects of embodiments of the invention can be embodied in a special-purpose computer or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions described below. Accordingly, the term "computer" as generally used herein refers to any data processor and includes Internet appliances, hand-held devices (including palm-top computers, wearable computers, cellular or mobile phones, multi-processor systems, processor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network computers, minicomputers and the like). [0017] Aspects of embodiments of the invention can also be practiced in distributed computing environments, where tasks or modules are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules or subroutines may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. Aspects of the invention described below may be stored or distributed on computer-readable media, including magnetic and optically readable and removable computer disks, as well as distributed electronically over networks. Data structures and transmissions of data particular to aspects of the invention are also encompassed within the scope of the invention. [0018] FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of a sensor network system 100 in an embodiment. The sensor network system 100 may provide various capabilities including self-configuration capabilities, self-healing capabilities, and intelligent cooperative sensing. Other capabilities of the sensor network system 100 may include data storage and retrieval functionality, autonomous decision making capabilities, store and forward capabilities, and resource-aware sensing capabilities. [0019] The sensor network system 100 may include at least three classes of devices, including full function devices, reduced function devices, and non-intelligent end devices. More specifically, the full functional and reduced function devices of the sensor network system 100 may include network controllers 105 (full-function devices), network routers 110 (full or reduced function devices), and network-capable end devices 115 (full or reduced function devices) including smart sensors (e.g., sensors with image processing capabilities), each having some level of network capabilities and some possibly functioning as gateways with respect to other network nodes. In some embodiments, the full function devices 105 are knowledgeable about the sensor network topology and are aware of alternate multi-path routes to reach the network controller. The non-intelligent end devices may include a variety of active and/or passive sensors 120. Examples of types of sensors may include audio/acoustic sensors, imaging sensors, video sensors, infrared sensors, RF sensors, vibration/seismic sensors, magnetic sensors, chemical sensors, etc. For example, in some embodiments, at least some of the sensors may be low energy and self-contained and provide basic sensor functionality, data dissemination and/or command/control execution. Because they may lack their own network capabilities, for such active and or passive sensors/devices 120 to function as part of the network, they may be used in conjunction with network capable end devices 115. Continue reading about Surveillance network system... Full patent description for Surveillance network system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Surveillance network system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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