Wireless programming of mobile sensor systems

Kurzfassung

A Flemish university developed a technology for wireless programming of systems for monitoring and collecting quantities of mobile bodies. The technology was developed for monitoring livestock via wireless sensors, with the ability to re-program measurement and communication protocols via wireless communication. The resulting patent is broadly applicable to wireless sensor networks that require updates or re-programming of protocols. The patent is offered for licensing or ownership.

Details

Wireless (re)programming of mobile sensors protocols can overcome a multitude of problems associated with optimising mobile sensor networks. The offered patented technology is broadly applicable to wireless sensor networks that require updates or re-programming of protocols.

Wireless collection of data is generally applied when the physical interaction with the sensing device itself is not easy. This is the case for moving bodies that require monitoring like:
- collecting data on elderly and/or diseased people, athletes for diagnosing (e-healthcare)
- supervising farmed animals for management applications
- generating alarm codes for vulnerable goods in storage or transport, such as frozen food (logistics)
- diagnosing the quality/wear of tires, wheels, brakes… installed on vehicles
- GPS-based applications, like real time location tracking goods in transit, animals under study…

Wireless collection of data with transponders outside the antenna field is only possible when transponders are provided with a battery. Energy consumption and battery operation are two of the most critical challenges for wireless sensor networking. Battery lifetime is heavily dependent on the sensor measurement and communication protocols. These protocols handle local (in sensor) data collection, manipulation, storage and transmission.

In many applications these protocols can be significantly optimised for battery lifetime during deployment of the sensor, based on measurement history and fine tuned requirements, often on individual sensor basis (e.g. patients). This however implies reprogramming of the sensor protocols. Generally reprogramming requires physical interaction with the sensing device, which can be difficult, expensive or even impossible (implanted sensors).

Wireless reprogramming of mobile sensors can overcome these issues. The offered patented technology is broadly applicable to wireless sensor networks that require updates or re-programming of protocols. The patent is protecting the intellectual property on wireless programming of systems for monitoring and collecting quantities of mobile bodies. The university is offering the patent for licensing or ownership.

Innovative Aspects:
Cost and time saving: no displacements required for reprogramming of the protocol (e.g. not necessary to have the vehicle enter for maintenance)
No timing restriction e.g. for goods in transit there is no need to wait till they arrive at a dedicated location for reprogramming.
Enables reprogramming of physically inaccessible sensors, e.g. Implanted sensors in patients (e-healthcare) or livestock (farming).