Orchestration of multiple wireless sensors for monitoring a wireless spectrum and protocols

A method for orchestrating wireless monitoring sensors to optimize their coverage of multiple data channels and protocols, comprising:

• registering each of a plurality of monitoring sensors that are attached to a respective plurality of wireless hosting equipment, with an orchestrator;
• generating, by the orchestrator for each of the sensors, a monitoring plan comprising a description of wireless channels and protocols for the sensor to monitor, and amounts of time that the sensor should spend monitoring each channel and protocol prior to advancing to a next channel and protocol, wherein the monitoring plans attempt to maximize average coverage by the sensors across all channels and protocols while retaining redundancy of sensor coverage;
• transmitting, by the orchestrator to each of the sensors, the monitoring plan generated by the orchestrator for the sensor;
• attempting, by each of the sensors via the sensor's hosting equipment, to monitor the channels and protocols specified in the sensor's monitoring plan in accordance with the amounts of time specified in the sensor's monitoring plan;
• generating from time to time, by each sensor, an execution report comprising, for each channel and protocol monitored by the sensor, the actual time spent at the channel and protocol, the actual amount of data collected from the channel and protocol, and data captured from the channel and protocol;
• transmitting from time to time, by each sensor to the orchestrator, the execution report generated by the sensor;
• generating, by the orchestrator from the execution reports, a current time and space coverage map indicating coverage of each channel over space and time;
• generating, by the orchestrator for one or more of the sensors, one or more respective updated monitoring plans, based on the current time and space coverage map;
• transmitting, by the orchestrator to the one or more of the sensors, the one or more respective updated monitoring plans;
• and
• determining, by the orchestrator from time to time, current locations of the sensors.

A method for orchestrating wireless monitoring sensors to optimize their coverage of multiple data channels and protocols, comprising:

• registering each of a plurality of monitoring sensors that are attached to a respective plurality of wireless hosting equipment, with an orchestrator;
• generating, by the orchestrator for each of the sensors, a monitoring plan comprising a description of wireless channels and protocols for the sensor to monitor, and amounts of time that the sensor should spend monitoring each channel and protocol prior to advancing to a next channel and protocol, wherein the monitoring plans attempt to maximize average coverage by the sensors across all channels and protocols while retaining redundancy of sensor coverage;
• transmitting, by the orchestrator to each of the sensors, the monitoring plan generated by the orchestrator for the sensor;
• attempting, by each of the sensors via the sensor's hosting equipment, to monitor the channels/protocols specified in the sensor's monitoring plan in accordance with the amounts of time specified in the sensor's monitoring plan;
• generating from time to time, by each sensor, an execution report comprising, for each channel and protocol monitored by the sensor, the actual time spent at the channel and protocol, the actual amount of data collected from the channel and protocol, and data captured from the channel and protocol;
• transmitting from time to time, by each sensor to the orchestrator, the execution report generated by the sensor;
• generating, by the orchestrator from the execution reports, a current time and space coverage map indicating coverage of each channel over space and time;
• generating, by the orchestrator for one or more of the sensors, one or more respective updated monitoring plans, based on the current time and space coverage map;
• transmitting, by the orchestrator to the one or more of the sensors, the one or more respective updated monitoring plans;
• recognizing, by one of the sensors, a channel and/or protocol that is missing from the sensor's monitoring plan;
• transmitting, by the sensor to the orchestrator, information regarding the missing channel and/or protocol;
• generating, by the orchestrator, one or more updated monitoring plans for respective one of more of the sensors, to cover the missing channel and/or protocol;
• and
• transmitting, by the orchestrator to the one or more of the sensors, the respective one or more updated monitoring plans.