# US 2013/0155904 A1 · Methods and apparatus for event detection, propagation and localization using uwb impulse radios > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155904 A1 - Document ID: US20130155904A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/695,340 - Filed: 2011-05-02 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-30 - Assignees: Cornell University - Inventors: Rajeev K. Dokania; Xiao Y. Wang; Carlos I. Dorta-Quinones; Waclaw Godycki; Alyssa B. Apsel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155904A1 ## CPC - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04B 1/7183: Synchronisation - H04W 4/00: Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information - H04W 40/125: {using a measured number of retransmissions as a link metric} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A distributed wireless sensor network includes two or more wireless nodes adapted for sensing a condition at any first node, first programming located within each node for transmitting a signal representing the sensed condition from the first node to another node, second programming located within each node for receiving the signal transmitted from any other node and for retransmitting a received signal representing the sensed condition along with additional data indicating the number of retransmissions of the signal between nodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A distributed wireless sensor network, comprising: two or more wireless nodes adapted for sensing a condition at any first node; first programming located within each node for transmitting a signal representing the sensed condition from the first node to another node; second programming located within each node for receiving the signal transmitted from any other node and for retransmitting a received signal representing the sensed condition along with additional data indicating the number of retransmissions of the signal between nodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the number of retransmissions in the additional data indicates distance from the sensing first node. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The network of claim 2, further comprising two or more nodes including third programming for determining an approximate location of the sensing first node from the additional data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein two or more wireless nodes use pulse coupled synchronization having a time-frame repetition period, which time-frame repetition period is divided into a predetermined number of data bins, and further wherein the number of retransmissions is indicated by the selection of data bin for the additional data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates a type of condition that is sensed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The network of claim 5, wherein the two or more wireless nodes use pulse coupled synchronization between nodes having a time-frame repetition rate, and further wherein the type of sensed condition is indicated and prioritized by the time-frame repetition rate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The network of claim 6, wherein at least one node receiving the signal includes fourth programming for determining the type of sensed condition from the time-frame repetition rate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the second programming requires sensing of the condition at the another node for retransmitting the signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The network of claim 8, wherein the signal includes validity data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The network of claim 1, wherein the nodes include fifth programming for duty-cycling receiver circuitry when transmission signals are not expected. ### Claim 11 A method of communication for a distributed wireless sensor network, comprising the steps of: sensing a condition at any first node in a distributed wireless sensor network; transmitting a signal representing the sensed condition from the first node to another node; retransmitting the signal when received from the another node to yet another node along with additional data indicating the number of retransmissions of the signal between nodes; and repeating the step of retransmitting to propagate the signal through the network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of approximating the distance from the sensing first node from the number of retransmissions in the additional data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of transmitting and retransmitting are performed using a time-frame repetition period between nodes in the network, which time-frame repetition period is divided into a predetermined number of data bins, and further wherein the number of retransmissions is carried in each retransmission by the selection of data bin for the additional data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of transmitting and retransmitting identify a type of condition that is sensed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the steps of transmitting and retransmitting use pulse-coupled synchronization between nodes having a time-frame repetition rate, and further wherein the type of sensed condition controls the time-frame repetition rate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the type of condition is prioritized using the time-frame repetition rate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising determining the condition from the time-frame repetition rate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a first instance of retransmitting is dependent upon sensing the condition at the another node. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving the signal and the additional data at a plurality of base nodes and approximating a location of the sensing one node from the additional data.