# US 2014/0192722 A1 · Selection of sensors for monitoring phenomena considering the value of information and data sharing preferences > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192722 A1 - Document ID: US20140192722A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/210,709 - Filed: 2014-03-14 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-27 - Assignees: Microsoft Corporation - Applicants: Microsoft Corporation - Inventors: Rainer Andreas Krause; Eric Horvitz; Aman Kansal; Feng Zhao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192722A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/04: Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) - H04L 69/329: in the application layer [OSI layer 7] - H04W 8/22: Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities - H04L 41/142: using statistical or mathematical methods - H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method disclosed herein includes the act of computing a value of information for obtaining data from a personal sensor of a user for utilization in a utilitarian computing application, wherein a mobile computing device comprises the personal sensor of the user. The method further includes the act of requesting that the mobile computing device transmit a data packet to the computing device based at least in part upon the value of information for obtaining data from the personal sensor of the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method executed by a computing device that is in network communication with a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device, the method comprising: computing a value of information for obtaining a sensor reading from a sensor on the first mobile computing device; responsive to computing the value of information, transmitting a request to the first mobile computing device for the sensor reading; receiving a response to the request from the first mobile computing device, the response comprising the sensor reading; and transmitting a data packet to the second mobile computing device responsive to receiving the sensor reading from the first mobile computing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet transmitted to the second mobile computing device is based upon the sensor reading received from the first mobile computing device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a computer-implemented model of a traffic system based upon the sensor reading, wherein the data packet transmitted to the second mobile computing device is indicative of a current traffic flow over a road segment in the traffic system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a computer-implemented model of a traffic system based upon the sensor reading, wherein the data packet transmitted to the second mobile computing device is indicative of a predicted traffic flow over a road segment in the traffic system at a future point in time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the first mobile computing device being a smart phone, the sensor reading being from a GPS sensor of the smart phone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein computing the value of information for obtaining the sensor reading from the sensor on the first mobile computing device comprises: receiving a restriction pertaining to requesting sensor readings from the sensor; and computing the value of information for obtaining the sensor reading based upon the restriction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the restriction is a number of times that sensor readings can be obtained from the first mobile computing device in a defined time window. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the restriction defines a geographic region, wherein sensor readings from the first mobile computing device are immediately discarded when the first mobile computing device is in the geographic region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a computer-implemented model of a traffic system is updated based upon sensor readings from respective mobile computing devices, and wherein the value of information for obtaining the sensor reading from the sensor on the first mobile computing device is based upon an inferred location of the first mobile computing device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the inferred location of the first mobile computing device corresponds to a road segment in the traffic system, and wherein the value of information for obtaining the sensor reading from the sensor on the first mobile computing device is based upon a volume of traffic over the road segment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the inferred location of the first mobile computing device corresponds to a road segment in the traffic system, and wherein the value of information for obtaining the sensor reading from the sensor on the first mobile computing device is based upon an amount of uncertainty with respect to a traffic flow over the road segment. ### Claim 12 A computing device in network communication with a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device, the computing device comprising: a processor; and a memory that comprises a plurality of components that are executed by the processor, the plurality of components comprising: a receiver component that receives a value of information for obtaining a sensor reading from a sensor on the first mobile computing device; a requestor component that transmits a request for the sensor reading to the first computing device based upon the value of information; an updater component that, responsive to the requester component transmitting the request for the sensor reading, receives the sensor reading from the sensor on the first mobile computing device; and an interface generator component that transmits graphical data to the second mobile computing device, the graphical data based upon the sensor reading received from the first mobile computing device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computing device of claim 12, the first mobile computing device being a smart phone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The computing device of claim 12, the sensor reading indicative of at least one of geographic location of the first mobile computing device, velocity of the first mobile computing device, or acceleration of the first mobile computing device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computing device of claim 14, wherein the updater component updates a model of a traffic system based upon the sensor reading, and wherein the graphical data transmitted to the second mobile computing device is indicative of a traffic flow over a road segment in the traffic system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the road segment is a portion of a travel route between two locations specified by a user of the second mobile computing device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The computing device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of components further comprise a value of information determiner component that computes the value of information for obtaining the sensor reading from the sensor, the value of information determiner component computes the value of information for obtaining the sensor reading from the sensor based upon at least one preference pertaining to data sharing set forth by a user of the first mobile computing device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computing device of claim 17, the preference defining a number of times within a predefined time window that the requestor component is authorized to request sensor readings from the first mobile computing device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computing device of claim 17, the preference defining a geographic region, wherein the updater component is not authorized to receive the sensor reading when the first mobile computing device is within the geographic region. ### Claim 20 A computer-readable data storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising: receiving a value of information for obtaining a sensor reading from a first smart phone, the sensor reading indicative of at least one of a location of the first smart phone, a velocity of the first smart phone, and an acceleration of the first smart phone; based upon the value of information, transmitting a request to the first smart phone for the sensor reading; responsive to transmitting the request, receiving the sensor reading from the first smart phone; updating traffic flow information for a road segment in a traffic system based upon the sensor reading received from the first smart phone; and responsive to updating the traffic flow information, transmitting the traffic flow information for the road segment to a second mobile computing device.