Method of operating a sensor network and system therefor

A sensor node in a sensor network comprising a plurality of sensor nodes and at least one control station, the sensor node comprising:

• a memory operatively connected to a processor and to at least one sensor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• generate a predicted request specifying at least one parameter corresponding to predicted output data;
• use the generated predicted request to select at least one utility from among a plurality of predefined utilities, wherein the selected utility is configured to execute at least one of predefined functions selected from the group consisting of functions related to obtaining by the sensor node sensor data usable to generate predicted output data, functions related to processing by the sensor node sensor data to generate predicted output data, and functions related to buffering at the sensor node generated predicted output data;
• and
• use the selected at least one utility to generate predicted output data, thereby giving rise to predicted output data usable by an incoming request from the at least one control station when the incoming request corresponds to the predicted request.

A non-transitory program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of operating a sensor node in a sensor network comprising a plurality of sensor nodes and at least one control station, each sensor node comprising a memory operatively connected to a processor and to at least one sensor, the method comprising:

• generating, by a sensor node from among the plurality of sensor nodes, a predicted request specifying at least one parameter corresponding to predicted output data;
• using by the sensor node the generated predicted request to select at least one utility from among a plurality of predefined utilities, wherein the selected utility is configured to execute at least one of predefined functions selected from the group consisting of functions related to obtaining by the sensor node sensor data usable to generate predicted output data, functions related to processing by the sensor node sensor data to generate predicted output data, and functions related to buffering at the sensor node generated predicted output data;
• and
• using by the sensor node the selected at least one utility to generate predicted output data, thereby giving rise to predicted output data usable by an incoming request from the at least one control station when the incoming request corresponds to the predicted request.