Apparatus for internetworked wireless integrated network sensors (WINS)

A sensor network including at least one node configured to be communicatively coupled among an environment, and

• wherein the at least one node is further configured to determine an energy cost for communication and a message priority, wherein the energy cost is determined based on a plurality of attenuation values, wherein the plurality of attenuation values comprises at least one attenuation value for wireless communication and at least one attenuation value for wired communication,
• wherein the at least one node is further configured to distribute data processing in the sensor network, and
• wherein the distribution of the data processing varies based on the energy cost for communication and the message priority,
• wherein the sensor network is configured to communicate a high priority message code for a high priority event,
• wherein, in response to receipt of the high priority message code, the at least one node is configured to broadcast one or more inhibit messages configured to inhibit messaging from nodes not engaged in conveying the high priority event, and
• wherein at least one inhibit message of the one or more inhibit messages is broadcast wirelessly.

A sensor network comprising:

• means for coupling a plurality of network elements including at least one local node, wherein at least one function of the at least one local node is configured for remote control;
• means for collecting sensor data;
• means for communicating node information regarding message priority and energy availability from the at least one local node to one or more other nodes of the plurality of network elements;
• means for determining the energy available based on a plurality of attenuation values, wherein the plurality of attenuation values comprises at least one attenuation value for wireless communication and at least one attenuation value for wired communication;
• means for distributing processing of the collected sensor data among the plurality of network elements,
• wherein the distribution of the data processing varies dynamically based on the message priority and the energy availability,
• wherein the one or more other nodes are each a member of the sensor network prior to receiving the node information from the at least one local node,
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to communicate a high priority message code for a high priority event,
• wherein, in response to receipt of the high priority message code, the at least one local node is configured to broadcast one or more inhibit messages configured to inhibit messaging from nodes not engaged in conveying the high priority event, and
• wherein at least one inhibit message of the one or more inhibit messages is broadcast wirelessly.

A sensor network comprising a plurality of network elements including at least one node configured to be coupled among a monitored environment,

• wherein the at least one node includes at least one sensor,
• wherein the at least one node is further configured to process data gathered from the monitored environment by the at least one sensor and to propagate a predetermined identifying code representing the gathered data through the sensor network,
• wherein the at least one node is further configured to determine a message priority and an energy cost for communication and to distribute data and executable code through the network using messages of predetermined priority, wherein the energy cost is determined based on a plurality of attenuation values,
• wherein the plurality of attenuation values comprises at least one attenuation value for wireless communication and at least one attenuation value for wired communication,
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to communicate a high priority message code for a high priority event,
• wherein, in response to receipt of the high priority message code, the at least one node is configured to broadcast one or more inhibit messages configured to inhibit messaging from nodes not engaged in conveying the high priority event, wherein at least one inhibit message of the one or more inhibit messages is broadcast wirelessly, and
• wherein a distribution of data processing by the plurality of network elements varies based on a priority of the message.

A network comprising

• a plurality of network elements including at least one node configured to be communicatively coupled among a monitored or controlled environment,
• wherein the at least one node is further configured to determine a message priority and an energy cost for communication and to distribute data and executable code through the network using messages of predetermined priority, wherein the energy cost is determined based on a plurality of attenuation values,
• wherein the plurality of attenuation values comprises at least one attenuation value for wireless communication and at least one attenuation value for wired communication,
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to distribute data processing through the network,
• wherein the distribution of data processing varies based on at least the energy cost for communication
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to communicate a high priority message code for a high priority event,
• wherein, in response to receipt of the high priority message code, the at least one node is configured to broadcast one or more inhibit messages configured to inhibit messaging from nodes not engaged in conveying the high priority event, and
• wherein at least one inhibit message of the one or more inhibit messages is broadcast wirelessly.

A sensor network comprising:

• a plurality of network elements including at least one node configured to be communicatively coupled among a monitored environment,
• wherein the at least one node is further configured to communicate an energy cost for communication and a message priority to the plurality of network elements,
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to communicate a high priority message code for a high priority event,
• wherein, in response to receipt of the high priority message code, the at least one node is configured to broadcast one or more inhibit messages configured to inhibit messaging from nodes not engaged in conveying the high priority event,
• wherein at least one inhibit message of the one or more inhibit messages is broadcast wirelessly,
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to distribute data processing through the sensor network in response to the energy cost for communication,
• wherein the energy cost is determined based on a plurality of attenuation values,
• wherein the plurality of attenuation values comprise at least one attenuation value for wireless communication and at least one attenuation value for wired communication,
• wherein the distribution of the data processing comprises selecting at least one data type for processing, selecting at least one of the plurality of network elements to process the selected at least one data type, and transferring data of the selected at least one data type to the selected at least one of the plurality of network elements, and
• wherein the distribution of data processing varies based on the message priority.

A sensor network comprising:

• a plurality of network elements including at least one local node configured to be communicatively coupled among a monitored local environment, wherein the at least one local node is further configured to collect sensor data from the monitored local environment, to be remotely controllable, and to determine information regarding message priority to one or more other nodes of the plurality of network elements;
• and
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to distribute, after the at least one local node has become a member of the sensor network, data processing on the collected data to one or more of the plurality of network elements, wherein the distribution of the data processing varies based on the message priority and an energy cost for communication, wherein the energy cost is determined bases on a plurality of attenuation values, wherein the plurality of attenuation values comprises at least one attenuation value for wireless communication and at least one attenuation value for wired communication,
• wherein the plurality of network elements is configured to communicate a high priority message code for a high priority event, wherein, in response to receipt of the high priority message code, the at least one local node is configured to broadcast one or more inhibit messages configured to inhibit messaging from nodes not engaged in conveying the high priority event, and wherein at least one inhibit message of the one or more inhibit messages is broadcast wirelessly.