Information collecting and decision making via tiered information network systems

A network system for collecting information from sensors, comprising:

• a plurality of different tier networks in communication with one another, each tier network comprising a plurality of network nodes one of which is configured as a command center of the tier network to collect data from other network nodes within the tier network and to direct the collected data to a center node of a superordinate tier network, the different tier networks configured to perform different and tier-specific data collection and data processing tasks and at least one tier network being located within a superordinate tier network;
• a plurality of sensors spatially distributed in the different tier networks to perform sensing measurements, each sensor in communication with a respective network node to direct data of sensing measurements to the respective network node;
• and
• a processing mechanism to distribute data processing to the plurality of different tier networks and to produce a response based on the distributed data processing,
• wherein:
• the sensors include sensors to detect a security threat and the processing mechanism produces a response to a confirmed security threat;
• one or more tier networks in the plurality of different tier networks include network nodes at roadway intersections;
• the sensors include automatic license plate recognition sensors to obtain data on vehicle license plates;
• and
• the response produced by the processing mechanism includes controlling traffic controllers to alter traffic routes at one or more locations.

A network system for collecting information from sensors, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors spatially distributed in a region of interest to perform sensing measurements;
• a plurality of sensor communication nodes, each sensor communication node in communication with at least one of the sensors to receive data from the at least one sensor;
• communication links that link the sensor communication nodes into a plurality of tier networks of sensor communication nodes based on geographic location attributes and non-geographic location attributes, the plurality of tier networks being configured to perform different data collection and data processing tasks based on the tier network attributes;
• and
• a processing mechanism to distribute data processing to the plurality of tier networks and to produce a response based on the distributed data processing,
• wherein:
• the plurality of different tier networks includes databases that store event scenario simulation data, and
• the processing mechanism is configured to perform data processing in part based on the stored event scenario simulation data.

A network system for collecting information from sensors, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors spatially distributed in a region of interest to perform sensing measurements;
• a plurality of sensor communication nodes, each sensor communication node in communication with at least one of the sensors to receive data from the at least one sensor;
• communication links that link the sensor communication nodes into a plurality of tier networks of sensor communication nodes based on geographic location attributes and non-geographic location attributes, the plurality of tier networks being configured to perform different data collection and data processing tasks based on the tier network attributes;
• and
• a processing mechanism to distribute data processing to the plurality of tier networks and to produce a response based on the distributed data processing,
• wherein:
• the tier networks in the plurality of tier networks are configured as in a subordinate-superordinate relationship with one another, and
• each tier network comprises a node as a tier command center which comprises:
• a database to store data in the tier network,
• a situation awareness module to provide event detection, event forecasting, assessment and response,
• a analytic module to analyze data characteristics, and
• a communication module to provide communications with adjacent subordinate and superordinate tier networks.