Method for adaptively modifying the observed collective behavior of individual sensor nodes based on broadcasting of parameters

Abstract

A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system. A gateway node disseminates a specification request comprising a set of parameters to a set of computing devices. The gateway node may be unaware of the number and identity of individual computing devices. Each computing node receiving the request determines whether its attributes satisfy the predicates expressed in the specification request. If so, the node processes the parameters in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on the values in the parameters of the specification request. Subsequently, the gateway node may also observe the quality of information (QoI) values communicated from the set of computing devices. The gateway node iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.

1 . A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system, the method comprising: 
 disseminating a specification request from a gateway node to the set of computing devices, wherein the specification request comprises a set of parameters, and wherein the gateway node is unaware of a number and identity of individual computing nodes in the set of computing devices;    observing quality of information values communicated from the set of computing devices; and    iteratively modifying the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disseminating step further comprises: 
 broadcasting probabilistic parameters about one or more aspects of a communication process, wherein the probabilistic parameters include at least one of an activation probability and a sample reporting probability.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disseminating step further comprises: 
 specifying parameters and their values in a format understood by both the gateway node and the individual computing nodes.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disseminating step further comprises: 
 using a point-to-multipoint packet distribution technique, wherein the point-to-multipoint packet distribution technique includes one of directed diffusion, multicasting, and broadcasting, and wherein the point-to-multipoint packet distribution technique routes the specification request to only those computing devices whose attributes satisfy the predicates of the specification request.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the observing step further comprises: 
 receiving all data samples requested from the set of computing devices; and    applying an appropriate function to compute a quality of information value.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the observing step further comprises: 
 requesting one or more data sample receivers to compute and return the quality of information value to the gateway node.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the iteratively modifying step further comprises: 
 modifying the parameters based on a combination of past divergence, parameters specified in past specification broadcasts, and actual values of computed quality of information and desired quality of information.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the iteratively modifying step further comprises: 
 using a control theory technique to compute a next set of parameters.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the control theory technique comprises one of proportional-integral-derivative control, fuzzy control, or sliding window control.  
   
   
       10 . A method for modifying behaviors of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system, the method comprising: 
 receiving a specification request at the set of computing devices, wherein the specification request comprises a set of parameters, and wherein an individual computing node in the set of computing devices determines whether attributes of the individual computing node satisfy predicates expressed in the specification request; and    responsive to a determination that the attributes for the individual computing node satisfies the predicates, processing the parameters in the specification request, wherein the individual computing node modifies its own behavior based on values in the parameters of the specification request.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the individual computing node modifies an aspect of its own behavior in a probabilistic behavior.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the probabilistic behavior is a probability of remaining awake.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the behavior includes at least one of a sensing behavior and a communication behavior.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the individual computing node modifies its behavior by adjusting its behavior in one of a memoryless fashion, wherein adjustment is based purely on values of parameters in a current specification request, and in a memory-based fashion, wherein adjustment is based on one of values in past specification requests and current or past behavioral attributes of the individual computing node.  
   
   
       15 . A distributed data processing system for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices, comprising: 
 a gateway node; and    a set of computing devices connected to the gateway node;    wherein the gateway node disseminates a specification request to the set of computing devices, wherein the specification request comprises a set of parameters, and    wherein the gateway node is unaware of a number and identity of individual computing node in the set of computing devices; and    wherein the set of computing devices receives the specification request, wherein an individual computing node in the set of computing devices determines whether attributes of the individual computing node satisfy predicates expressed in the specification request, and wherein the individual computing node processes the parameters in the specification request in response to a determination that the attributes for the individual computing node satisfies the predicates expressed in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on values in the parameters of the specification request.    
   
   
       16 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 wherein the gateway node observes quality of information values communicated from the set of computing devices, and iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.    
   
   
       17 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein the individual computing node modifies its behavior by adjusting its behavior in one of a memoryless fashion, wherein adjustment is based purely on values of parameters in a current specification request, and in a memory-based fashion, wherein adjustment is based on one of values in past specification requests and current or past behavioral attributes of the individual computing node.  
   
   
       18 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein the gateway node modifies the parameters based on a combination of past divergence, parameters specified in past specification broadcasts, and actual values of computed quality of information and desired quality of information.  
   
   
       19 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein the gateway node disseminates the specification request by broadcasting probabilistic parameters about one or more aspects of a communication process, wherein the probabilistic parameters include at least one of an activation probability and a sample reporting probability.  
   
   
       20 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein disseminating the specification request further comprises: 
 specifying parameters and their values in a format understood by both the gateway node and the individual computing nodes.    
   
   
       21 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein the gateway node disseminates the specification request using a point-to-multipoint packet distribution technique, wherein the point-to-multipoint packet distribution technique includes one of directed diffusion, multicasting, and broadcasting, and wherein the point-to-multipoint packet distribution technique routes the specification request to only those computing devices whose attributes satisfy the predicates of the specification request.  
   
   
       22 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein observing the quality of information values comprises: 
 receiving all data samples requested from the set of computing devices; and    applying an appropriate function to compute a quality of information value.    
   
   
       23 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein observing the quality of information values comprises: 
 requesting one or more data sample receivers to compute and return the quality of information value to the gateway node.    
   
   
       24 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein iteratively modifying the parameters comprises: 
 using a control theory technique to compute a next set of parameters.    
   
   
       25 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 24 , wherein the control theory technique comprises one of proportional-integral-derivative control, fuzzy control, or sliding window control.  
   
   
       26 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein the individual computing node modifies an aspect of its own behavior in a probabilistic behavior.  
   
   
       27 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 26 , wherein the probabilistic behavior is a probability of remaining awake.  
   
   
       28 . The distributed data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein the behavior includes at least one of a sensing behavior and a communication behavior.  
   
   
       29 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a network data processing system, comprising: 
 first instructions for disseminating a specification request from a gateway node to the set of computing devices, wherein the specification request comprises a set of parameters, and wherein the gateway node is unaware of a number and identity of individual computing nodes in the set of computing devices;    second instructions for observing quality of information values communicated from the set of computing devices; and    third instructions for iteratively modifying the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.    
   
   
       30 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for modifying behaviors of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system, the method comprising: 
 first instructions for receiving a specification request at the set of computing devices, wherein the specification request comprises a set of parameters, and wherein an individual computing node in the set of computing devices determines whether attributes of the individual computing node satisfy predicates expressed in the specification request; and    second instructions for processing the parameters in the specification request in response to a determination that the attributes for the individual computing node satisfies the predicates, wherein the individual computing node modifies its own behavior based on values in the parameters of the specification request.