Methods and systems for operating a logical sensor network

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a sensor network comprising a plurality of nodes and at least one resource, where a resource can be a sensing device (e.g., a camera or microphone) or other peripheral devices (e.g., a storage or recording system). In at least one embodiment of the present invention, at least one node in a network determines at least one resource available to it and the type of the resource or its capabilities. Based on the type or capabilities of the resource, the node associates with one or more logical node names and acquires instructions for performing at least one function.

1 . - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of programmable network nodes and at least one resource, the method comprising:
 determining by at least one of the plurality of programmable network nodes that the at least one resource is available to it;   determining by the at least one programmable network node a type of the at least one available resource;   deciding if the at least one programmable network node has necessary instructions to communicate with the at least one available resource;   providing the at least one programmable network node with the necessary instructions based on the deciding;   receiving sensory input via the at least one available resource; and   providing the sensory input to one or more of the plurality of programmable network nodes in the network based on a presence or absence of an outstanding request for the sensory input.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions are provided from another network node or an external input means. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions are provided from local storage accessible by the programmable network node. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the determining that the at least one resource is available to it, comprises:
 broadcasting, by the at least one programmable network node, a request for a resource; and,   receiving, by the at least one programmable network node, at least one response from the at least one resource, the response indicating that the at least one resource is available. (NEW) The method of  claim 44 , wherein the type of the at least one available resource may be one or more of the following: camera, microphone, temperature sensor, listening device, gas detector, light detector, audio/image/video recorder or player, storage device, or other peripheral device.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the step of providing the sensory input comprises:
 forwarding the sensory input to one of more of the plurality of programmable network nodes based on the outstanding request for the sensory input by the one or more of the plurality of programmable network nodes; or   storing the sensory input based on no outstanding requests for the sensory input by the one or more of the plurality of programmable network nodes,   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the storing of the sensory input is performed at the at least one programmable node or at a dedicated storage node. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the resource is physically separate the at least one programmable network node. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein each of the plurality of programmable network nodes is associated with a logical name for the purpose of indicating a role of the each of the plurality of programmable network nodes. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 broadcasting a notice to the network by the each of the plurality of programmable network nodes indicating the logical node names of the each of the plurality of programmable network nodes.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 after the sensory input has been stored, receiving a request for the sensory input from the at least one programmable network node in the network; and   providing the sensory input to the at least one programmable network node in the network that requested the stored sensory input.   
     
     
         55 . A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of programmable network nodes and at least one resource, the method comprising:
 determining by at least one of the plurality of programmable network nodes that the at least one resource is available to it;   determining by the at least one programmable network node one or more capabilities of the at least one available resource;   associating the at least one programmable network node with one or more logical node names based on the one or more capabilities of the at least one available resource after the resource is determined, each logical node name associated with a type of resource; and   controlling the at least one programmable network node to perform at least one function based on the one or more logical node names;   wherein the associating further comprises broadcasting a notice to the network indicating the one or more logical node names of the at least one programmable network node.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein controlling the at least one programmable network node to perform at least one function based on the one or more logical node names comprises:
 controlling the at least one programmable network node to perform the at least one function using one or more instructions accessible to, but not stored on, the programmable network node.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the determining that at least one resource is available to it, comprises:
 broadcasting, by the at least one programmable network node, a request for a resource; and,   receiving, by the at least one programmable network node, at least one response from the at least one resource, the response indicating that the at least one resource is available.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the type of the at least one available resource may be one or more of the following: camera, microphone, temperature sensor, listening device, gas detector, light detector, audio/image/video recorder or player, storage device, or other peripheral device. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 executing by the at least one programmable network node at least one instruction for performing the at least one function based on the one or more logical node names associated with the at least one programmable network node.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the performing at least one function comprises:
 receiving sensory input via the at least one available resource; and   providing the sensory input to one or more of the plurality of programmable network nodes in the network based on the one or more logical node names of the programmable network node.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the performing at least one function comprises:
 receiving sensory input from one or more of the plurality of programmable network nodes in the network based on the one or more logical node names.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 providing the sensory input to the at least one available resource.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the performing at least one function comprises:
 receiving sensory input via the at least one available resource;   broadcasting to plurality of programmable network nodes in the network the availability of the sensory input; and   providing the sensory input to one or more of the plurality of programmable network nodes in the network that respond with a request to receive the sensory input.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein at least one programmable network node in the network associates as a user and further comprising:
 providing the sensory input to the at least one programmable network node in the network that associates as a user.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 storing the sensory input, if no programmable network nodes in the network respond with a request to receive the sensory input.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising:
 after the sensory input has been stored, receiving a request for the sensory input from at least one programmable network node in the network; and   providing the sensory input to the at least one programmable network node in the network that requested the stored sensory input.   
     
     
         67 . A processor comprising a memory storing instructions for enabling the processor to:
 determine at least one resource is available to it;   determine one or more capabilities of the at least one available resource;   decide if the processor has necessary instructions to communicate with the at least one available resource;   acquire instructions based on the deciding;   associate the processor with one or more logical node names based on the one or more capabilities of the at least one available resource and broadcast a notice indicating the one or more logical node names;   perform at least one function based on the instructions and the one or more logical node names.   
     
     
         68 . The processor of  claim 67 , wherein the processor is capable of communicating via a network and the instructions are acquired from a network node or an external input means. 
     
     
         69 . The processor of  claim 67 , wherein the memory also stores the instructions acquired by the processor. 
     
     
         70 . The processor of  claim 67 , wherein the type of the at least one available resource may be one or more of the following: camera, microphone, temperature sensor, listening device, gas detector, light detector, audio/image/video recorder or player, storage device, or other peripheral device. 
     
     
         71 . The processor of  claim 67 , wherein the instructions and the one or more logical node names which enable the processor to perform the at least one function further enable the processor to:
 receive sensory input via the at least one available resource; and   provide the sensory input to one or more of programmable network nodes in a network or store the sensory input.   
     
     
         72 . The processor of  claim 67 , wherein the instructions and the one or more logical node names which enable the processor to perform the at least one function further enable the processor to:
 receive sensory input from one or more of programmable network nodes in a network.