System, Method and Apparatus for Node Selection of a Sensor Network

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for node selection of a sensor network. Multiple sensor networks can operate in or around a monitored location. Nodes can be organized amongst the multiple sensor networks using remote configuration updates that are provided by a host system to a sensor network node.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a host system using a received status packet generated by a wireless node, one of a plurality of sensor networks as an assigned sensor network for the wireless node; and   transmitting, by the host system, a configuration update packet for delivery to the wireless node, the configuration update packet including sensor network configuration information used by the wireless node to direct communication by the wireless node to the assigned sensor network.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the assigned sensor network is different from a sensor network used by the wireless node when generating the received status packet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the assigned sensor network includes a gateway device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the gateway device is located in a building in which the wireless node is installed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor network configuration information includes a sensor network identifier of the assigned sensor network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining is based on wireless interference in at least one of the plurality of sensor networks. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining is based on a number of nodes in at least one of the plurality of sensor networks. 
     
     
         9 . A device, comprising:
 a wireless transceiver for wirelessly transmitting a status packet from the device via a first of a plurality of sensor networks; and   a controller that directs, based on a configuration update packet received by the wireless transceiver via the first sensor network, communication by the wireless transceiver to an assigned one of the plurality of sensor networks.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the assigned sensor network is different from the first of the plurality of sensor networks. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the assigned one of the plurality of sensor networks includes a gateway device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the gateway device is located in a building in which the device is installed. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the configuration update packet includes a sensor network identifier of the assigned one of the plurality of sensor networks. 
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a host system that determines one of a plurality of sensor networks as an assigned sensor network, and transmits a configuration update packet including sensor network configuration information; and   a device that receives the configuration update packet and directs a wireless transceiver in the device to communicate on the assigned sensor network as indicated by the configuration update packet.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the assigned sensor network is different from a sensor network currently used by the device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the assigned sensor network includes a gateway device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the gateway device is located in a building in which the device is installed. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the configuration update packet includes a sensor network identifier of the assigned sensor network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the assigned sensor network is chosen based on wireless interference in at least one of the plurality of sensor networks. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the assigned sensor network is chosen based on a number of nodes in at least one of the plurality of sensor networks.