Abstract: A system for sensing occurrences of hand washing events includes a dispenser of a hand sanitizing solution and a motion sensor that is coupled to the dispenser. The motion sensor is configured to sense vibrations of the dispenser. When at least a threshold amount of movement is sensed, logic is configured to analyze samples from the motion sensor in order to determine whether the sensed vibrations result from activation of the dispenser. If so, the dispenser activation is logged and reported for use within a system, such as a system for monitoring compliance with a hand washing policy.

Abstract: A tag security system has a plurality of hubs positioned within a store. A security tag is attached to an article of merchandise and tracked, via the hubs, to determine when the security tag is moved to a predefined area, such as close to a store exit. An alarm is provided when the security tag is determined to be within the predefined area. In addition to providing merchandise security, the security tag is used for other purposes, such as taking inventory and marketing analysis. As an example, during a store-wide inventory, the approximate location of the article of merchandise may be determined via wireless communication with the security tag. Also, the security tag may be used to sense when consumers are handling the article of merchandise thereby providing marketing information indicative of consumer interest in such article.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network has a plurality of nodes. One of the nodes, referred to as a “topology building node,” is configured to discover a topology of the network. In this regard, a multicast topology message is transmitted via at least one node of the network. Each node that receive such message transmits a topology multicast reply to the topology building node which adds the transmitting node to the topology if the transmitting node is not already identified by the topology. Upon adding a node to the topology, the topology building node transmits a topology multicast command to the added node thereby causing such node to transmit a multicast topology message. Accordingly, the topology eventually receives a topology multicast reply from each node of the network allowing such node to build a complete topology of the network.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for dynamically changing network node behavior. In one exemplary embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of nodes defining a wireless sensor network, and the plurality of nodes includes at least a first node and a second node. The first node has an output interface, a virtual machine, a stack, and a communication device. The stack is configured to packetize payload data into data packets, and the communication device is configured to communicate the data packets via wireless signals through the wireless sensor network. The output interface is coupled to an apparatus, and the second node is configured to transmit a script image through the wireless sensor network to the first node via at least one data packet. The first node is configured to run the script image on the virtual machine such that the apparatus is controlled by the script image.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for controlling sensor networks. A sensor network has a plurality of sensor nodes, which have sensors for monitoring operational parameters of devices within an application-specific system. A wireless communication module is provided for each node to enable the node to wirelessly communicate with other nodes of the network. A user defines various scripts for controlling the behavior of one or more nodes, and the network distributes the scripts, as appropriate, to various nodes thereby implementing the behavior defined by the scripts. Accordingly, a user can easily and dynamically configure or re-configure the behavior of any node without having to physically access the node that is being configured or re-configured.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for reducing power consumption in communication networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a system includes a leader node in communication with a plurality of follower nodes. The leader node causes the leader and follower nodes to transition from an awake mode to a sleep mode where they consume less power. An exemplary embodiment of a method includes the steps of configuring nodes in a communication network as follower nodes and configuring a node in the communication network as a leader node. The leader node is configured to cause the leader and follower nodes to alternate between an awake mode and a sleep mode. The leader and follower nodes consume less power when in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for disabling routing table purges in wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a node is for use in a wireless sensor network and comprises memory that is configured to store a routing table specifying at least one data route through the wireless sensor network. The node also comprises logic that is configured to track time and to automatically purge at least one entry of the routing table based on the tracked time thereby forcing a rediscovery of a data route for the purged entry. The logic is further configured to selectively disable automatic routing table purges based on user input.

Abstract: A system for combining current from solar power arrays comprises a combiner element and a plurality of solar power arrays, including at least a first solar power array and a second solar power array. The combiner element is configured to receive and combine current from the solar power arrays thereby providing a combined current signal that is based on current from each of the solar power arrays. The combiner element has a current sensing element coupled to one of the solar power arrays and is configured to receive current from the one solar power array. The current sensing element also has a sensor configured to sense a magnetic flux induced by the current from the one solar power array, and the sensor is configured to transmit data indicative of the sensed magnetic flux. The current sensing element further has a magnetic core and a conductive coil for carrying the current from the one solar power array.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for updating script images in wireless sensor networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a system has logic that is configured to display a list of nodes of a wireless sensor network. The logic is further configured to display a script source of a first script image stored at one of the nodes in response to a selection of the one node from the displayed list of nodes. The logic is also configured to modify the script source based on user input and to convert the modified script source to a second script image. The logic is configured to transmit at least one remote procedure call through the wireless sensor network to the one node. The one node is configured to write the second script image in memory of the one node in response to the at least one remote procedure call.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for displaying node information in wireless sensor networks. An exemplary system has logic that is configured to display a list of nodes in a wireless sensor network. The logic is further configured to display a plurality of function identifiers in response to a first user input identifying one of the nodes, and the function identifiers identify a plurality of functions and a script image of the one node. The logic is further configured to receive a second user input selecting one of the function identifiers and to transmit a remote procedure call through the wireless network to the one node in response to the second user input. The one node is configured to run the function or script image identified by the selected function identifier in response to the remote procedure call.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network comprises a plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes is configured to communicate messages through the wireless sensor network based on a first network identifier identifying the wireless sensor network. Each of the nodes is further configured to communicate messages through the wireless sensor network based on a default network identifier identifying the wireless sensor network, and the first network identifier and the default network identifier are concurrently valid for communicating messages through the wireless sensor network.

Abstract: A local positioning system uses at least one node to track a location of a mobile tag. The system measures flight times of signals communicated between the node and the tag to determine values indicative of the range of the tag from the node. If desired, the values may be filtered in an effort to increase the accuracy of the range estimation. As an example, a Kalman filtering algorithm may be used. Multiple antennas are used at both the node and the tag to provide more accurate range estimates and to determine when the tag is entering a dead zone where signals are blocked or attenuated by obstacles.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for controlling sensor networks. A sensor network has a plurality of sensor nodes, which have sensors for monitoring operational parameters of devices within an application-specific system. A wireless communication module is provided for each node to enable the node to wirelessly communicate with other nodes of the network. A user defines various scripts for controlling the behavior of one or more nodes, and the network distributes the scripts, as appropriate, to various nodes thereby implementing the behavior defined by the scripts. Accordingly, a user can easily and dynamically configure or re-configure the behavior of any node without having to physically access the node that is being configured or re-configured.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for using predefined network addresses in wireless sensor networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a system comprises a first node and a plurality of nodes defining a wireless sensor network. The wireless sensor network is configured to allow nodes to dynamically join, and each of the plurality of nodes has a respective network address for the wireless sensor network. The first node has a predefined network address that identifies the first node in the wireless sensor network, and the predefined network address is known to the first node prior to the first node joining the wireless sensor network such that the first node is able to immediately communicate via the wireless sensor network using the predefined network address upon joining the wireless sensor network.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for controlling nodes in a communication network, such as a wireless sensor network. In one exemplary embodiment, a node, referred to herein as a “coordinator node,” controls the operation of various nodes, referred to herein as “sensor nodes,” that are configured to monitor various parameters. The coordinator node from time-to-time broadcasts a beacon to the sensor nodes. The beacon can include various information that is used by the sensor nodes for control. In one exemplary embodiment, the beacon includes node-specific information that informs at least some nodes that they are to transition to a sleep state for a certain period of time. Such nodes, based on the beacon, transition to a sleep state, thereby conserving electrical power.

Abstract: The present invention generally pertains to systems and methods for communicating messages in wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a wireless sensor network has a first node and a second node. The second node is configured to wirelessly transmit a message through a channel of the wireless sensor network to the first node. The second node is further configured to determine whether to retransmit the message through the channel of the wireless sensor network to the first node based on an amount of energy detected for the channel by the second node immediately after transmission of the message by the second node.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to wireless communication modules that can be used for enabling wireless communication in various applications. A wireless communication module in accordance with one embodiment may be interfaced with other devices, such as nodes of a wireless sensor network (WSN). The module has rows of male integrated circuit (IC) pins that may be interfaced with female pin receptacles of another device. The module receives wireless signals and provides the data of such wireless signals to the other device. The module also receives data from the other devices and packetizes such data for wireless communication.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for reducing power consumption in communication networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a system includes a leader node in communication with a plurality of follower nodes. The leader node causes the leader and follower nodes to transition from an awake mode to a sleep mode where they consume less power. An exemplary embodiment of a method includes the steps of configuring nodes in a communication network as follower nodes and configuring a node in the communication network as a leader node. The leader node is configured to cause the leader and follower nodes to alternate between an awake mode and a sleep mode. The leader and follower nodes consume less power when in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for controlling sensor networks. A sensor network has a plurality of sensor nodes, which have sensors for monitoring operational parameters of devices within an application-specific system. A wireless communication module is provided for each node to enable the node to wirelessly communicate with other nodes of the network. A user defines various scripts for controlling the behavior of one or more nodes, and the network distributes the scripts, as appropriate, to various nodes thereby implementing the behavior defined by the scripts. Accordingly, a user can easily and dynamically configure or re-configure the behavior of any node without having to physically access the node that is being configured or re-configured.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for reducing data collisions in wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a node of a wireless network monitors traffic from at least one foreign network. The node attempts to identify patterns of communication in the foreign network. Based on an identified pattern, the node schedules a transmission during time period for which it is likely that the foreign network is not attempting a transmission that would otherwise interfere with the node's signal. Accordingly, the probability of a data collision is reduced.