Abstract: A network routing method and system may include initializing the network by determining, for each node of the network, a number of hops to a root node and delaying forwarding to the root node, for each node, a packet received, wherein the delay in forwarding the packet received to the root node from a forwarding node depends upon the number of hops separating the root node from the forwarding node. A network routing method and system may include initializing the network by determining, for each node of the network, a number of hops to a root node, determining, for a forwarding node that receives a packet from a sending node, whether to forward the packet to a root node, determining a delay after which the packet is to be forwarded to the root node and determining a probability of forwarding the packet to the root node.

Abstract: The disclosed technology uses a visibility function within a network environment that includes a set of nodes. At least one of nodes can directly transmit to one or more of a subset of the set of nodes. The visibility function characterizes a non-uniform resolution profile within the network environment that extends over at least one node outside the subset of nodes. The sent situation information is conditioned to propagate through the network environment according to the visibility function. The node can also receive situation information that includes a visibility parameter. Once the situation information is received, the node can evaluate the visibility parameter to determine whether the situation information is eligible for continued propagation through the network environment. If situation information is eligible for continued propagation the node then prepares to transmit the situation information.

Abstract: A method and system for a comprehensive security-enhanced rideshare system is provided. The rideshare program includes localization, mapping and ride matching for participants. Participation incentives and revenue methods provide for the financial viability of the rideshare system. Participant security is monitored in near real-time using location-determining communication devices used by the participants in the system. The rideshare system monitors a number of security-indicating criteria and takes action when an anomalous condition is recognized.

Abstract: A method for propagating advertisement for market controlled presentation among communication devices over a communication network accessed by service providers and an advertising service is stored and executed as an application for use by network devices. The method includes receiving advertising requests and bids from potential advertisers, with each bid including a presentation slot specification and a proposed amount of payment for presentation. Ranking information is computed from the bid, with the ranking reflecting the financial value of propagation of the advertising request to the advertising service. The method also provides certification of the advertising request, with certification including a signature of the contents of the advertising request, the requested presentation slot, and the ranking information. The certified advertisement is then propagated over the communication network.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating and sharing information about arbitrary documents. A primary document is selected and a document content identifier generated based on the content of the primary document. Additional information such as comments, additional documents, reviews and the like are created and/or selected from an information repository. The additional information is associated with the primary document based on the document content identifier of the primary document. A search for information associated with the primary document compares the document content identifier of the primary document to document content identifiers associated with the additional information. Additional information associated with the document content identifiers matching the primary document content identifier is retrieved and displayed to the user.

Abstract: A process for producing a low-visibility retroreflective visual tag, which can be used to identify and/or determine the position of an object. This process involves placing an infra-red-blocking material over a retroreflective substrate to form the low-visibility retroreflective visual tag. This infra-red-blocking material is placed so as to form a pattern, which becomes visible to an infrared sensor when the low-visibility retroreflective visual tag is illuminated by an infra-red light source.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that performs a query-based convergecast scheduling in a convergecast network, which includes a base-station and a plurality of nodes. During operation, the system receives a convergecast tree for the convergecast network. Each node in the convergecast tree is associated with a hop-count to the base-station through a specific branch and each node can generate zero or more packets to transmit. Next, the system initializes a query from the base-station, wherein the query is successively propagated to the nodes through the branches. In response to the query, the system computes distributed-timing-information indicating a packet transmission schedule for the nodes. The system next aggregates the distributed-timing-information associated with the nodes toward the base-station through the branches. The system then forwards the aggregated distributed-timing-information to the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for efficient information dissemination and discovery in large scale networks such as ad-hoc networks, sensor networks, vehicle networks, virtual networks and the like. The spatial information for a plurality of network elements within a network is determined and an interesting node identified. A variable resolution communication structure of inter-connected nodes is determined based on spatial information for the interesting node and a map. The map may be based on an equation, a formula, coordinates or other methods of extensibly specifying spaces. Information about the interesting node is propagated via the inter-connected nodes of the variable resolution communication structure.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for determining threshold probability or confidence levels for associating various types of health information with a set of users. Spatio-temporal information associated with one or more of the subjects is determined. Health information associated with spatial-temporal information is also determined. Candidate health-subject associations are associated with probabilities based on the spatio-temporally tagged identity and spatio-temporally tagged health information. Candidate health-subject associations with probabilities exceeding a threshold probability level are assigned as actual health-subject associations. Treatment plans, reports, remedial procedures and or other health related tests, procedures or the like are determined based on the associated health information.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data includes determining how much data is desired to be transmitted from a data source. A utility function is used to determine a pattern of microutilities to be associated with data samples from the data source. The pattern of microutilities specifies a pattern of data delivery to at least one predetermined location relative to the data source. The data samples are propagated according to the pattern of microutilities.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information in a network includes receiving, at a node, a data sample having a microutility associated with the data sample, the microutility including information as to how the data sample is to be handled in transit. The receiving node evaluates the microutility using information available at a receiving time on the receiving node and information encoded in the microutility to determine propagation characteristics of the data sample and propagates the data sample to other nodes in the network in accordance with the propagation characteristics.

Abstract: An information dissemination system has at least one node acting as a data source, at least one node acting as a data recipient, and an information layer residing on all of the nodes in a system. The information layer receives a generic utility function from an application on the node acting as a data source wanting to propagate information, uses the generic utility function at the node acting as data source to produce a microutility and uses the microutility on non-data source nodes of the system to propagate the information through the system to any recipients based upon the microutility.

Abstract: A method for specifying utility in an information delivery system having data sources and receiving nodes includes specifying utility for a set of possible information delivery patterns of data samples, where the specification of the utility depends on characteristics of delivery patterns observed by a receiving node, if any, located at a specified location.

Abstract: A method of managing traffic in an ad-hoc network includes receiving, at a local node, a received synopsis of data sample updates in a neighbor storage of a neighboring node, the synopsis being based at least in part on dynamic priorities associated with the data samples. The received synopsis is then compared with data sample updates in a local storage of the local node and the local node determines which data samples will be transmitted.

Abstract: A method of disseminating information in system having data sources and data recipients includes receiving a generic utility function at a data source for information to be delivered to a data recipient based upon an application for which the information is to be used. Data related to an environment in which the information is to be propagated is used to modify the generic utility function.

Abstract: A method of managing traffic in an ad hoc network includes measuring local data traffic levels on at least one network resource. Criteria are established for different transmission media. A microutility of a data sample is evaluated and the data sample is transmitted through one or more media, the selection of the media being based upon evaluation of the microutility against the criteria.

Abstract: A method of managing traffic in an ad hoc network determines local data traffic levels at a node, and uses the local data traffic levels to define a criteria. The criteria is applied to a microutility associated with the data sample to determine if the data sample should be propagated, temporarily delayed or dropped.

Abstract: A system and method for guiding robotic actions based on external factor tracking and analysis is presented. External factors affecting a defined physical space are tracked through a stationary environmental sensor. The external factors are analyzed to determine one or more of activity levels and usage patterns occurring within the defined physical space. At least one of movements and actions to be performed by a mobile effector that operates untethered from the stationary environmental sensor within the defined physical space are determined. The movements and actions are autonomously executed in the defined physical space through the mobile effector.

Abstract: A system and method for performing distributed sequential node localization in active sensor deployment is presented. An equilateral orthogonal reference frame is defined. The reference frame includes s+1 anchor nodes that is placed in s-dimensional physical space. New nodes are sequentially placed in a natural sequential ordering within the s-dimensional physical space to form a sequentially well-connected network. For each of the new nodes, location estimates are obtained for the new node from at least s+1 of the anchor nodes previously placed in the s-dimensional physical space. A location is determined for the new node based on the location estimates. The new node are placed in the s-dimensional physical space as a new anchor node proximate to at least one of the s+1 previously-placed anchor nodes upon satisfactory location determination.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for navigating through information associated with physical objects or locations. During operation, the system detects a multi-resolution visual code placed on or in the vicinity of a physical object or location. The system then determines a level of resolution for the detected code, and decodes the code at the determined level of resolution to obtain the information. Subsequently, the system presents the information to a user, thereby allowing the user to navigate through information associated with the physical object or location.