The tracking of a tagged object through a region of space monitored by a sensor
network. There are many situations where one would like to track the location
of valuable assets or personnel. Current inventory control systems attempt to
track objects by recording the last checkpoint that an object passed through.
However, with these systems it is not possible to determine the current location
of an object. For example, UPS tracks every shipment by scanning it with a
barcode whenever it passes through a routing center. The system breaks
down when objects do not flow from checkpoint to checkpoint. In typical work
environments it is impractical to expect objects to be continually passed through
checkpoints.
With wireless sensor networks, objects can be tracked by simply tagging them
with a small sensor node. The sensor node will be tracked as it moves through
a field of sensor nodes that are deployed in the environment at known locations.
Instead of sensing environmental data, these nodes will be deployed to sense
the RF messages of the nodes attached to various objects. The nodes can be
used as active tags that announce the presence of a device. A database can be
used to record the location of tracked objects relative to the set of nodes at
known locations. With this system, it becomes possible to ask where an
object is currently, not simply where it was last scanned.
Unlike sensing or security networks, node tracking applications will continually
have topology changes as nodes move through the network. While the connectivity
between the nodes at fixed locations will remain relatively stable, the connectivity
to mobile nodes will be continually changing. Additionally the set of nodes being
tracked will continually change as objects enter and leave the system. It is essential
that the network be able to efficiently detect the presence of new nodes that enter
the network.
network. There are many situations where one would like to track the location
of valuable assets or personnel. Current inventory control systems attempt to
track objects by recording the last checkpoint that an object passed through.
However, with these systems it is not possible to determine the current location
of an object. For example, UPS tracks every shipment by scanning it with a
barcode whenever it passes through a routing center. The system breaks
down when objects do not flow from checkpoint to checkpoint. In typical work
environments it is impractical to expect objects to be continually passed through
checkpoints.
With wireless sensor networks, objects can be tracked by simply tagging them
with a small sensor node. The sensor node will be tracked as it moves through
a field of sensor nodes that are deployed in the environment at known locations.
Instead of sensing environmental data, these nodes will be deployed to sense
the RF messages of the nodes attached to various objects. The nodes can be
used as active tags that announce the presence of a device. A database can be
used to record the location of tracked objects relative to the set of nodes at
known locations. With this system, it becomes possible to ask where an
object is currently, not simply where it was last scanned.
Unlike sensing or security networks, node tracking applications will continually
have topology changes as nodes move through the network. While the connectivity
between the nodes at fixed locations will remain relatively stable, the connectivity
to mobile nodes will be continually changing. Additionally the set of nodes being
tracked will continually change as objects enter and leave the system. It is essential
that the network be able to efficiently detect the presence of new nodes that enter
the network.
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