Sensor Networks: Next Generation Problems Frank Vernon Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California at San Diego SAMSI Sensor Network Workshop October 2003

Open problems How can I acquire desired RT data? How can I discover/access desired RT data? How can I share/integrate the data? Can I integrate dynamically? Can I share with other disciplines? Can I integrate seamlessly with data from other disciplines Can I integrate with archived data?

Sensor Networks Desires Timing –Critical issue for any modal analysis or array processing analysis –Need to synchronize across all sensors Communications systems –Power < 1W for remote sites –IP –Aggregate data rate ≥ 1 Mbit/sec –Scalable for array apertures from 100s meters => megameters

What is needed for a real-time data exchange systems: System should be “data neutral” –Variable packet size –All formatting at application level System should allow data query functions System should allow dynamic updates of instrument metadata –metadata not embedded in every data packet Packet descriptions should be available in real-time –Self-describing

What is needed for a real-time data exchange systems: System should be network transparent with respect to read/write/local/remote access System should be error-free and robust –Impervious to communications failures –Impervious to computer shutdown-startup –Generally means non-volatile buffers, auto- reconnects, auto-restarts, etc. Interoperable with other real-time data exchange systems and new real-time data sources

Design Goals for Future Real-Time Sensor Networks capture, process, control for quality, and integrate real-time data streaming from different sources-- collected for different purposes, on different time and spatial scales, and measured by different methods; make heterogeneities in platforms, physical location and naming of resources, data formats and data models, supported programming interfaces, and query languages transparent to the user; adapt to new and changing user requirements for data and data products;

Design Goals for Future Real-Time Sensor Networks dynamically reconfigure with the addition or removal of observational equipment and/or scientific instrumentation –self-healing topology –decentralized resource registration provide Internet access to integrated data collections along with visualization, data mining, analysis, and modeling capabilities