Interactive Operations for Understanding Embedded Sensor Domains

摘要

Embedded sensors have the potential to provide users vast amounts of information about the environment Estrin et al. 2001. However, in many situations, the sensors and associated databases are only capable of delivering low-level, unstructured data such as raw measurements. If users are to be able to extract meaning from the stream of data, interfaces must be provided to allow users to form and execute queries. We implemented visualizations of the sensor domain and enabled a user to interactively plan and understand the sensor domain. We consider a military use of sensors: providing early warning of movement toward friendly positions USMC Combat Development Command 1997. The user views each sensor output on a dialshaped or numerical display and integrates these values into a coherent picture to determine what action to take. We consulted with domain experts to determine the operations and limitations with current interfaces to remote sensors. They noted the following driving issues. Current sensor suites require that line-of-sight contact be maintained (possibly through relays) to each sensor. It is hard to know what area is covered by the existing sensors. It is hard to predict how best to extend the current domain over which the sensors are effective.