公开(公告)号：WO2002011312A3

公开(公告)日：2002-02-07

申请号：PCT/US2001/024410

申请日：2001-08-01

Applicant: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC ,  PAYTON, David ,  HOFF, Bruce ,  HOWARD, Mike ,  LEE, Craig

Inventor： PAYTON, David ,  HOFF, Bruce ,  HOWARD, Mike ,  LEE, Craig

IPC: H04L12/28

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for facilitating local signaling among a plurality of agents are presented. An agent (100) including a digital processor (102) a transmitter (104), and a directional receiver (106) comprising a plurality of angular regions (108) is configured to enable the selection of a signal from a plurality of signals received on the basis of local data such as the strength of the received signal. The local data may be incorporated into a cumulative data portion of a signal that is passed from local agent (100) to local agent (100) across a plurality of agents (100) in order to provide a gradient across the plurality of agents (100). The gradient could be used, for example, to determine a shortest path across the agents. The signaling techniques described can also be used to determine the distance and direction to objects in the signaling path.

公开(公告)号：EP1299823A2

公开(公告)日：2003-04-09

申请号：EP01984185.7

申请日：2001-07-10

Applicant: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC

Inventor： HOWARD, Mike ,  PAYTON, David ,  HOFF, Bruce ,  LEE, Craig ,  DAILY, Mike

IPC: G06F17/40

CPC classification number: G08G1/207 ,  G05D1/0242 ,  G05D1/0255 ,  G05D1/0257 ,  G05D1/0274 ,  G05D1/0295 ,  G05D2201/0209 ,  G08G1/164

Abstract: A method and apparatus for computing properties of a physical environment is provided, using a plurality of agents forming a distributed network embedded within the environment. The method comprises determining an initiating agent (200), transmitting a signal including a cumulative cost value to neighboring agents (202), and processing the signal at each neighboring agent to augment the cumulative cost value with local information (204). If multiple signals are received, determining which has the best cumulative cost value for generating a new signal (206), then treating the neighboring agent as an initiating agent (208) and transmitting the new signal to neighboring agents (208) and retaining the best augmented cost value in memory (210). Methods further include determining paths using shortest path computations, using dual gradients for aligning agents on a path between two reference agents, and discovering and converging agents on choke points.