Patent ID: 7970734

Claim:
A data collection apparatus, comprising: a network of sensing units for sensing a parameter, wherein each sensing unit of said network of sensing units includes a sensor, a first data storage device, a first receiving device, and a first transmitting device, said first data storage device for storing data derived from said sensor, said first transmitting device for transmitting data derived from said sensor; a single control unit, said single control unit comprising a second receiving device, a second transmitting device, and a second data storage device, said second receiving device to receive data transmitted from said network of sensing units, said second data storage device for storing said data received from said network of sensing units wherein sensing units of said network of sensing units are each configured so a real time signal triggers a change in at least one from the group consisting of: (a) sensor data handling, (b) sensor data collection, (c) sensor data storage in said sensing unit, and (d) sensor data transmission to said single control unit.