Patent ID: 7155365

Claim:
A method for using statistical techniques to selectively transmit data from a sensor that is likely to be of interest, comprising: using statistical techniques to compute a likelihood that the sensor is observing a real event, wherein computing the likelihood that the sensor is observing a real event involves: computing the probability that a null hypothesis test for the sensor is true based on a current sensor value and historical sensor values, wherein if the null hypothesis test is true, the sensor is observing background variations; computing the probability that an alternative hypothesis test for the sensor is true based on the current sensor value and historical sensor values, wherein if the alternative hypothesis test is true, the sensor is observing a real event, and wherein the alternative hypothesis test can include: a positive first-difference test, which determines if the sensor signal is increasing; and a negative first-difference test, which determines if the sensor signal is decreasing; and computing a ratio of the probability that the alternative hypothesis test for the sensor is true to the probability that the null hypothesis test for the sensor is true; and comparing the likelihood to an upper threshold; if the likelihood is greater than or equal to the upper threshold, determining that the sensor is observing a real event, and transmitting sensor data for the real event to a receiver.