Patent ID: 8239046

Claim:
A computerised method for operating a first control element for a sensor network including a set of different types of sensors, said method comprising the steps of: controlling transfer connections between said first control element and said set of different types of sensors, said transfer connections being compliant with respective sensor-specific protocols; adding one or more new types of sensors to the set of different types of sensors; generating a new sensor controller corresponding to each new type of the added sensors by modifying existing sensor controllers or components of the existing sensor controllers; establishing transfer connections between said first control element and said new type of sensors in runtime; converting information obtained in a sensor-specific protocol format from said new type of sensors into a common format in said corresponding sensor controller; processing said information in said common format by a set of common control components of said first control element; providing a service based on said information in said common format to at least one consumer; updating said service in accordance with the new type of sensors present in said sensor network; providing sensor configuration information of the new type of sensors, which are connected to said first control element, to at least one further control element; providing a first sensor controller to said further control element in response to said further control element requesting said first sensor controller; requesting, in response to a new sensor connected to said first control element, whether said new sensor was previously connected to said further control element; and requesting, in response to said new sensor having been previously connected to said further control element, said generated new sensor controller and said sensor configuration information from said further control element.