Patent ID: 7929411

Claim:
A method for obtaining data from a number of distributed sources, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting, utilizing at least one processor and computer usable memory that causes the at least one processor to perform the method, a group of the distributed sources; the group being less the number of distributed sources; (b) receiving, at a receiving node, transmission from the selected group of the distributed sources; (b1) performing, utilizing at least one processor and com memory that causes the at least one processor to perform the method, tests on the group of the distributed sources; the performing tests on the group of distributed sources comprising the steps of: i) dividing the group of the distributed sources into two subgroups; ii) testing each subgroup with tests restricted to a predetermined class; said tests having outcomes; said outcomes belonging to another predetermined class; repeating steps i) and ii) each subgroup, if outcomes of the tests result in an equal predetermined outcome, a subgroup having said equal predetermined outcome constituting an undetermined subgroup; repeating steps i) and ii) for a smallest undetermined subgroup, if one of the outcomes of the tests is an outcome from a predetermined set from said another predetermined class; (c) performing a predetermined processing on the data received at the receiving node; said predetermined processing utilizing results of the performed tests; (d) obtaining, from the predetermined processing, an estimate of the data from the number of distributed sources; (e) determining if the estimate satisfies a predetermined criterion; (f) repeating steps (a) through (d), if the estimate does not satisfy a predetermined criterion; (g) selecting the estimate, if the estimate satisfies the predetermined criterion.