Optimum Large Sensor Data Filtering, Networking and Computing

In this paper we consider filtering and processing large data streams in intelligent data acquisition systems. It is assumed that raw data arrives in discrete events from a single expensive sensor. Not all raw data, however, comprises records of interesting events and hence some part of the input must be filtered out. The intensity of filtering is an important design choice because it determines the complexity of filtering hardware and software and the amount of data that must be transferred to the following processing stages for further analysis. This, in turn, dictates needs for the following stages communication and computational capacity. In this paper we analyze the optimum intensity of filtering and its relationship with the capacity of the following processing stages. A set of generic filtering intensity, data transfer, and processing archetypes are modeled and evaluated.