Methods, devices, and systems for implementing centralized hybrid wireless self-organizing networks

• US 10,142,444 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OXIO Corporation
• Original Assignee: Trinity Mobile Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Reynolds, Tyler Beauchamp, Hall, Stephen Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Sall, El Hadji M
• Application Number:
  US14/754,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20160006837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 709200, 709220, 709217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telecommunications device, operable in a system comprising one or more servers, the device being a client device in the system. The device is constructed and adapted to: provide a client configuration state for the client device to the one or more servers; and obtain from the one or more servers a first sub-network configuration, comprising at least one path from the one or more servers to the client device, and being based on the client configuration state and on at least one other client configuration state of at least one other client device. The device can use a path specified in the first sub-network configuration to obtain at least one resource via the one or more servers.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device, operable in a system comprising one or more servers, said device being a client device in said system, said device constructed and adapted to:

(a) provide, to said one or more servers, a client configuration state for said client device, wherein said client configuration state includes or is based on information about other devices with which the client device can communicate in at least one direction;

(b) obtain from said one or more servers a sub-network configuration, wherein said sub-network configuration comprises at least one path from said one or more servers to said client device, wherein said client device is in said first sub-network, and wherein said sub-network configuration was determined by the one or more servers based on;

(i) said client configuration state, and (ii) at least one other client configuration state of at least one other client device; and

(c) use a path specified in said sub-network configuration to obtain at least one resource via said one or more servers.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the client configuration state for the client device includes and/or is based on identification information about the client device.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one path from said one or more servers to said client device was determined based on one or more factors, including:

(a) a specific set of carriers;

(b) wireless connections;

(c) a power status of client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(d) client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device and that are connected to a power source;

(e) a cost of transmission on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(f) spectrum use on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(g) expected battery drain on clients on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(h) a number of hops/relays on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(i) expected reliability or error rate or quality of service for possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device; and

(j) expected transmission speed on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one path comprises at least one gateway.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said first sub-network configuration for said device is also based on client configurations of multiple other client devices.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one path comprises a hybrid path.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said hybrid path contains path segments using distinct communication interfaces.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one path comprises one or more intermediate client devices.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the at least one path comprises at least two gateways.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the first sub-network configuration is based on a previous known successful network configuration.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said client device obtains said at least one resource, at least in part, via a portion of said at least one path.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one path comprises at least one first device distinct from said client device.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said at least one path comprises at least two gateways and wherein said client device obtains said at least one resource via said at least two gateways.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said at least two gateways include at least one gateway using a distinct protocol from at least one other gateway.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said client device obtains said at least one resource via said at least two gateways in a ratio determined by said one or more servers.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said ratio is based on one or more of:

(a) a specific set of carriers;

(b) wireless connections;

(c) a power status of client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(d) client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device that are connected to a power source;

(e) a cost of transmission on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(f) spectrum use on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(g) expected battery drain on client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(h) a number of hops/relays on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(i) expected reliability or error rate or quality of service for possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device; and

(j) expected transmission speed on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device.

17. The device of any one of claim 15 wherein said client device obtains said at least one resource via said at least two gateways in an interleaved manner.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one path specified in said sub-network configuration comprises multiple sub-paths, including a first sub-path and a second sub-path distinct from said first sub-path, and wherein said client device obtains said at least one resource via said first sub-path and said second sub-path.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is further constructed and adapted to:

in response to an instruction from said one or more servers, provide an updated client configuration state for said client device to said one or more servers.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said updated client configuration state includes and/or is based on said information about other devices with which the client device can communicate in at least one direction.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said device is further constructed and adapted to:

determine information about other devices with which the client device can communicate.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said device determines said information about other devices in response to an instruction from said one or more servers.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is further constructed and adapted to:

obtain from said one or more servers a modified sub-network configuration distinct from said first sub-network configuration.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein said modified sub-network configuration was determined by the one or more servers based on client configuration information from at least one device on said at least one path of said sub-network configuration.

25. The device of one of claim 24 wherein said modified sub-network configuration includes at least one new path not in said first sub-network configuration.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said at least one new path is selected by the one or more servers based on one or more of:

(a) a specific set of carriers;

(b) wireless connections;

(c) a power status of client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(d) client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device that are connected to a power source;

(e) a cost of transmission on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(f) spectrum use on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(g) expected battery drain on clients on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(h) a number of hops/relays on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(i) expected reliability or error rate or quality of service for possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device; and

(j) expected transmission speed on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device.

27. The device of claim 1 wherein said client configuration state for said client device includes or is based on one or more of:

(i) the client device'"'"'s remaining battery power, (ii) whether the client device is powered externally, (iii) whether the client device has a stable Internet connection, (iv) an IP address of the client device, (v) a location of the client device, (vi) an orientation of the client device, (v) a state of motion of the client device, (vi) information about other devices with which the client device can communicate in at least one direction; and

(vii) a state of the client device'"'"'s hardware.

28. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one path from said one or more servers to said client device comprises a pseudo-gateway.

29. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is or comprises a wireless telecommunications device.

30. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one path was selected by the one or more servers to favor one or more of:

(a) a specific set of carriers;

(b) wireless connections;

(c) a power status of client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(d) client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device that are connected to a power source;

(e) a cost of transmission on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(f) spectrum use on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(g) expected battery drain on client devices on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(h) a number of hops/relays on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device;

(i) expected reliability or error rate or quality of service for possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device; and

(j) expected transmission speed on possible paths from said one or more servers to said client device.

31. A computer-implemented method, operable on a telecommunications device in a system comprising one or more servers, wherein said telecommunications device is a client device in said system, said method comprising:

(A) said telecommunications device providing a client configuration state for said telecommunications device to said one or more servers, wherein said client configuration state includes or is based on information about other devices with which the telecommunications device can communicate in at least one direction;

(B) said telecommunications device obtaining from said one or more servers a sub-network configuration, wherein said sub-network configuration comprises information including at least one path from said one or more servers to said telecommunications device, said sub-network configuration having been determined by the one or more servers based on;

(i) said client configuration state and, and (ii) at least one other client configuration state of at least one other client device; and

(C) the telecommunications device using a path specified in said sub-network configuration to obtain at least one resource via said one or more servers.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said sub-network configuration for said telecommunications device is based on client configurations of multiple other client devices.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said at least one path comprises a hybrid path.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein said at least one path comprises one or more intermediate clients.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein said at least one path comprises at least one pseudo gateway.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the sub-network configuration was determined by the one or more servers based on a previous known successful network configuration.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein said method further comprises:

in response to an instruction from said one or more servers, determining information about other devices with which the telecommunications device can communicate, and

providing an updated client configuration state for said telecommunications device to said one or more servers,

wherein said updated client configuration state includes and/or is based on said information about other devices with which the telecommunications device can communicate in at least one direction.

38. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with one or more computer programs stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless telecommunications device in a system comprising one or more servers, cause the one or more processors of the wireless telecommunications device to perform the operations of:

(A) providing a client configuration state for said wireless telecommunications device to said one or more servers, wherein said client configuration state includes and/or is based on information about other devices with which the wireless telecommunications device can communicate in at least one direction; and

(B) obtaining from said one or more servers a sub-network configuration, wherein said wireless telecommunications device is in said sub-network, and wherein said sub-network configuration comprises at least one path from said one or more servers to said wireless telecommunications device, said sub-network configuration having been determined by the one or more servers based on;

(i) said client configuration state, and (ii) at least one other client configuration state of at least one other client device,

(C) using a path specified in said sub-network configuration to obtain at least one resource via said one or more servers.

39. A computer-implemented method, operable in a system comprising one or more servers, said one or more servers comprising software in conjunction with hardware, said hardware including at least one processor and a memory, the method comprising,

by said one or more servers:

(A) obtaining a plurality of client configuration states from a corresponding plurality of client devices, each client configuration state corresponding to client device registered with the system, wherein, for a particular client device of said plurality of client devices, the corresponding client configuration state includes local network topology information associated with said particular client device and includes information about other devices with which the particular client device can communicate in at least one direction;

(B) based on at least some of said client configuration states obtained in (A), determining a sub-network configuration for a given client device, said sub-network configuration including at least one path from said one or more servers to said given client device, said sub-network configuration for said given client device being based on (i) a client configuration state associated with said given client device, and (ii) at least one other client configuration state of at least one other client device; and

(C) providing said sub-network configuration to said given client device.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein said sub-network for said given client device is based on multiple client configurations of multiple other client devices.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein said at least one path comprises a hybrid path.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein said at least one path comprises one or more intermediate clients.

43. A system comprising one or more servers, said one or more servers constructed and adapted to:

register a plurality of wireless telecommunications devices with said system as a client devices;

obtain a corresponding client configuration state for each of said client devices, wherein the client configuration state for a given client device of said client devices includes and/or is based on information about other devices with which the given client device can communicate in at least one direction;

determine and maintain a virtual representation of at least one hybrid network of gateways and said client devices; and

for a particular client device, based on said virtual representation of said at least one hybrid network and on a client confirmation state for said particular client device, determine a sub-network configuration for said particular client device, said sub-network configuration comprises at least one path from said one or more servers to said particular client device, wherein said client device is in said sub-network; and

provide said sub-network configuration to said particular client device.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said at least one path from said one or more servers to said particular client device comprises at least one gateway.