Mechanism for automatic network formation and medium access coordination

• US 10,270,665 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheng, Ana M., Riviere, Norbert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mew, Kevin D
• Application Number:
  US15/875,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The invention provides a set of mechanisms by which a wireless mobile mesh node equipped with a directional antenna may self form and self adapt its steady-state communications schedule. A link establishment handshake is carried out over an ongoing subtemplate-based discovery scan. During time not reserved for steady-state communications with previously discovered neighbors, nodes continue to search for an establish links with new neighbors. Initial and subsequent bandwidth allocation protocols may be utilized to allow peer nodes to coordinate communication opportunities between the peer nodes without impacting or having knowledge about reservations for communications with other peers. The link establishment and initial bandwidth allocation protocols may be piggy-backed for readily establishing an initial steady-state schedule with a peer upon link establishment without impact on previous steady state reservations by other nodes or on ongoing link establishment attempts elsewhere.

Claims

1. A method comprising communicating in a network by:

selecting to transmit from a wireless communication device based on a randomized choice between transmitting and receiving; and

transmitting, by the wireless communication device in response to the selection to transmit, a message to one or more other wireless communication devices in the network,

establishing, based on the message, a communication link in the network between the wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device; and

forwarding, by the wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device via the communication link, data received from a third wireless communication device in the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a peer discovery communication indicating a time for receiving a response to the message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless communication device, a response to the message from the second wireless communication device, wherein the establishing of the communication link is further based on the response.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allocating bandwidth for the communication link for a reserved time duration in a communication schedule unique to the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reserving a time interval for the communication link in a schedule unique to the wireless communication device; and

exchanging data via the communication link during the reserved time interval.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

one or more antennas configured to transmit and receive wireless transmissions; and

one or more memories having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

select to transmit from the one or more antennas based on a randomized choice between transmitting and receiving; and

transmit, from the one or more antennas in response to the selection to transmit, a message to one or more other wireless communication devices in a network;

receive a response to the message from a second apparatus in the network;

establish, based on the message and the response, a communication link in the network; and

forward, via the communication link, data received from a third apparatus in the network to the second apparatus.

7. A method comprising:

pointing, based on a function dependent on a time of day, a directional antenna of a wireless communication device to a bearing;

transmitting, by the wireless communication device from the directional antenna, a message in a direction of the bearing to one or more other wireless communication devices in a network;

listening, by the wireless communication device via the directional antenna pointed in the direction of the bearing, for a response from the one or more other wireless communication devices;

establishing, based on the message, a communication link in the network between the wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device; and

forwarding, by the wireless communication device or the second wireless communication device via the communication link, data received from a third wireless communication device in the network.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

synchronizing, based on the function, the bearing of the directional antenna with bearings of directional antennas of the one or more other wireless communication devices.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

allocating bandwidth for the communication link for a reserved time duration in a communication schedule unique to the wireless communication device.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a directional antenna configured to wirelessly transmit messages; and

one or more memories having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

point, based on a function dependent on a time of day, the directional antenna to a bearing;

transmit, from the directional antenna, a message in a direction of the bearing to one or more other apparatuses in a network;

listen for a response from the one or more other apparatuses;

establish, based on the message, a communication link in the network between the apparatus and a second apparatus; and

forward, via the communication link, data received from a third apparatus in the network to the second apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

synchronize, based on the function, the bearing of the directional antenna with bearings of directional antennas of the one or more other apparatuses.

12. A method comprising:

establishing, by a plurality of wireless communication devices, communication links in a mesh network, each communication link implemented as scheduled wireless transmissions carrying network traffic exchanged between two different wireless communication devices of the plurality of wireless communications devices, wherein each wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices establishes one or more of the communication links by;

exchanging peer discovery communications with other wireless communication devices in the mesh network during unreserved time durations of a schedule maintained by the wireless communication device; and

updating the schedule to reserve time durations for each new communication link implemented by the wireless communication device as a result of the peer discovery communications, wherein the schedule maintained by each of the plurality of wireless communication devices is different.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the exchanging of the peer discovery communications, by two or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices, comprises:

transmitting a message from a directional antenna pointed to a bearing, wherein the bearing is synchronized to a common direction for the two or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the exchanging of the peer discovery communications, by one or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices, comprises:

determining a bearing as a function dependent on a time of day; and

transmitting a message from a directional antenna pointed to the bearing.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the exchanging of the peer discovery communications, by one or more of the plurality of wireless communication devices, comprises:

transmitting a peer discovery message based on a randomized choice between transmitting and receiving.