Wireless communication methods, systems, and computer program products

• US 10,333,612 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Bhargava, Vidur, Vishwanath, Sriram, Jose, Jubin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mew, Kevin D
• Application Number:
  US15/714,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20180026703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/373 Predicting channel quality or other radio frequency [RF] parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0057 Physical resource allocation for CQI
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/021 in wireless networks with changing topologies, e.g. ad-hoc networks self-organizing networks H04W84/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, wireless device and computer program product for expanding the coverage of a cellular network. A wireless device (e.g., cellular telephone) is able to communicate with a base station in a cell of the cellular network over a non-cellular interface via another wireless device in a cell through the use of multi-hopping. A wireless device may request permission to communicate with the base station over a non-cellular interface via hopping off another wireless device when its signal strength is below a threshold. Alternatively, a wireless device may receive a request to communicate with the base station over a non-cellular interface via hopping off the wireless device that sent the request when that wireless device has excess capacity in its bandwidth with the base station. By enabling wireless devices to communicate with a base station in such a manner, the effective capacity of the cellular network is expanded and the effective capacity of the cellular network is improved.

Claims

1. A method of conveying data on a cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network, the method comprising:

receiving, with a non-cellular interface of an originating cellular device, a first node-state signal transmitted from a first relay cellular device, wherein;

the first node-state signal is transmitted after determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in a cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network,

the first node-state signal is transmitted in response to determining that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay,

the first node-state signal is transmitted by a non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device, and

the first node-state signal indicates the availability of the first relay cellular device as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network;

determining, in the originating cellular device, based on the first node-state signal that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to a base station of a cellular network via the first relay cellular device in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network;

wherein determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect via the first relay cellular device comprises;

extracting from the first node-state signal data indicative of a first cellular network type, the first cellular network type being the cellular network type of the base station serving the first relay cellular device or a sink cellular device through which the relay cellular device wirelessly connects to the base station;

obtaining data indicative of a second cellular network type at the originating cellular device, the second cellular network type being the cellular network type of another base station serving the originating cellular device; and

in response to a comparison based on the first cellular network type and the second cellular network type, determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device; and

in response to determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device;

transmitting uplink data, for transmission to the base station, from the originating cellular device via the first relay cellular device;

or

receiving downlink data, from the base station, at the originating cellular device via the first relay cellular device.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving, with the non-cellular interface of the originating cellular device, a second node-state signal transmitted from a second relay cellular device, wherein;

the second node-state signal transmitted is transmitting from a non-cellular interface of the second relay cellular device, and

the second node-state signal indicates the availability of the second relay cellular device as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network;

wherein the step of determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device comprises comparing, in the originating cellular device, information based on the first node-state signal and information based on the second node-state signal to select between the first relay cellular device and the second relay cellular device.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

sensing, in the originating cellular device, a deterioration in a wireless connection between the originating cellular device and the first relay cellular device or a deterioration in a wireless connection between the first relay cellular device and the base station; and

determining, in the originating cellular device, based on the sensed deterioration that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the second relay cellular instead of the first relay cellular device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises the first relay cellular device determining to make itself available as a relay based on at least four of the following:

a value indicative of a cellular signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a cellular signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

node-state signals received from other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal strength of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal quality of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular;

a value indicative of a price for cellular service paid by a user associated with the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of an amount of energy stored by the first relay cellular device;

a type of power source of the first relay cellular device;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of movement of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of the time of day;

a value indicative of a number of hops between the base station and the first relay cellular device; and

a value indicative of an amount of available bandwidth for wireless communication with the base station from the first relay cellular device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises the first relay cellular device determining to make itself available as a relay based on each of the following:

a value indicative of a cellular signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a cellular signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

node-state signals received from other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal strength of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal quality of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular;

a value indicative of a price for cellular service paid by a user associated with the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of an amount of energy stored by the first relay cellular device;

a type of power source of the first relay cellular device;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of movement of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of the time of day;

a value indicative of a number of hops between the base station and the first relay cellular device; and

a value indicative of an amount of available bandwidth for wireless communication with the base station from the first relay cellular device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first cellular network type being the cellular network type of the sink cellular device through which the relay cellular device wirelessly connects to the base station; and

the sink cellular device is configured to execute operations comprising;

determining, in the sink cellular device, that the sink cellular device will make itself available as a sink for other cellular devices in a cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network; and

in response to determining that the sink cellular device will make itself available as a sink, transmitting, from a non-cellular interface of the sink cellular device, a third node-state signal, wherein the third node-state signal comprises data indicative of at least three of the following;

the availability of the sink cellular device as a sink;

a signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

a signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

an identity of a cellular network carrier operating the base station;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the sink cellular device;

movement of the sink cellular device;

a type of power source of the sink cellular device; and

a non-cellular transmit power of the sink cellular device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the third node-state signal comprises data indicative of a cellular network type of the base station serving the sink cellular device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the first relay cellular device is configured to execute operations comprising;

determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises;

receiving, with the non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device, the third node-state signal transmitted from the sink cellular device; and

determining, in the first relay cellular device, based on the third node-state signal that the first relay cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the sink cellular device in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network; and

the first node-state signal comprises data indicative of at least two of the following;

a number of hops between the first relay cellular device and the base station;

a signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

a signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

an identity of a cellular network carrier operating the base station;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the sink cellular device;

movement of the sink cellular device;

a type of power source of the first relay cellular device;

a type of power source of the sink cellular device; and

a non-cellular transmit power of the first relay cellular device.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting the uplink data, wherein the step of transmitting uplink data, for transmission to the base station, from the originating cellular device via the first relay cellular device comprises:

obtaining in the originating cellular device a security key based on a cellular-security identifier associated with the originating cellular device, wherein the security key is received from the cellular network associated with the base station;

encrypting with the originating cellular device the uplink data for transmission to the base station with the security key to form encrypted data; and

transmitting the encrypted data via the non-cellular interface of the originating cellular device to the non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device to cause transmitting the encrypted data via a cellular interface of the first relay cellular device to the base station.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting, from the non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device, the first node-state signal indicating the availability of the first relay cellular device as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises broadcasting the first node-state signal periodically as a beacon frame.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cellular network type is a form of LTE cellular network and the second cellular network type is a form of one of the following:

CDMA cellular network, UMTS cellular network, or GSM cellular network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the first cellular network type is a channel quality indicator (CQI).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device in response to a comparison based on the first cellular network type and the second cellular network type comprises:

steps for performing a comparison based on the first cellular network type and the second cellular network type.

14. A tangible, non-transitory machine readable media storing instructions that when executed by a cellular computing device effectuate operations comprising:

receiving, with a non-cellular interface of an originating cellular device, a first node-state signal transmitted from a first relay cellular device, wherein;

the first node-state signal is transmitted after determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in a cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network,

the first node-state signal is transmitted in response to determining that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay,

the first node-state signal is transmitted by a non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device, and

the first node-state signal indicates the availability of the first relay cellular device as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network;

determining, in the originating cellular device, based on the first node-state signal that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to a base station of a cellular network via the first relay cellular device in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network;

wherein determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect via the first relay cellular device comprises;

extracting from the first node-state signal data indicative of a first cellular network type, the first cellular network type being the cellular network type of the base station serving the first relay cellular device or a sink cellular device through which the relay cellular device wirelessly connects to the base station;

obtaining data indicative of a second cellular network type at the originating cellular device, the second cellular network type being the cellular network type of another base station serving the originating cellular device; and

in response to a comparison based on the first cellular network type and the second cellular network type, determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device; and

in response to determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device;

transmitting uplink data, for transmission to the base station, from the originating cellular device via the first relay cellular device;

or

receiving downlink data, from the base station, at the originating cellular device via the first relay cellular device.

15. The media of claim 14, comprising:

receiving, with the non-cellular interface of the originating cellular device, a second node-state signal transmitted from a second relay cellular device, wherein;

the second node-state signal transmitted is transmitting from a non-cellular interface of the second relay cellular device, and

the second node-state signal indicates the availability of the second relay cellular device as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network;

wherein the step of determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device comprises comparing, in the originating cellular device, information based on the first node-state signal and information based on the second node-state signal to select between the first relay cellular device and the second relay cellular device.

16. The media of claim 15, comprising:

sensing, in the originating cellular device, a deterioration in a wireless connection between the originating cellular device and the first relay cellular device or a deterioration in a wireless connection between the first relay cellular device and the base station; and

determining, in the originating cellular device, based on the sensed deterioration that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the second relay cellular instead of the first relay cellular device.

17. The media of claim 14, wherein the step of determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises the first relay cellular device determining to make itself available as a relay based on at least four of the following:

a value indicative of a cellular signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a cellular signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

node-state signals received from other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal strength of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal quality of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular;

a value indicative of a price for cellular service paid by a user associated with the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of an amount of energy stored by the first relay cellular device;

a type of power source of the first relay cellular device;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of movement of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of the time of day;

a value indicative of a number of hops between the base station and the first relay cellular device; and

a value indicative of an amount of available bandwidth for wireless communication with the base station from the first relay cellular device.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein the step of determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises the first relay cellular device determining to make itself available as a relay based on each of the following:

a value indicative of a cellular signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a cellular signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the first relay cellular device;

node-state signals received from other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal strength of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of a non-cellular signal quality of non-cellular signals from the originating cellular device at the first relay cellular;

a value indicative of a price for cellular service paid by a user associated with the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of an amount of energy stored by the first relay cellular device;

a type of power source of the first relay cellular device;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of movement of the first relay cellular device;

a value indicative of the time of day;

a value indicative of a number of hops between the base station and the first relay cellular device; and

a value indicative of an amount of available bandwidth for wireless communication with the base station from the first relay cellular device.

19. The media of claim 14, wherein:

the first cellular network type being the cellular network type of the sink cellular device through which the relay cellular device wirelessly connects to the base station; and

the sink cellular device is configured to execute operations comprising;

determining, in the sink cellular device, that the sink cellular device will make itself available as a sink for other cellular devices in a cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network; and

in response to determining that the sink cellular device will make itself available as a sink, transmitting, from a non-cellular interface of the sink cellular device, a third node-state signal, wherein the third node-state signal comprises data indicative of at least three of the following;

the availability of the sink cellular device as a sink;

a signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

a signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

an identity of a cellular network carrier operating the base station;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the sink cellular device;

movement of the sink cellular device;

a type of power source of the sink cellular device; and

a non-cellular transmit power of the sink cellular device.

20. The media of claim 19, wherein the third node-state signal comprises data indicative of a cellular network type of the base station serving the sink cellular device.

21. The media of claim 19, wherein:

the first relay cellular device is configured to execute operations comprising;

determining, in the first relay cellular device, that the first relay cellular device will make itself available as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises;

receiving, with the non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device, the third node-state signal transmitted from the sink cellular device; and

determining, in the first relay cellular device, based on the third node-state signal that the first relay cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the sink cellular device in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network; and

the first node-state signal comprises data indicative of at least two of the following;

a number of hops between the first relay cellular device and the base station;

a signal strength of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

a signal quality of cellular signals from the base station at the sink cellular device;

an identity of a cellular network carrier operating the base station;

a number of antennas coupled to a cellular-interface of the sink cellular device;

movement of the sink cellular device;

a type of power source of the first relay cellular device;

a type of power source of the sink cellular device; and

a non-cellular transmit power of the first relay cellular device.

22. The media of claim 14, comprising transmitting the uplink data, wherein the step of transmitting uplink data, for transmission to the base station, from the originating cellular device via the first relay cellular device comprises:

obtaining in the originating cellular device a security key based on a cellular-security identifier associated with the originating cellular device, wherein the security key is received from the cellular network associated with the base station;

encrypting with the originating cellular device the uplink data for transmission to the base station with the security key to form encrypted data; and

transmitting the encrypted data via the non-cellular interface of the originating cellular device to the non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device to cause transmitting the encrypted data via a cellular interface of the first relay cellular device to the base station.

23. The media of claim 14, wherein transmitting, from the non-cellular interface of the first relay cellular device, the first node-state signal indicating the availability of the first relay cellular device as a relay for other cellular devices in the cellular and multi-hop, non-cellular network comprises broadcasting the first node-state signal periodically as a beacon frame.

24. The media of claim 14, wherein the first cellular network type is a form of LTE cellular network and the second cellular network type is a form of one of the following:

CDMA cellular network, UMTS cellular network, or GSM cellular network.

25. The media of claim 14, wherein the data indicative of the first cellular network type is a channel quality indicator (CQI).

26. The media of claim 14, wherein determining that the originating cellular device will wirelessly connect to the base station of the cellular network via the first relay cellular device in response to a comparison based on the first cellular network type and the second cellular network type comprises:

steps for performing a comparison based on the first cellular network type and the second cellular network type.