Dynamic router functionality in cellular networks

• US 10,368,286 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEEA Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: VEEA Systems Limited
• Inventors: Speight, Timothy James
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunt, Kenneth P
• Application Number:
  US15/294,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 370331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless remote communication unit for communicating with a cellular network node and other wireless remote communication units is described. The wireless remote communication unit comprises: at least one transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection; and a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver and arranged to: determine when the wireless remote communication unit moves out of coverage of the cellular network node and, in response thereto, configure the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality that transfers data from one node to another node within a mesh network using the first technology based on, at least in part, information obtained from received first messages using the first technology employed with mesh connectivity from at least one other wireless remote communication unit.

Claims

1. A wireless remote communication unit for communicating with a cellular network node and other wireless remote communication units, the wireless remote communication unit comprising:

at least one transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection; and

a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver and arranged to;

determine when the wireless remote communication unit moves out of coverage of the cellular network node and, in response thereto,

configure the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality that transfers data from one node to another node within a mesh network using the first technology based on, at least in part, information obtained from received first messages using the first technology employed with mesh connectivity from at least one other wireless remote communication unit;

wherein the first messages from the at least one other wireless remote communication unit comprise a beacon that includes an indication of whether the at least one other wireless remote communication unit is located inside or outside of cellular coverage.

2. The wireless remote communication unit of claim 1 wherein the processor configures the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality to support mesh network uplink communications from at least one other wireless remote communication unit to a further wireless remote communication unit that is functioning as one of:

one or more mesh router(s), or an edge router.

3. The wireless remote communication unit of claim 1 wherein the processor configures the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality to support mesh network downlink communications from a further wireless remote communication unit that is functioning as one of:

one or more mesh router(s), or an edge router, to at least one other wireless remote communication unit.

4. The wireless remote communication unit of claim 1 wherein the processor configures the wireless remote communication unit as a mesh router to support mesh network communications in a multi-hop communication link between wireless remote communication units located outside of coverage of the cellular network node.

15. The wireless remote communication unit of claim 1 wherein the beacon additionally comprises one or more from a group of:

a service set identifier, SSID;

a broadcast service set identifier, BSSID;

an indication of a quality metric for the cellular network;

a power level for the cellular network node;

a battery/power availability metric of the wireless remote communication unit.

5. An integrated circuit for a wireless remote communication unit, the integrated circuit comprising:

at least one transceiver port configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection; and

a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver port and arranged to;

determine when the wireless remote communication unit moves out of coverage of the cellular network node and, in response thereto,

configure the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality that transfers data from one node to another node within a mesh network using the first technology based on, at least in part, information obtained from received first messages using the first technology employed with mesh connectivity from at least one other wireless remote communication unit;

wherein the first messages from the at least one other wireless remote communication unit comprise a beacon that includes an indication of whether the at least one other wireless remote communication unit is located inside or outside of cellular coverage.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 5 wherein the processor configures the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality to support mesh network uplink communications from at least one other wireless remote communication unit to a further wireless remote communication unit that is functioning as one of:

one or more mesh router(s), or an edge router.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 5 wherein the processor configures the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality to support mesh network downlink communications from a further wireless remote communication unit that is functioning as one of:

one or more mesh router(s), or an edge router, to at least one other wireless remote communication unit.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 5 wherein the processor configures the wireless remote communication unit as a mesh router to support mesh network communications in a multi-hop communication link between wireless remote communication units located outside of coverage of the cellular network node.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 5 wherein the beacon additionally comprises one or more from a group of:

a service set identifier, SSID;

a broadcast service set identifier, BSSID;

an indication of a quality metric for the cellular network;

a power level for the cellular network node;

a battery/power availability metric of the wireless remote communication unit.

9. A method for a wireless remote communication unit, the method comprising:

communicating with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection;

receiving first messages using the first technology employed with mesh connectivity from at least one other wireless remote communication unit;

determining when the wireless remote communication unit moves out of coverage of the cellular network node and, in response thereto,

configuring the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality that transfers data from one node to another node within a mesh network using the first technology based on, at least in part, information obtained from the received first messages;

wherein the first messages from the at least one other wireless remote communication unit comprise a beacon that includes an indication of whether the at least one other wireless remote communication unit is located inside or outside of cellular coverage.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein configuring the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality comprises configuring the wireless remote communication unit to support mesh network uplink communications from at least one other wireless remote communication unit to a further wireless remote communication unit that is functioning as one of:

one or more mesh router(s), or an edge router.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein configuring the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality comprises configuring the wireless remote communication unit to support mesh network downlink communications from a further wireless remote communication unit that is functioning as one of:

one or more mesh router(s), or an edge router, to at least one other wireless remote communication unit.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 9 wherein configuring the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality comprises configuring the wireless remote communication unit to support mesh network communications in a multi-hop communication link between wireless remote communication units located outside of coverage of the cellular network node.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the beacon additionally comprises one or more from a group of:

a service set identifier, SSID;

a broadcast service set identifier, BSSID;

an indication of a quality metric for the cellular network;

a power level for the cellular network node;

a battery/power availability metric of the wireless remote communication unit.

13. A non-transitory tangible computer program product comprising executable code stored therein for configuring a wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality, wherein the code is operable for, when executed at the wireless remote communication unit:

communicating with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection;

receiving first messages using the first technology employed with mesh connectivity from at least one other wireless remote communication unit;

determining when the wireless remote communication unit moves out of coverage of the cellular network node and, in response thereto,

configuring the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality that transfers data from one node to another node within a mesh network using the first technology based on, at least in part, information obtained from the received first messages;

wherein the first messages from the at least one other wireless remote communication unit comprise a beacon that includes an indication of whether the at least one other wireless remote communication unit is located inside or outside of cellular coverage.

14. A wireless communication system comprising:

at least one cellular network node; and

multiple wireless remote communication units operably connectable to the at least one cellular network node;

wherein a wireless remote communication unit comprises;

at least one transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular network node using either a first technology employed with mesh connectivity via at least one other wireless remote communication unit or a second technology employed with a direct connection; and

a processor coupled to the at least one transceiver and arranged to determine when the wireless remote communication unit moves out of coverage of the cellular network node and, in response thereto, configure the wireless remote communication unit with mesh router functionality that transfers data from one node to another node within a mesh network using the first technology based on, at least in part, information obtained from received first messages using the first technology employed with mesh connectivity from at least one other wireless remote communication unit;

wherein the first messages from the at least one other wireless remote communication unit comprise a beacon that includes an indication of whether the at least one other wireless remote communication unit is located inside or outside of cellular coverage.