Determining network configurations for a modular computing entity

• US 10,374,889 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Eric H C, Brune, Kevin D., Matsuoka, Yoshimichi, Cabillic, Gilbert, Shah, Gaurav
• Primary Examiner(s): Sall, El Hadji M
• Application Number:
  US16/171,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20190068446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods of determining network configurations for a modular computing entity are disclosed. For instance, a desired functionality to be implemented by a modular computing entity can be identified. Capacity data associated with one or more candidate network devices that are available to join a network associated with the modular computing entity is received. A network combination to implement the desired functionality can be determined based at least in part on the received capacity data. The network combination can include at least a subset of the candidate network devices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of determining a network configuration for a modular computing entity, the method comprising:

identifying, by one or more processing devices, a desired functionality to be implemented by the modular computing entity, the modular computing entity comprising a modular computing device;

receiving, by the one or more processing devices, first capacity data associated with a first module that is available to join one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the first module is removably coupled to the modular computing device;

determining, by the one or more processing devices, a first network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the first capacity data associated with the first module, the first network combination comprising the first module;

receiving, by the one or more processing devices, second capacity data associated with a second module that is available to join the one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the second module is removably coupled to the modular computing device; and

determining, by the one or more processing devices, a second network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the second capacity data associated with the second module, the second network combination comprising the second module.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the first module is one of a battery module, a processor module, a memory module, a camera module, or an input/output module.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein:

the second module is a different one of the battery module, the processor module, the memory module, the camera module, or the input/output module.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the modular computing device is a modular phone.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

determining, by the one or more processing devices, the first network combination to implement the desired functionality is performed while the first module is connected to the modular computing device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein:

determining, by the one or more processing devices, the first network combination to implement the desired functionality is performed while the second module is disconnected from the modular computing device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:

determining, by the one or more processing devices, the second network combination to implement the desired functionality is performed while the second module is connected to the modular computing device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein determining, by the one or more processing devices, the first network combination to implement the desired functionality comprises:

determining, by the one or more processing devices, the first network combination to implement the desired functionality while the second module is connected to the modular computing device; and

determining, by the one or more processing devices, the first network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the second capacity data.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the modular computing device includes the one or more processing devices.

10. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising;

identifying a desired functionality to be implemented by a modular computing entity;

receiving first capacity data associated with a battery module that is available to join one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the battery module is removably coupled to a modular computing device;

determining a first network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the first capacity data associated with the battery module, the first network combination comprising the battery module;

receiving second capacity data associated with a second module that is available to join the one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the second module is removably coupled to the modular computing device, the second module is at least one of a processor module, a memory module, a camera module, or an input/output module; and

determining a second network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the second capacity data associated with the second module, the second network combination comprising the second module.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein:

the modular computing device includes the one or more processors and the one or more memory devices.

12. The computing system of claim 10, further comprising:

a first computing device including the one or more processors and the one or more memory devices; and

the first computing device is physically remote from the modular computing device.

13. The computing system of claim 10, wherein:

the modular computing device is a modular phone.

14. One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

identifying a desired functionality to be implemented by a modular computing entity;

receiving first capacity data associated with a processor module that is available to join one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the processor module is removably coupled to a modular computing device;

determining a first network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the first capacity data associated with the processor module, the first network combination comprising the processor module;

receiving second capacity data associated with a second module that is available to join the one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the second module is removably coupled to the modular computing device, the second module is at least one of a battery module, a memory module, a camera module, or an input/output module; and

determining a second network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the second capacity data associated with the second module, the second network combination comprising the second module.

15. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein:

the modular computing device is a modular phone.

16. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein:

the modular computing device includes the one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media.

17. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising;

identifying a desired functionality to be implemented by a modular computing entity;

receiving first capacity data associated with a memory module that is available to join one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the memory module is removably coupled to a modular computing device;

determining a first network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the first capacity data associated with the memory module, the first network combination comprising the memory module;

receiving second capacity data associated with a second module that is available to join the one or more networks associated with the modular computing entity, the second module is removably coupled to the modular computing device, the second module is at least one of a battery module, a processor module, a camera module, or an input/output module; and

determining a second network combination to implement the desired functionality based at least in part on the second capacity data associated with the second module, the second network combination comprising the second module.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein:

the modular computing device is a modular phone.

19. The computing system of claim 17, wherein:

the modular computing device includes the one or more processors and the one or more memory devices.

20. The computing system of claim 17, further comprising:

a first computing device including the one or more processors and the one or more memory devices; and

the first computing device is physically remote from the modular computing device.