Centralized hybrid wireless self-organizing networks

• US 10,375,213 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• 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:
  US16/199,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20190104202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• 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 system includes one or more servers, and a plurality of wireless telecommunications devices registered with the system. The servers obtain corresponding client configuration states for at least some of the registered client devices, wherein a client configuration state for a given registered client device includes and/or is based on information about other devices with which the given registered client device can communicate in at least one direction. The servers determine and maintain a virtual representation of at least one hybrid network of gateways and the registered client devices. The servers determine a particular sub-network configuration of a particular sub-network for a particular client device, based on the virtual representation of the at least one hybrid network and on a client configuration state for the particular client device. The particular sub-network comprises at least one path between the one or more servers and the particular client device. The servers route data to and/or from the particular client device via the particular sub-network.

Claims

1. A system comprising one or more servers, and a plurality of wireless telecommunications devices registered with said system as registered client devices,

said one or more servers constructed and adapted to:

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

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

(c) determine a particular sub-network configuration of a particular sub-network for a particular client device, wherein said particular sub-network configuration is determined based on said virtual representation of said at least one hybrid network and on a client configuration state for said particular client device, and wherein said particular sub-network comprises at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device;

(d) route data to and/or from said particular client device via said particular sub-network; and

(e) provide said particular sub-network configuration to said particular client device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said particular sub-network comprises multiple paths between said one or more servers and said particular client device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein data are routed in (d) via at least two paths in said particular sub-network.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least two paths comprise at least two distinct protocols.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device comprises at least one gateway.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more servers are further constructed and adapted to:

register said plurality of wireless telecommunications devices with said system as said registered client devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said particular client device uses said particular sub-network to communicate with other client devices and/or with one or more content sources.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more servers:

route data between said particular client device and one or more content sources said particular sub-network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said particular sub-network comprises a particular virtual private network (VPN) comprising and between (i) at least said particular client device, and (ii) said one or more servers.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said one or more servers:

route data between said particular client device and said one or more servers and/or one or more other client devices via said particular VPN.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said particular VPN comprises at least one gateway.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said particular VPN comprises multiple gateways.

41. The system of claim 5, wherein said at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device comprises multiple gateways.

13. A method in a system comprising one or more servers, and a plurality of wireless telecommunications devices registered with said system as registered client devices, the method comprising, by said one or more servers:

(A) obtaining corresponding client configuration states for at least some of said registered client devices, wherein a client configuration state for a given registered client device includes and/or is based on information about other devices with which the given registered client device can communicate in at least one direction;

(B) determining and maintaining a virtual representation of at least one hybrid network of gateways and said registered client devices;

(C) determining a particular sub-network configuration of a particular sub-network for a particular client device, wherein said particular sub-network configuration is determined based on said virtual representation of said at least one hybrid network and on a client configuration state for said particular client device, and wherein said particular sub-network configuration comprises at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device;

(D) routing data to and/or from said particular client device via said particular sub-network; and

(E) providing said particular sub-network configuration to said particular client device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said particular sub-network comprises multiple paths between said one or more servers and said particular client device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein data are routed in (D) via at least two paths in said particular sub-network.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device comprises at least one gateway.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said particular sub-network comprises at least one gateway.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said particular sub-network comprises multiple gateways.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

registering said plurality of wireless telecommunications devices with said system as said registered client devices.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least two paths comprise at least two distinct protocols.

21. The method of claim 13, said routing in (D) comprises:

routing data between said particular client device and one or more content sources via said particular sub-network.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said particular client device uses said particular sub-network to communicate with other client devices and/or and one or more content sources.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(F) forming a particular virtual private network (VPN) in said particular sub-network, said particular VPN comprising and between (i) at least said particular client device, and (ii) said one or more servers.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said routing in (D) comprises:

routing data between said particular client device and said one or more servers via said particular VPN.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said routing in (D) comprises:

routing data between said particular client device and one or more other client devices via said particular VPN.

26. A computer program product having computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory computer readable media, the computer-readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer-implemented method, in a system comprising one or more servers, and a plurality of wireless telecommunications devices registered with said system as registered client devices, the method comprising, by said one or more servers:

(A) obtaining corresponding client configuration states for at least some of said registered client devices, wherein a client configuration state for a given registered client device includes and/or is based on information about other devices with which the given registered client device can communicate in at least one direction;

(B) determining and maintaining a virtual representation of at least one hybrid network of gateways and said registered client devices;

(C) determining a particular sub-network configuration of a particular sub-network for a particular client device, wherein said particular sub-network configuration is determined based on said virtual representation of said at least one hybrid network and on a client configuration state for said particular client device, and wherein said particular sub-network configuration comprises at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device; and

(D) routing data to and/or from said particular client device via said particular sub-network; and

(E) providing said particular sub-network configuration to said particular client device.

42. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said particular sub-network comprises multiple paths between said one or more servers and said particular client device.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein data are routed in (d) via at least two paths in said particular sub-network.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein said at least two paths comprise at least two distinct protocols.

45. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said one or more servers are further constructed and adapted to:

(e) provide said particular sub-network configuration to said particular client device.

46. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device comprises at least one gateway.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein said at least one path between said one or more servers and said particular client device comprises multiple gateways.

48. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said one or more servers are further constructed and adapted to:

register said plurality of wireless telecommunications devices with said system as said registered client devices.

49. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said particular client device uses said particular sub-network to communicate with other client devices and/or with one or more content sources.

50. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said one or more servers:

route data between said particular client device and one or more content sources said particular sub-network.

51. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said particular sub-network comprises a particular virtual private network (VPN) comprising and between (i) at least said particular client device, and (ii) said one or more servers.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein said one or more servers:

route data between said particular client device and said one or more servers and/or one or more other client devices via said particular VPN.

53. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein said particular VPN comprises at least one gateway.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein said particular VPN comprises multiple gateways.

27. A telecommunications device, operable in a system comprising one or more servers, said telecommunications device being a client device in said system, said telecommunications 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 and/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 particular sub-network configuration of a particular sub-network, wherein said particular sub-network configuration comprises at least one path between said one or more servers and said client device, wherein said client device is in said particular sub-network, and wherein said particular 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 said particular sub-network to communicate with at least one other device and/or with one or more content sources via said one or more servers.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein said particular sub-network comprises multiple paths between said one or more servers and said client device.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein, in (c), said client device communicates using at least two paths in said particular sub-network.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said at least two paths comprise at least two distinct protocols.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein said particular sub-network comprises a particular virtual private network (VPN) between (i) said client device, and (ii) said one or more servers.

32. The telecommunications device of claim 31, wherein, in (c), the client device

uses the particular VPN to:

(x) obtain at least one resource via said one or more servers; and

/or

(y) route data between said client device and one or more content sources; and

/or

(z) route data between said client device and one or more other client devices.

33. The telecommunications device of claim 31, wherein the particular VPN was established, at least in part, by the one or more servers.

34. The telecommunications device of claim 31, wherein said particular VPN comprises at least one gateway.

35. A method, on a telecommunications device operating in a system comprising one or more servers, said telecommunications device being a client device in said system, the method comprising:

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

(B) obtaining from said one or more servers a particular sub-network configuration, wherein said particular 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 particular sub-network, and wherein said particular 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) using said particular sub-network to communicate with at least one other device and/or with one or more content sources via said one or more servers.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said particular sub-network comprises multiple paths between said one or more servers and said client device.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said using in (C) uses at least two paths in said particular sub-network.

55. The method of claim 37, wherein said at least two paths comprise at least two distinct protocols.

56. The method of claim 35, wherein said particular sub-network comprises a particular virtual private network (VPN) between (i) said client device, and (ii) said one or more servers.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein, in (c), the client device

uses the particular VPN to:

(x) obtain at least one resource via said one or more servers; and

/or

(y) route data between said client device and one or more content sources; and

/or

(z) route data between said client device and one or more other client devices.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the particular VPN was established, at least in part, by the one or more servers.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein said particular VPN comprises at least one gateway.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said particular VPN comprises multiple gateways.

38. A computer program product having computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory computer readable media, the computer-readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer-implemented method on a telecommunications device operating in a system comprising one or more servers, said telecommunications device being a client device in said system, the method comprising:

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

(B) obtaining from said one or more servers a particular sub-network configuration, wherein said particular 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 particular sub-network, and wherein said particular 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) using said particular sub-network to communicate with at least one other device and/or with one or more content sources via said one or more servers.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein said particular sub-network comprises multiple paths between said one or more servers and said client device.

40. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein said using in (C) uses at least two paths in said particular sub-network.

61. The computer program product of claim 40, wherein said at least two paths comprise at least two distinct protocols.

62. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein said particular sub-network comprises a particular virtual private network (VPN) between (i) said client device, and (ii) said one or more servers.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein, in (c), the client device

uses the particular VPN to:

(x) obtain at least one resource via said one or more servers; and

/or

(y) route data between said client device and one or more content sources; and

/or

(z) route data between said client device and one or more other client devices.

64. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the particular VPN was established, at least in part, by the one or more servers.

65. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein said particular VPN comprises at least one gateway.

66. The computer program product of claim 65, wherein said particular VPN comprises multiple gateways.