Protocol and structure for mobile nodes in a self-organizing communication network

• US 20040018839A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Priscilla, Huang, Yan, Andric, Oleg, Hester, Lance Eric, Allen, Vernon Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/454,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20040018839A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/46 Cluster building
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/829 Topology based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/32 for defining a routing cluster membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/38 adapting due to varying relative distances between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks

Abstract

A self-organizing network characterized as having a number of nodes, with at least one control node of the nodes operable to control one or more of the formation, maintenance and message routing between nodes of the network, and operable to support the association, maintenance, deployment, and disassociation of one or more mobile nodes (MN) in the network (200, 300). The mobile nodes do not form part of the logical backbone of the network and thus may have a static address assigned to them to facilitate communications between regular, fixed nodes of the network and the mobile node in an efficient manner.

Claims

1. A method of self-organization of a network comprising a plurality of nodes, at least one of said plurality of nodes operable as a control node of the network, said method comprising:

a mobile node transmitting a connection request to a node of the plurality of nodes to request the node operate as a connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

if the node agrees to be the connecting node of the mobile node, the mobile node connecting to the node and the node operating as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

the node communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node to the control node of the network; and

the control node updating the network to reflect the node as the connecting node of the mobile node in the network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the mobile node selecting the node based upon one or more selection criteria.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the control node routing messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node; and

the node forwarding on to the mobile node the messages intended for the mobile node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the network to reflect the node as the connecting node of the mobile node further comprises:

associating the mobile node with the node so that messages intended for the mobile node are routed by the control node to the node.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile node disassociating from the network upon the occurrence of a disassociation event.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising prior to disassociating from the network, the mobile node sending the node a disassociation message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the node communicates the disassociation message to the control node and the control node updates information about the mobile node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein after the occurrence of a disassociation event, further comprising:

the mobile node transmitting a reassociation connection request to a second node of the plurality of nodes of the network to request the second node operate as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

if the second node agrees to be the connecting node of the mobile node, the mobile node connecting to the second node and the second node operating as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

the second node communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node to the control node of the network; and

the control node updating the network to reflect the second node as the connecting node of the mobile node in the network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the mobile node selecting the node based upon one or more selection criteria.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second node is the same as the node of the network and a geographical position of the mobile node has not changed.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a geographical position of the mobile node has changed prior to the mobile node transmitting the reassociation connection request.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the node causing the mobile node to deploy to a geographical location of the network; and

the node causing the mobile node to transmit a multicast message to a subset of nodes of the plurality of nodes of the network, wherein the subset of nodes are within communication range of the mobile node at the geographical location.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a static address to the mobile node.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

the control node routing messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node, wherein the messages contain the static address of the mobile node; and

the node forwarding on to the static address of the mobile node the messages intended for the mobile node.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein updating the network to reflect the node as the connecting node of the mobile node further comprises:

associating the static address of the mobile node with the node.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node; and

the node transmitting the messages intended for the mobile node to the static address of the mobile node.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the static address is a mobile node static address and further comprising:

the mobile node transmitting the mobile node static address to the node in the connection request; and

the node transmitting the mobile node static address to the control node when communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile node static address is inherent to the mobile node and does not change.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile node static address is a MAC address of the mobile node.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node;

the node transmitting the messages intended for the mobile node to the mobile node static address of the mobile node.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the mobile node disassociating from the network upon the occurrence of a disassociation event; and

the mobile node keeping the mobile node static address upon disassociating from the network.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising prior to disassociating from the network, the mobile node sending the node a disassociation message.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the node communicates the disassociation message to the control node and the control node updates information about the mobile node.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising after the occurrence of a disassociation event:

the mobile node transmitting a reassociation connection request to a second node of the plurality of nodes of the network to request the second node operate as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network, wherein the reassociation connection request contains the mobile node static address of the mobile node;

if the second node agrees to be the connecting node of the mobile node, the mobile node connecting to the second node and the second node operating as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

the second node communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node and the mobile node static address to the control node of the network; and

the control node updating the network to reflect the second node as the connecting node of the mobile node in the network.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the static address is a network static address and further comprising:

after the node communicates its status as the connecting node of the mobile node to the control node, the control node assigning the network static address to the mobile node and communicating the network static address to the node.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the node further assigns the network static address to the mobile node.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node;

the node transmitting the messages intended for the mobile node to the network static address assigned to the mobile node.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the control node assigns the network static address to the mobile node from a plurality of network static addresses of the network available to mobile nodes joining the network.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the control node randomly chooses the network static address assigned to the mobile node.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

the mobile node disassociating from the network upon the occurrence of a disassociation event; and

the mobile node relinquishing to the network the network static address upon occurrence of the disassociating event.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising prior to disassociating from the network, the mobile node sending the node a disassociation message in which the mobile node relinquishes the network static address.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the node communicates the disassociation message to the control node and the control node updates information about the mobile node.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile node communicating to the node in the connection request a connection status of the mobile node.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the connection status of the mobile node is one of the mobile node re-associating with the network and the mobile node never having associated with the network.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile node requesting information from the node in the connection request and using information provided by the node in response to determine whether to request the node operate as the connecting node for the mobile node.

36. The method of claim 1, in communications between the mobile node and the node, further comprising:

the mobile node periodically transmitting a mobile node beacon during a communication period of the mobile node.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the mobile node transmits the mobile node beacon at frequency that the node transmits a node beacon.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the mobile node transmits the mobile node beacon at a reduced frequency compared to a frequency at which the node transmits a node beacon.

39. The method of claim 1, in communications between the mobile node and the node, further comprising:

the mobile node operable to periodically receive transmissions during a communication period of the mobile node.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the mobile node is operable to periodically receive transmissions at a frequency at which the node is operable to receive transmissions.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the mobile node is operable to periodically receive transmissions at a reduced frequency compared to a frequency at which the node is operable to receive transmissions.

42. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a message intended for the mobile node to an address of the node serving as the connecting node for the mobile node;

the connecting node transmitting the message to an address of the mobile node.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the message is a multicast message intended for the mobile node and a plurality of target nodes of the plurality of nodes.

44. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the mobile node initially routing messages intended for one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes to the connecting node.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning an address to the mobile node, wherein a portion of the address of the mobile node indicates that the mobile node is part of a plurality of mobile nodes of the network;

transmitting a multicast message intended for the plurality of mobile nodes;

upon receiving the multicast message, the node deciphering the portion of the address; and

the node transmitting the message to the mobile node.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the address of the mobile node and the address of the node are logical addresses of the network.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the node transmitting the message to the address of the mobile node using a wireless routing protocol.

48. Computer-readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to implement a method of self-organization of a network comprising a plurality of nodes, at least one of said plurality of nodes operable as a control node of the network, said method comprising:

a mobile node transmitting a connection request to a node of the plurality of nodes to request the node operate as a connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

if the node agrees to be the connecting node of the mobile node, the mobile node connecting to the node and the node operating as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

the node communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node to the control node of the network; and

the control node updating the network to reflect the node as the connecting node of the mobile node in the network.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

the control node routing messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node; and

the node forwarding on to the mobile node the messages intended for the mobile node.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

the mobile node sending the node a disassociation message upon the occurrence of a disassociation event to disassociate from the network;

the node communicating the disassociation message to the control node; and

the control node updating information about the mobile node in the network.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein after the occurrence of a disassociation event, further comprising:

the mobile node transmitting a reassociation connection request to a second node of the plurality of nodes of the network to request the second node operate as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

if the second node agrees to be the connecting node of the mobile node, the mobile node connecting to the second node and the second node operating as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

the second node communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node to the control node of the network; and

the control node updating the network to reflect the second node as the connecting node of the mobile node in the network.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

the node causing the mobile node to deploy to a geographical location of the network; and

the node causing the mobile node to transmit a multicast message to a subset of nodes of the plurality of nodes of the network, wherein the subset of nodes are within communication range of the mobile node at the geographical location.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

assigning a static address to the mobile node.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

the control node routing messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node; and

the node forwarding on to the static address of the mobile node the messages intended for the mobile node.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the static address is a mobile node static address and further comprising:

the mobile node transmitting the mobile node static address to the node in the connection request; and

the node transmitting the mobile node static address to the control node when communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

transmitting messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node;

the node transmitting the messages intended for the mobile node to the mobile node static address of the mobile node.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

the mobile node disassociating from the network upon the occurrence of a disassociation event; and

the mobile node keeping the mobile node static address upon disassociating from the network.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising after the occurrence of a disassociation event:

the mobile node transmitting a reassociation connection request to a second node of the plurality of nodes of the network to request the second node operate as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network, wherein the reassociation connection request contains the mobile node static address of the mobile node;

if the second node agrees to be the connecting node of the mobile node, the mobile node connecting to the second node and the second node operating as the connecting node of the mobile node to the network;

the second node communicating its status as the connecting node of the mobile node and the mobile node static address to the control node of the network; and

the control node updating the network to reflect the second node as the connecting node of the mobile node in the network.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the static address is a network static address and further comprising:

after the node communicates its status as the connecting node of the mobile node to the control node, one of the control node and the node assigning the network static address to the mobile node.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

the mobile node disassociating from the network upon the occurrence of a disassociation event; and

the mobile node relinquishing to the network the network static address upon occurrence of the disassociating event.

61. The method of claim 48, in communications between the mobile node and the node, further comprising:

the mobile node periodically transmitting a mobile node beacon during a communication period of the mobile node.

62. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

assigning an address to the mobile node, wherein a portion of the address of the mobile node indicates that the mobile node is part of a plurality of mobile nodes of the network;

transmitting a multicast message intended for the plurality of mobile nodes;

upon receiving the multicast message, the node deciphering the portion of the address; and

the node transmitting the message to the mobile node.

63. A mobile node device operable to become associated with a self-organizing network comprising a plurality of nodes, at least of which is operable as a control node of the network, said device comprising:

a processing and control element;

a receiver, coupled to and controlled by the processing and control element; and

a transmitter, coupled to and controlled by the processing and control element,

wherein if the mobile node device wishes to associate with the network the processing and control element causes the transmitter to transmit a connection request to a node of the plurality of nodes to request that the node to serve as a connecting node for the mobile node device to the network and wherein the receiver is operable to receive an acceptance message from the node if the node accepts to be the connecting node for the mobile node device.

64. The device of claim 63, wherein a static address of the mobile node device is transmitted in the connection request by the transmitter.

65. The device of claim 64, wherein the static address is a mobile node static address inherent to the mobile node device that does not change.

66. The device of claim 63, wherein the receiver is operable to receive messages intended for the mobile node device from the node operating as the connecting node.

67. The device of claim 63, wherein upon the occurrence of a disassociation event, the processing and control element causes the mobile node device to disassociate from the network.

68. The device of claim 67, wherein upon occurrence of the disassociation event, the processing and control element causes the transmitter to transmit a disassociation message to the node prior to disassociating from the network.

71. The device of claim 63, wherein in response to the receiver receiving instruction from the node to deploy to a new geographical location of the network, the processing and control element causing the mobile node device to deploy to the new geographical location.

72. The device of claim 71, wherein in response to the receiver receiving instruction from the node, the processing and control element causing the transmitter to transmit a multicast message to a subset of nodes of the plurality of nodes that are in communication range of the mobile node device in the new geographical location.

73. The device of claim 63, wherein the processing and control element causes the transmitter to periodically transmit a mobile node beacon during a communication period of the mobile node device.

69. The device of 63, the processing and control element causes the transmitter to transmitter a reassociation connection request to a second node of the plurality of nodes of the network to request the second node serve as the connecting node of the mobile node device.

70. The device of claim 69, the processing and control element further causing the transmitter to transmit a static address of the mobile node device in the reassociation connection request.

74. A self-organizing asynchronous communications network, comprising:

a plurality of nodes;

a control node within communication range of one or more of the plurality of nodes; and

a mobile node within communication range of one or more of the plurality of nodes,

wherein upon a connection request from the mobile node to a node of the plurality of nodes, the node is operable to serve as a connecting node for the mobile node to the network and communicate its status as the connecting node to the control node and wherein the control node updates the network to route messages intended for the mobile node to the node for delivery to the mobile node by the node.

75. The network of claim 74, wherein the control node routes messages intended for the mobile node to a logical address of the node and the node routes the messages to a static address of the mobile node.

76. The network of claim 75, wherein upon the occurrence of a disassociation event, the mobile node disassociates from the network.

77. The network of claim 76, wherein prior to disassociating from the network, the mobile node transmits a disassociation to the node and the node communicates the mobile node'"'"'s disassociation from the network to the control node.

78. The network of claim 76, wherein after disassociating from the network the mobile node transmits a reassociation connection request to a second node to request the second node to operate as the connecting node of the mobile node and if the second node accepts the request the second node becomes the connecting node.

79. The network of claim 78, wherein upon becoming the connecting node, the second node communicates its status to the control node and the control node updates the network to route messages intended for the mobile node to the second node.

80. The network of claim 74, wherein the mobile node selects the node to serve as the connecting node based upon one or more selection criteria.

81. The network of claim 74, wherein the node causes the mobile node to deploy to a new geographical location with respect to the network and then transmit a multicast message to a subset of nodes of the plurality of nodes within communication range of the mobile node at the new geographical location.

82. The network of claim 74, wherein the mobile node has a static address used to route messages to the mobile node via the connecting node.

83. The network of claim 82, wherein the static address is a mobile node static address inherent to the mobile node that does not change.

84. The network of claim 83, wherein the mobile node static address does not change even upon disassociation of the mobile node from the network.

85. The network of claim 84, wherein to reassociate with the network the mobile node transmits a reassociation connection request to a second node of the plurality of nodes to request the second node operate as the connecting node of the mobile node, wherein the reassociation connection request contains the mobile node static address of the mobile node,

and wherein upon the second node agreeing to be the connecting node and communicating its status as connecting node to the control node, the mobile node has reassociated with the network and messages intended for the mobile node will be sent in care of the second node.

86. The network of claim 74, wherein the mobile node is operable to transmit a mobile node beacon at a frequency determined by the frequency at which the node transmits a node beacon.