Signal routing

• US 20040095891A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Tomohiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/08 based on transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for routing communications in a communications system comprising a plurality of communication nodes, each node being capable of transmitting signals to and receiving signals from one or more other nodes, and including a first node, a second node and a plurality of other nodes; the method comprising selecting a route for communications from the first node to the second node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of mobility characteristics and/or energy characteristics of each of the other nodes.

Claims

1. A method for routing communications in a communications system comprising a plurality of communication nodes, each node being capable of transmitting signals to and receiving signals from one or more other nodes, and including a first node, a second node and a plurality of other nodes;

the method comprising selecting a route for communications from the first node to the second node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of energy characteristics of each of the other nodes.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising routing communications from the second node to the first node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of energy characteristics of each of the other nodes.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said routing of communications from the second node to the first node is performed independently of routing of communications from the first node to the second node.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising selecting a route for communications from the first node to the second node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of mobility characteristics of each of the other nodes.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mobility characteristics include the current velocity of each of the other nodes.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mobility characteristics include the current direction of each of the other nodes.

7. A method as clamed in any preceding claim, wherein the energy characteristics include the energy available to each of the other nodes.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the energy characteristics include the energy available to each of the other nodes for transmission of signals to other nodes.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the energy characteristics include the power required for transmission of signals to those other nodes.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said power is determined as a function of the distance between the nodes.

11. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the energy characteristics include the energy available to each of the other nodes for reception of signals from other nodes.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the energy characteristics include the power required for reception of signals from those other nodes.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said power is determined as a function of the distance between the nodes.

14. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said signals are wireless signals.

15. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the signals are radio signals.

16. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of communication nodes, each node being capable of transmitting signals to and receiving signals from one or more other nodes, and including a first node, a second node and a plurality of other nodes; and

routing means for routing communications from the first node to the second node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of the available energy of each of the other nodes.

17. A communications system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the routing means is capable of routing communications from the first node to the second node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of the mobility of each of the other nodes.

18. A communication terminal for operation as a first node in a communications system comprising a plurality of communication nodes, each node being capable of transmitting signals to and receiving signals from one or more other nodes, and including a second node and a plurality of other nodes;

the terminal including routing means for routing communications from the first node to the second node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of the available energy of each of the other nodes.

19. A communication terminal as claimed in claim 18, wherein the routing means is capable of routing communications from the first node to the second node by way of at least one of the other nodes on the basis of the mobility of each of the other nodes.

20. A method for routing communications, substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A communication system substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A communication terminal substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.