Protocol for configuring a wireless network

• US 20050037789A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 3, LLC
• Original Assignee: MILLENNIAL NET, INC. (PHC Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Liu, Sheng, Rhee, Sokwoo
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/507
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A target device joins a wireless network by attempting to locate an existing routing device in a predefined neighborhood of the wireless network, designating the existing routing device as a master routing device if the existing routing device is located in the predefined neighborhood, where the master routing device is a primary recipient of data from the target device, and attempting to locate endpoint devices in the predefined neighborhood if the existing routing device is not located in the predefined neighborhood.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a target device, to join a wireless network, the method comprising:

attempting to locate an existing routing device in a predefined neighborhood of the wireless network;

designating the existing routing device as a master routing device if the existing routing device is located in the predefined neighborhood, the master routing device being a primary recipient of data from the target device; and

attempting to locate endpoint devices in the predefined neighborhood if the existing routing device is not located in the predefined neighborhood.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target device designates the existing routing device as the master routing device if the existing routing device meets at least one of plural predefined criteria.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plural predefined criteria comprise a distance from the existing routing device to a base station on the wireless network, a quality of a communication link associated with the existing routing device, and a battery capacity of the existing routing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the master routing device becomes unreliable or congested, the method further comprises searching the wireless network for a new master routing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein searching comprises:

broadcasting a routing device election request;

receiving identities of other devices on the wireless network in response to the routing device election request; and

designating one of the other devices on the wireless network to be a new master routing device based on one or more predefined criteria.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the target device as a routing device if the target device is a sole routing device for at least one other device on the network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, if the target device does not receive a communication from another device on the wireless network within a predetermined time, the target device ceases operation as a routing device and operates as an endpoint device on the wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the target device as a routing device; and

discontinuing operating the target device as a routing device if the target device is not a sole routing device for the other devices on the network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the target device operates as an endpoint device of the network after the target device discontinues operation as a routing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein operation as an endpoint device includes entering a low-power mode at least once during operation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined neighborhood comprises a radio frequency range of the target device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein attempting comprises:

listening for a data transmission from an endpoint device;

determining whether the endpoint device is connected to the wireless network based on the data transmission; and

requesting that the endpoint device act as a router for the target device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising designating the endpoint device as the master device for the target device if the endpoint device agrees to act as a router for the target device.

14. A method of reconfiguring a base station on a wireless network, the base station being connected to a host computer via a wired connection, the method comprising:

detecting an amount of traffic directed to the base station from other devices on the wireless network;

determining whether the base station has at least one connection to the wireless network that is not via the wired connection; and

configuring the base station to act as an intermediary device on the network if the amount of traffic is below a predetermined amount and the base station has at least one connection to the wireless network that is not via the wired connection.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining comprises:

sending a data packet to a target device on the wireless network; and

receiving a response to the data packet.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring comprises programming the base station not to transmit data packets to the host via the wireless connection.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

checking the amount of traffic directed to the base station from other devices on the wireless network; and

determining whether to reconfigure the base station to act as a base station if the amount of traffic exceeds a predetermined amount.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein, if the base station is not configured to act as an intermediary device, the method further comprises synchronizing a database of the base station with databases of other base stations on the wireless network.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring is performed for operation of the base station in a first logical network but not for operation of the base station in a second logical network.

20. A method, performed by a base station, of sending a data packet to an endpoint device of a wireless network, the method comprising:

instructing the endpoint device to configure itself as a second base station;

generating a data packet that includes an address of the second base station; and

sending the data packet to the second base station via the wireless network.

21. A machine-readable medium containing instructions that are executable by a target device to join a wireless network, the instructions causing the target device to:

attempt to locate an existing routing device in a predefined neighborhood of the wireless network;

designate the existing routing device as a master routing device if the existing routing device is located in the predefined neighborhood, the master routing device being a primary recipient of data from the target device; and

attempt to locate endpoint devices in the predefined neighborhood if the existing routing device is not located in the predefined neighborhood.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that cause the target device to designate the existing routing device as the master routing device if the existing routing device meets at least one of plural predefined criteria.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the plural predefined criteria comprise a distance from the existing routing device to a base station on the wireless network, a quality of a communication link associated with the existing routing device, and a battery capacity of the existing routing device.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that cause the target device to search the wireless network for a new master routing device if the master routing device becomes unreliable or congested.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein searching comprises:

broadcasting a routing device election request;

receiving identities of other devices on the wireless network in response to the routing device election request; and

designating one of the other devices on the wireless network to be a new master routing device based on one or more predefined criteria.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that cause the target device to operate as a routing device if the target device is a sole routing device for at least one other device on the network.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions that cause the target device to cease operation as a routing device and operate as an endpoint device on the wireless network if the target device does not receive a communication from another device on the wireless network within a predetermined time.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that cause the target device to:

operate the target device as a routing device; and

discontinue operating the target device as a routing device if the target device is not a sole routing device for the other devices on the network.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions that cause the target device to operate as an endpoint device of the network after the target device discontinues operation as a routing device.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 29, wherein operation as an endpoint device includes entering a low-power mode at least once during operation.

31. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the predefined neighborhood comprises a radio frequency range of the target device.

32. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein attempting comprises:

listening for a data transmission from an endpoint device;

determining whether the endpoint device is connected to the wireless network based on the data transmission; and

requesting that the endpoint device act as a router for the target device.

33. The machine-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions that cause the target device to designate the endpoint device as the master device for the target device if the endpoint device agrees to act as a router for the target device.

34. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable on a base station on a wireless network, the base station being connected to a host computer via a wired connection, the instructions causing the base station to:

detect an amount of traffic directed to the base station from other devices on the wireless network;

determine whether the base station has at least one connection to the wireless network that is not via the wired connection; and

configure the base station to act as an intermediary device on the network if the amount of traffic is below a predetermined amount and the base station has at least one connection to the wireless network that is not via the wired connection.

35. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein determining comprises:

sending a data packet to a target device on the wireless network; and

receiving a response to the data packet.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein configuring comprises programming the base station not to transmit data packets to the host via the wireless connection.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions that cause the base station to:

check the amount of traffic directed to the base station from other devices on the wireless network; and

determine whether to reconfigure the base station to act as a base station if the amount of traffic exceeds a predetermined amount.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions that cause the base station to synchronize a database of the base station with databases of other base stations on the wireless network if the base station is not configured to act as an intermediary device.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 34, wherein configuring is performed for operation of the base station in a first logical network but not for operation of the base station in a second logical network.

40. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by a base station to send a data packet to an endpoint device of a wireless network, the instructions causing the base station to:

instruct the endpoint device to configure itself as a second base station;

generate a data packet that includes an address of the second base station; and

send the data packet to the second base station via the wireless network.

41. An apparatus comprising:

memory that stores instructions; and

one or more processing devices that execute the instructions to join a wireless network, the instructions causing the one or more processing devices to;

attempt to locate an existing routing device in a predefined neighborhood of the wireless network;

designate the existing routing device as a master routing device if the existing routing device is located in the predefined neighborhood, the master routing device being a primary recipient of data from the target device; and

attempt to locate endpoint devices in the predefined neighborhood if the existing routing device is not located in the predefined neighborhood.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to designate the existing routing device as the master routing device if the existing routing device meets at least one of plural predefined criteria.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the plural predefined criteria comprise a distance from the existing routing device to a base station on the wireless network, a quality of a communication link associated with the existing routing device, and a battery capacity of the existing routing device.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to search the wireless network for a new master routing device if the master routing device becomes unreliable or congested.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein searching comprises:

broadcasting a routing device election request;

receiving identities of other devices on the wireless network in response to the routing device election request; and

designating one of the other devices on the wireless network to be a new master routing device based on one or more predefined criteria.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to operate the apparatus as a routing device if the apparatus is a sole routing device for at least one other device on the network.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to cease operation of the apparatus as a routing device and operate the apparatus as an endpoint device on the wireless network if the apparatus does not receive a communication from another device on the wireless network within a predetermined time.

48. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to:

operate the apparatus as a routing device; and

discontinue operating the apparatus as a routing device if the target device is not a sole routing device for the other devices on the network.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to cause the apparatus to operate as an endpoint device of the network after the target device discontinues operation as a routing device.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein operation as an endpoint device includes entering a low-power mode at least once during operation.

51. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the predefined neighborhood comprises a radio frequency range of the target device.

52. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein attempting comprises:

listening for a data transmission from an endpoint device;

determining whether the endpoint device is connected to the wireless network based on the data transmission; and

requesting that the endpoint device act as a router for the apparatus.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to designate the endpoint device as the master device for apparatus if the endpoint device agrees to act as a router for the target device.

54. A base station on a wireless network, the base station also being connected to a high-speed data line, the base station comprising:

memory that stores instructions; and

one or more processing devices that execute the instructions to;

detect an amount of traffic directed to the base from other devices on the wireless network;

determine whether the base station has at least one connection to the wireless network that is not via the wired connection; and

configure the base station to act as an intermediary device on the network if the amount of traffic is below a predetermined amount and the base station has at least one connection to the wireless network that is not via the wired connection.

55. The base station of claim 54, wherein determining comprises:

sending a data packet to a target device on the wireless network; and

receiving a response to the data packet.

56. The base station of claim 54, wherein configuring comprises programming the base station not to transmit data packets to the host via the wireless connection.

57. The base station of claim 54, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to:

check the amount of traffic directed to the base station from other devices on the wireless network; and

determine whether to reconfigure the base station to act as a base station if the amount of traffic exceeds a predetermined amount.

58. The base station of claim 54, wherein the one or more processing devices execute instructions to synchronize a database of the base station with databases of other base stations on the wireless network if the base station is not configured to act as an intermediary device.

59. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein configuring is performed for operation of the base station in a first logical network but not for operation of the base station in a second logical network.

60. An apparatus comprising:

memory that stores instructions; and

one or more processing devices that execute the instructions to send a data packet to an endpoint device of a wireless network, the instructions causing the one or more processing devices to;

instruct the endpoint device to configure itself as a second base station;

generate a data packet that includes an address of the second base station; and

send the data packet to the second base station via the wireless network.