Routing in wireless networks

• US 20050249185A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ember Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ember Corporation
• Inventors: Wheeler, Andrew James, Paris, Matteo Neale, Kelsey, Richard Andrews, Poor, Robert Dunbar
• Application Number:
  US11/063,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20050249185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1838 for semi-reliable protocols, e.g. for less sensitive applications such as streaming video buffer level management for video bitstream receiver H04N21/44004
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/12 Shortest path evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/26 for hybrid routing by combining proactive and reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

In a method for directing packets in a radio network, a route of nodes from an origin to a destination is determined according to a routing algorithm. A packet is transmitted along the route. A failure of a first node to forward the packet along the route is detected. The packet is transmitted to the destination from a second node not on the route.

Claims

1. A method for directing packets in a radio network comprising:

determining a route of nodes from an origin to a destination according to a routing algorithm;

transmitting a packet along the route;

detecting a failure of a first node to forward the packet along the route; and

transmitting the packet to the destination from a second node not on the route.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the failure is performed at the second node.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the failure includes applying a timeout mechanism.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein applying the timeout mechanism includes detecting failure of the first node to forward the packet over a predetermined delay period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the failure includes receiving a message indicating a potential failure of the first node.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the routing algorithm implements one or more of the approaches in the group consisting of:

a destination sequenced distance vector routing approach;

an ad hoc on-demand distance vector routing approach; and

a dynamic source routing approach.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second node transmits the packet according to a routing algorithm that implements a gradient routing approach.

9. The software of claim 1 wherein the routing algorithm implements one or more of the approaches in the group consisting of:

a destination sequenced distance vector routing approach;

an ad hoc on-demand distance vector routing approach; and

a dynamic source routing approach.

10. The software of claim 1 wherein the second node transmits the packet according to a routing algorithm that implements a gradient routing approach.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the routing algorithm implements one or more of the approaches in the group consisting of:

a destination sequenced distance vector routing approach;

an ad hoc on-demand distance vector routing approach; and

a dynamic source routing approach.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the second node transmits the packet according to a routing algorithm that implements a gradient routing approach.

8. Software stored on a computer-readable medium for directing packets in a radio network, comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

determine a route of nodes from an origin to a destination according to a routing algorithm;

transmit a packet along the route;

detect a failure of a first node to forward the packet along the route; and

transmit the packet to the destination from a second node not on the route.

11. A system for directing packets in a radio network comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each including a radio transceiver;

wherein the nodes are configured to transmit a packet from an origin to a destination including

determining a route of nodes from the origin to the destination according to a routing algorithm;

transmitting the packet along the route;

detecting a failure of a first node to forward the packet along the route; and

transmitting the packet to the destination from a second node not on the route.

14. A method for directing packets in a radio network comprising:

receiving information characterizing a planned route of nodes from an origin to a destination determined according to a routing algorithm;

receiving a packet transmitted along the route at a node not on the route;

detecting a failure of a node on the route to forward the packet along the route; and

transmitting the packet to the destination from the node not on the route.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein transmitting the packet to the destination comprises transmitting the packet to a node on the route.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the information characterizing the planned route is included in the received packet.

17. A node in a radio network comprising:

a radio transceiver; and

control circuitry configured to

receive information characterizing a planned route of nodes from an origin to a destination determined according to a routing algorithm;

receive a packet transmitted along the route;

detect a failure of a node on the route to forward the packet along the route; and

transmit the packet to the destination.

18. The node of claim 17 wherein transmitting the packet to the destination comprises transmitting the packet to a node on the route.

19. The node of claim 17 wherein the information characterizing the planned route is included in the received packet.