Routing within a mobile communication network

• US 20050254473A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rombeaut, Jean-Pierre, Preguica, Christophe
• Application Number:
  US11/128,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254473A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/52 Multiprotocol routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/32 for defining a routing cluster membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The invention concerns a mobile device comprising communication means for transmitting data packets to other mobile devices within a first cluster within a mobile communication network, which also includes: Detection means (DM) for detecting a new mobile device belonging to a second cluster, Election means (EM) for determining whether this new device should or should not be added to the membership of an inter-cluster subnetwork,

• • Second routing means (RM2) for transmitting routing information between the devices that are members of the inter-cluster subnetwork, Communication means (CM) for exchanging routing information between the first and second routing means.

Claims

1. A mobile network device comprising communication means for transmitting data packets to one or several other mobile devices within a first cluster within a mobile communication network, according to routing information exchanged with said other device(s) through first routing means (RM 1) in accordance with a first routing protocol;

and detection means (DM) for detecting a new mobile device belonging to a second cluster within said mobile communication network, said device further comprising;

Election means (EM) for determining, in accordance with an election policy, whether said new mobile device should or should not be added to the membership of an inter-cluster subnetwork,

Second routing means (RM2) for transmitting routing information between the mobile devices that are members of said inter-cluster subnetwork,

Communication means (CM) for transmitting the routing information exchanged by said first routing means to the mobile devices that are members of said inter-cluster subnetwork, and for transmitting to said first routing means the routing information received from said mobile devices that are members of said inter-cluster subnetwork, as well as information relating to said inter-cluster subnetwork, in accordance with a second routing protocol.

2. A mobile network device according to claim 1 also including a naming means (NAMM) for determining whether said communication means (CM) should or should not be implemented in accordance with a naming policy.

3. A mobile network device according to claim 1, in which said first routing protocol and said second routing protocol are proactive.

4. A mobile network device according to claim 3, in which said first routing protocol and said second routing protocol are similar and in particular are of the TBRPF or OLSR type.

5. A mobile network device according to claim 2, in which if said communication means is implemented by the naming means (NAMM), said routing information contains information messages comprising:

An identifier of said mobile device,

An identifier of said inter-cluster subnetwork,

The number of mobile devices belonging to said cluster and to said inter-cluster subnetwork,

The list of all the known inter-cluster subnetworks.

6. A process for transmitting data packets from one mobile network device to one or several other mobile devices within a first cluster or within a mobile communication network, according to routing information exchanged during a first stage with said other devices by means of first routing means (RM1) in accordance with a first routing protocol, said process including a stage comprising the detection of a new mobile device belonging to a second cluster within said communication network, which also includes the following stages:

Election to determine, according to an election policy, whether said new mobile device should or should not be added to the membership of an inter-cluster subnetwork,

Transmitting of routing information between the mobile devices that are members of said inter-cluster subnetwork,

Communicating of the routing information exchanged during said first stage, to the mobile devices that are members of said inter-cluster subnetwork, and transmitting to said first routing means of the routing information received from said mobile devices that are members of said inter-cluster subnetwork, as well as information relating to said inter-cluster subnetwork, in accordance with a second routing protocol.

7. A process according to claim 6, also including a naming stage for determining whether said communication stage should or should not be implemented according to a naming policy.

8. A process according to claim 6, in which said first routing protocol and said second routing protocol are proactive.

9. A process according to claim 6, in which said first routing protocol and said second routing protocol are similar and in particular of the TBRPF or OLSR type.

10. A processing according to claim 7, in which if the communication stage is implemented, said routing information contains information messages comprising:

An identifier of said mobile device,

An identifier of said inter-cluster subnetwork,

The number of mobile devices belonging to said cluster and said inter-cluster subnetwork,

The list of all the known inter-cluster subnetworks.

12. Software able to be used on a communication network device and to implement a process according to claim 6.

11. A communication network comprising mobile devices, which is formed from a set of clusters interconnected by inter-cluster subnetworks, each mobile device within said clusters exchanging routing messages through first routing means with other mobile devices within their cluster, and some of said mobile devices also exchanging routing messages through second routing means with the mobile devices belonging to an inter-cluster subnetwork.