Mesh network configured to autonomously commission a network and manage the network topology

• US 20060215673A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olvera-Hernandez, Ulises
• Application Number:
  US11/371,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215673A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/46 Cluster building
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/04 based on wireless node resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity 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

In a wireless communication system, a method for commissioning and managing communication between a plurality of mesh points (MPs) comprises a first MP broadcasting a signal to a second MP to establish communication with the second MP. The second MP transmits a response signal to the first MP. The first MP authenticates the second MP and determines a master MP, and the first MP establishes the communication with the second MP.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system, a method for commissioning and managing communication between a plurality of mesh points (MPs), the method comprising:

a first MP broadcasting a signal to a second MP to establish communication with the second MP;

the second MP transmitting a response signal to the first MP;

the first MP authenticating the second MP and determining a master MP; and

the first MP establishing the communication with the second MP.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the response signal transmitted by the second MP includes authentication credentials relating to the second MP.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the authentication credentials include a plurality of credential levels.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the credential levels include a level 1, level 2, and level 3 credential level.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the level 1 credential level includes packet forwarding and authentication capabilities.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the level 2 credential includes packet forwarding, routing, and client authentication capabilities.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the level 3 credential includes packet forwarding, routing capabilities, client/server authentication, and portal capabilities.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the authentication credentials relating to the second MP are compared to authentication credentials relating to the first MP.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the credentials relating to the first MP are superior to the credentials relating to the second MP and the first MP is designated the master MP.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the credentials relating to the second MP are superior to the credentials relating to the first MP and the second MP is designated the master MP.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the credentials relating to the second MP are equal to credentials relating to the first MP and a random process is performed to determine the master MP.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first MP and the second MP form a first region of a mesh network.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein an additional MP broadcasts a signal to the master MP of the first region to connect to the first region.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the additional MP includes authentication credentials superior to the master MP of the region and the additional MP is designated the new master MP of the first region.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the additional MP includes authentication credentials equal to the master MP and a random process is performed to determine the master MP of the first region.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the additional MP includes authentication credentials equal to the master MP and the additional MP is designated a master MP of a second region.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first region and the second region form a cluster, and the master MP of the first region and the master MP of the second region are designated cluster members.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein an MP in the first region communicates with an MP in the second region by transmitting the communication to the master MP of the first region, the master MP of the first region transmitting the communication to the master MP of the second region, and the master MP of the second region transmits the communication to the MP in the second region.

19. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a cluster, including a plurality of regions;

a plurality of cluster members, wherein each cluster member is a master of a region and in wireless communication with each other cluster member; and

a plurality of region members in wireless communication the cluster member associated with their region.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 19 wherein the cluster members are mesh points (MPs).

21. The wireless communication system of claim 20 wherein the cluster members are configured to discover neighbor MPs.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 21 wherein the cluster members discover neighbor MPs by broadcasting a signal to establish communication with neighbor MPs.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 22 wherein the cluster members receive response signals from neighbor MPs including authentication credentials associated with the neighbor MPs.

24. The wireless communication system of claim 19 wherein a member of a first region communicates to a member of a second region by transmitting the communication to the cluster members of the first and second regions.

25. The wireless communication system of claim 19 wherein a cluster member of a first region is configured to transfer a member of a first region to a cluster member of a second region.

26. In a wireless communication system, a mesh point (MP) comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a processor in communication with both the receiver and the transmitter, wherein the processor is configured to broadcast a signal through the transmitter to discover additional MPs, receive response signals from the additional MPs through the receiver, and compare authentication and credential data relating to the additional MPs to authentication and credential data relating to the MP to determine an MP master.

27. The mesh point of claim 26, further comprising a memory in communication with the processor.

28. The mesh point of claim 27 wherein the memory includes the credential data relating to the MP.

29. The mesh point of claim 26, further comprising an antenna in communication with the transmitter and the receiver.

30. In a wireless communication system, a base station comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a processor in communication with both the receiver and the transmitter, wherein the processor is configured to broadcast a signal through the transmitter to discover additional base stations, receive response signals from the additional base stations through the receiver, and compare authentication and credential data relating to the additional base stations to authentication and credential data relating to the base station to determine a master.

31. The base station of claim 30, further comprising a memory in communication with the processor.

32. The base station of claim 31 wherein the memory includes the credential data relating to the base station.

33. The base station of claim 30, further comprising an antenna in communication with the transmitter and the receiver.

34. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of mesh points (MP), the MPs including an integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a processor in communication with both the receiver and the transmitter, wherein the processor is configured to broadcast a signal through the transmitter to discover additional MPs, receive response signals from the additional MPs through the receiver, and compare authentication and credential data relating to the additional MPs to authentication and credential data relating to the MP to determine an MP master.

35. The IC of claim 34, further comprising a memory in communication with the processor.

36. The IC of claim 35 wherein the memory includes the credential data relating to the MP.

37. The IC of claim 34, further comprising an antenna in communication with the transmitter and the receiver.