Fixed network master

• US 20060233142A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Iwamura, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An exemplary method of operation of network devices with one device operating as a master device on a communication network involves the master device broadcasting a beacon during a communication session being carried out over the network; the master device determining that the communication session being carried out over the network has ended; the master device ceasing broadcast of the beacon; the master device entering a sleeping or power saving mode; at a client device on the network, transmitting a master search message requesting services of a master device while the master device is in the sleeping or power saving mode; the master device responding to the master search message; and the master device resuming broadcasting beacon signals. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from or contain a subset of the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A method of communication from a first device to a second device over a communication network, comprising:

at the first device, determining if a beacon has been received within an established period of time;

if not, the first device broadcasting a master search message that requests services of a master device; and

if a response from a master device is received, obtaining communication parameters from the master device permit network communication, and transmitting information from the first device to the second device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein if a response from a master device is not received within the established period of time, the method further comprises:

determining that the first device is capable of operating as a master device;

establishing the first device as the master device;

the master device generating communication parameters to permit network communication;

transmitting beacons from the first device; and

transmitting information from the first device to second device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the response comprises a beacon.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the response comprises an acknowledgement of the master search message and identification of the master device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network comprises a power line communication network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the master search message is transmitted using the network communication protocol'"'"'s highest reliability communication mechanism.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the response is transmitted using the network communication protocol'"'"'s highest reliability communication mechanism.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the master search message is transmitted using the network communication protocol'"'"'s communication mechanism used for beacons.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the master search message is transmitted using one of BPSK and QPSK modulation.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the master search message is retransmitted in an attempt to identify a master device.

11. An electronic storage medium, carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor residing in the first device, cause the processor to control operation of the first device in accordance with the method of claim 1.

12. A method of operation of a network device operating as a master device on a communication network, comprising:

broadcasting a beacon during a communication session being carried out over the network;

determining that the communication session being carried out over the network has ended;

ceasing broadcast of the beacon; and

the master device entering at least one of a sleeping mode or a power saving mode;

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

at the master device, receiving a master search message requesting services of a master device while the master device is in the sleeping or power saving mode; and

the master device responding to the master search message.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising broadcasting a beacon.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the responding comprises broadcasting a beacon.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the responding comprises transmitting an acknowledgement of the master search message and identification of the master device.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the network comprises a power line communication network.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the master search message is received using the network communication protocol'"'"'s highest reliability communication mechanism.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the responding is carried out using the network communication protocol'"'"'s highest reliability communication mechanism.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the master search message is transmitted using the network communication protocol'"'"'s communication mechanism used for beacons.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the master search message is received as one of BPSK and QPSK modulation.

22. An electronic storage medium, carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor residing in the network device, cause the processor to control operation of the network device in accordance with the method of claim 12.

23. An electronic storage medium, carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor residing in the network device, cause the processor to control operation of the network device in accordance with the method of claim 13.

24. A method of operation of a network device operating as a master device on a communication network, comprising:

at the master device transmitting beacon signals;

at the master device, entering an operational mode wherein the master device temporarily ceases transmission of the beacons;

while in the operational mode, the master device receiving a master search message requesting services of a master device while the master device is in the operational mode; and

the master device responding to the master search message.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the operational mode comprises at least one of a sleeping mode or a power saving mode.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising broadcasting a beacon.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the responding comprises broadcasting a beacon.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the responding comprises transmitting an acknowledgement of the master search message and identification of the master device.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein the network comprises a power line communication network.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the master search message is received using the network communication protocol'"'"'s highest reliability communication mechanism.

31. The method according to claim 24, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the responding is carried out using the network communication protocol'"'"'s highest reliability communication mechanism.

32. The method according to claim 24, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the master search message is transmitted using the network communication protocol'"'"'s communication mechanism used for beacons.

33. The method according to claim 24, wherein the master search message is received as one of BPSK and QPSK modulation.

34. An electronic storage medium, carrying instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor residing in the network device, cause the processor to control operation of the network device in accordance with the method of claim 24.

35. A method of operation of network devices with one device operating as a master device on a communication network, comprising:

the master device broadcasting a beacon during a communication session being carried out over the network;

the master device determining that the communication session being carried out over the network has ended;

the master device ceasing broadcast of the beacon;

the master device entering at least one of a sleeping mode or a power saving mode;

at a client device on the network, transmitting a master search message requesting services of a master device while the master device is in the sleeping or power saving mode;

the master device responding to the master search message; and

the master device resuming broadcasting beacon signals.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the network comprises a power line communication network.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein network communication is carried out using a plurality of communication mechanisms defined in a network communication protocol, and wherein the master search message and response are transmitted using the network communication protocol'"'"'s highest reliability communication mechanism.