Efficient formation of ad hoc networks

• US 20070002783A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Abhishek, Abhishek, Krantz, Anton
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An ad hoc network identifier may be received, for example, at an ad hoc network convergence module. One or more ad hoc network parameters may be generated as a function of the ad hoc network identifier. Each of a group of computers attempting to form an ad hoc network identified by the ad hoc network identifier may generate the one or more ad hoc network parameters. Two or more of the group of computers may perform an ad hoc network formation protocol parameterized with the generated one or more ad hoc network parameters. An instruction to join the network may be received, for example, at a networking service. If it is detected that the network is an ad hoc network, an ad hoc network address acquisition mode featuring accelerated ad hoc network address acquisition may be activated. Efficient formation of the ad hoc network may thus be facilitated.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for efficient formation of an ad hoc network comprising:

receiving an ad hoc network identifier;

generating at least one ad hoc network parameter as a function of, at least, the ad hoc network identifier; and

performing an ad hoc network formation protocol parameterized with said at least one ad hoc network parameter.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the ad hoc network is a wireless network in accordance with at least one of a family of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 data communication standards.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the ad hoc network identifier comprises a service set identifier.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein generating said at least one ad hoc network parameter comprises generating said at least one ad hoc network parameter as a cryptographic hash function of, at least, the ad hoc network identifier.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said at least one ad hoc network parameter comprises a basic service set identifier.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said at least one ad hoc network parameter comprises a wireless communication channel number.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise selecting a physical layer communication scheme from a set of available physical layer communication schemes in accordance with a set of ad hoc network convergence rules.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the set of available physical layer communication schemes comprise at least one physical layer communication scheme in accordance with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family data communication standard.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the set of ad hoc network convergence rules comprise:

(a) if the set of available physical layer communication schemes includes only one physical layer communication scheme then selecting that physical layer communication scheme; and

(b) if the set of available physical layer communication schemes includes physical layer communication schemes in accordance with IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g then selecting the physical layer communication scheme in accordance with IEEE 802.11g.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the set of ad hoc network convergence rules comprise:

(a) if the set of available physical layer communication schemes includes only one physical layer communication scheme then selecting that physical layer communication scheme; and

(b) if the set of available physical layer communication schemes includes physical layer communication schemes in accordance with IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g then selecting the physical layer communication scheme in accordance with IEEE 802.11g.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein selecting the physical layer communication scheme comprises:

ranking each physical layer communication scheme in the set of available physical layer communication schemes according to its ad hoc network convergence efficiency; and

selecting a highest ranking physical layer communication scheme in the set of available physical layer communication schemes.

12. A computerized system for efficient formation of an ad hoc network comprising:

an ad hoc network convergence module configured to, at least;

receive an ad hoc network identifier;

generate at least one ad hoc network parameter as a function of, at least, the ad hoc network identifier; and

parameterize an ad hoc network formation protocol with said at least one ad hoc network parameter; and

a networking service configured to, at least, perform the ad hoc network formation protocol parameterized with said at least one ad hoc network parameter.

13. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the ad hoc network is a wireless network in accordance with at least one of a family of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 data communication standards.

14. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein the ad hoc network identifier comprises a service set identifier

15. The computerized system of claim 12, wherein generating said at least one ad hoc network parameter comprises generating said at least one ad hoc network parameter as a cryptographic hash function of, at least, the ad hoc network identifier.

16. A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for efficient formation of an ad hoc network comprising:

receiving an instruction to join a network;

detecting that the network is an ad hoc network; and

activating an ad hoc network address acquisition mode comprising accelerated acquisition of an ad hoc network address.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the computer-executable instructions further comprising:

receiving a network disjoin notification; and

deactivating the ad hoc network address acquisition mode.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

each ad hoc network address is an internet protocol (IP) address; and

accelerated acquisition of the ad hoc network address comprises;

acquiring an automatic private IP address; and

performing duplicate address detection.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein, if the ad hoc network address acquisition mode is deactivated, acquisition of a network address comprises attempting to acquire the network address from a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the ad hoc network is a wireless network in accordance with at least one of a family of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 data communication standards.