Interoperable mobile ad hoc network

• US 20070104160A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Ho, Long
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Nodes of a network become aware of services provided by the other nodes of the network. A node can store information in a registry that indicates services that the node itself can provide. A node can inform other nodes of services it provides by sending advertisements over the network. Each node can store advertisements from other nodes in a cache. When the node requires a service, it can inspect the registry and the cache to determine where the service can be obtained. If the node cannot find the service listed in the registry and cache, the node can send out a request for the service to the other nodes. A node receiving a request for a service can then check its registry and cache for the service and send a reply with information that allows the requesting node to obtain service from the node that provides the service.

Claims

1. A method for advertising a service in a network, the method comprising:

storing information related to a service that a node of the network can provide upon request; and

sending messages over the network, wherein the messages include information related to the service.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the messages are sent at a rate or on demand.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising obtaining information defining the rate.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein storing information related to the service further comprises receiving a request to register the service from an application running on the node.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the network comprises a mobile ad hoc network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the messages includes information defining a number of times the message is to be forwarded over the network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored information is inspected when the node requires a service.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein the messages include information related to service interoperability.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the service interoperability indicates a role for the node with a predefined level of interoperability that is a function of the role.

8. An apparatus for advertising a service in a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing information related to a service that a node of the network can provide upon request; and

means for sending messages over the network at a rate, wherein the messages include information related to the service.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for obtaining information defining the rate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for storing information related to the service further comprises means for receiving a request to register the service from an application running on the node.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the network comprises a mobile ad hoc network.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of the messages includes information defining a number of times the message is to be forwarded over the network.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for inspecting the stored information in response to the node requesting a service.

14. A method used in advertising a service in a network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a node of the network, a message containing information related to a service that another node of the network can provide upon request; and

storing, at the node, information related to the service.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising setting an expiration time for the stored information.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the network comprises a mobile ad hoc network.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising deleting the stored information in response to the expiration time being reached.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising selectively forwarding the received message to at least another node of the network.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein selectively forwarding further comprises determining whether a maximum count of the number of times the message is to be forwarded has been reached.

20. One or more computer-readable media having thereon instructions that when executed by a node implement the method of claim 14.

21. An apparatus used in advertising a service in a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving, at a node of the network, a message containing information related to a service that another node of the network can provide upon request; and

means for storing, at the node, information related to the service.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for setting an expiration time for the stored information.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the network comprises a mobile ad hoc network.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for deleting the stored information in response to the expiration time being reached.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for selectively forwarding the received message to at least another node of the network.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the means for selectively forwarding further comprises means for determining whether a maximum count of the number of times the message is to be forwarded has been reached.

27. A method used in obtaining a service in a network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a service from an application executing on a node of the network;

checking a first datastore of the node for information related to the service, wherein the first datastore is to store information related to services provided by the node; and

providing, to the application, information from the first datastore that is related to the service in response to a determination that the first datastore contains information related to the service.

28-39. -39. (canceled)