Managing associations in ad hoc networks

• US 20080031209A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shen, Hui, Abhishek, Abhishek, Ruan, Jiandong
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A first wireless devices establishes an association with a second wireless device by sending a connection request packet to a previously-discovered second wireless device. The second wireless device identifies the received packet as a connection request and responds with a connection response packet, thereby establishing an association between the first and second wireless devices. The wireless devices can then, for example, send and receive data.

Claims

1. A method to operate a first wireless device in an ad hoc network, comprising:

turning on a radio of the first wireless device in response to a connect call;

sending a connection request packet from the first wireless device to a second wireless device;

if a connection response packet is received by the first wireless device from the second wireless device within a timeout period, establishing a connection to the second wireless device; and

if a connection response packet is not received by the first wireless device from the second wireless device within the timeout period, indicating a connection failure.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

the first wireless device receiving a connection request packet from the second wireless device;

if the connection request packet is identified by the first wireless device as a valid connection request, sending a connection response packet to the second wireless device and recording an established connection; and

if the connection request packet is not identified by the first wireless device as a valid connection request, remaining in an existing state.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

the first wireless device receiving a connection request packet from the second wireless device before receiving a connection response packet from the second wireless device;

if the network address of the second wireless device meets a criteria with respect to the network address of the first wireless device, the first wireless device sending a connection response packet to the second wireless device and canceling its own connection request; and

if the network address of the second wireless device does not meet the criteria with respect to the network address of the first wireless device, the first wireless device ignoring the received connection request from the second wireless device.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising switching the radio to an ad hoc network channel in response to the connect call.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising monitoring packets from an associated wireless device, dissociating from the associated wireless device if a packet is not received from the associated wireless device for a predetermined time, and otherwise continuing the association with the associated wireless device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a disconnection request packet from the first wireless device to the second wireless device in response to a disconnection call; and

removing the second wireless device from a connected device list.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

the first wireless device receiving a disconnection request packet from the second wireless device;

if the disconnection request packet is identified by the first wireless device, removing the second wireless device from a connected device list; and

if the disconnection request packet is not identified by the first wireless device, ignoring the disconnection request packet.

8. A method to operate a first wireless device in an ad hoc network, comprising:

the first wireless device receiving a connection request packet from a second wireless device;

if the connection request packet is identified by the first wireless device as a valid connection request, sending a connection response packet to the second wireless device and recording an established connection; and

if the connection request packet is not identified by the first wireless device as a valid connection request, remaining in an existing state.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising identifying the connection request packet by matching a direct probe request packet with a special information element that describes the connection request.

10. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising identifying the connection request packet by matching the connection request packet with a predetermined packet pattern.

11. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

the first wireless device sending a connection request packet to the second wireless device;

the first wireless device receiving the connection request packet from the second wireless device before receiving a connection response packet from the second wireless device;

if the network address of the second wireless device meets a criteria with respect to the network address of the first wireless device, the first wireless device sending a connection response packet to the second wireless device and canceling its own connection request; and

if the network address of the second wireless device does not meet the criteria with respect to the network address of the first wireless device, the first wireless device ignoring the received connection request from the second wireless device.

12. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising monitoring packets from an associated wireless device, dissociating from the associated wireless device if a packet is not received from the associated wireless device for a predetermined time, and otherwise continuing the association with the associated wireless device.

13. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

sending a disconnection request packet from the first wireless device to the second wireless device in response to a disconnection call; and

removing the second wireless device from a connected device list.

14. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

the first wireless device receiving a disconnection request packet from the second wireless device;

if the disconnection request packet is identified by the first wireless device, removing the second wireless device from a connected device list; and

if the disconnection request packet is not identified by the first wireless device, ignoring the disconnection request packet.

15. A wireless device comprising:

a computing device;

a radio; and

a wireless module logically connected to the computing device and to the radio, the wireless module comprising a processor programmed with instructions for;

turning on the radio in response to a connect call;

sending a connection request packet to a second wireless device;

if a connection response packet is received from the second wireless device within a timeout period, establishing a connection to the second wireless device; and

if a connection response packet is not received from the second wireless device within the timeout period, indicating a connection failure.

16. A wireless device as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

the wireless device receiving a connection request packet from a second wireless device;

if the connection request packet is identified by the wireless device as a valid connection request, sending a connection response packet to the second wireless device and recording an established connection; and

if the connection request packet is not identified by the wireless device as a valid connection request, remaining in an existing state.

17. A wireless device as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

the wireless device receiving a connection request packet from the second wireless device before receiving a connection response packet from the second wireless device;

if the network address of the second wireless device meets a criteria with respect to the network address of the wireless device, the wireless device sending a connection response packet to the second wireless device and canceling its own connection request; and

if the network address of the second wireless device does not meet the criteria with respect to the network address of the wireless device, the wireless device ignoring the received connection request from the second wireless device.

18. A wireless device as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for identifying the connection request packet by matching a direct probe request packet with a special information element that describes the connection request.

19. A wireless device as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for identifying the connection request packet by matching the connection request packet with a predetermined packet pattern.

20. A wireless device as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for monitoring packets from an associated wireless device, dissociating from the associated wireless device if a packet is not received from the associated wireless device for a predetermined time, and otherwise continuing the association with the associated wireless device.