CONFIGURATION AWARE PACKET ROUTING IN AN AD-HOC NETWORK

• US 20080151841A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Yi, Yunjung, Wright, George L., Thomas, Vicraj T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/124 using a combination of metrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/20 Hop count for routing purposes, e.g. TTL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery

Abstract

A method of routing a packet in an ad-hoc network is provided. The method provides a packet at a first node, the first node being one of a plurality of nodes. A destination node is determined for the packet, the destination node being one of the plurality of nodes. Configuration information is also provided, the configuration information representing the location of each of the plurality of nodes. Finally, at least one forward node in a direction towards the destination node is selected based on the configuration information, and packets are sent to the at least one forward node.

Claims

1. A method of routing a packet in an ad-hoc network comprising:

providing a packet at a first node, the first node being one of a plurality of nodes;

determining a destination node for the packet, the destination node being one of the plurality of nodes;

providing configuration information representing the location of each of the plurality of nodes;

selecting at least one forward node based on the configuration information; and

sending the packet to the at least one forward node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the forward node further comprises:

selecting a node in a direction towards the destination node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration of the plurality of nodes is substantially linear and selecting the forward node further comprises:

selecting a node adjacent to the first node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration of the plurality of nodes is non-linear and selecting a forward node further comprises:

identifying a subgroup of the plurality of nodes, the subgroup being in direct communication with the first node, and

comparing the configuration information to the subgroup.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a route between the first node and the destination node; and

detecting that the route is invalid prior to sending the packet to the at least one forward node.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the configuration information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the at least one forward node further comprises:

calculating a direction to the destination node based on GPS coordinates; and

selecting the node closest to the direction of the destination node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing configuration information further comprises:

providing configuration information representing the relative location of each of the plurality of nodes.

9. A method of routing a packet in an ad-hoc network comprising:

providing a packet at a first node;

determining a destination node for the packet;

determining at least one forward node that is in a direction towards the destination node relative to the first node; and

sending the packet to the at least one forward node.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the at least one forward node further comprises:

selecting a node adjacent to the first node.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting an invalid route prior to determining the at least one forward node.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

discovering a new route after detecting a break in the route; and

sending all packets determined to be going to the destination node, to the at least one forward node until discovering a new route is completed.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending all packets determined to be going to the destination node through the new route after discovering a new route is completed.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the at least one forward node further comprises:

determining based on information that states the order of a substantially linear plurality of nodes.

15. A node for an ad-hoc network comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver;

a data storage mechanism containing configuration information representing the location of the node relative to at least one other node; and

a processor coupled to the transmitter, receiver, and data storage mechanism, the processor configured to choose a forwarding node for a packet by selecting an adjacent node in the direction of a destination node, the adjacent node determined from the configuration information.

16. The node of claim 15, wherein the configuration information includes information that relates the nodes as one in front of the other.

17. The node of claim 16, wherein the configuration information includes information on the relative locations of all the nodes in the network.

18. The node of claim 16, wherein the nodes within the network form a configuration that is substantially linear.

19. The node of claim 15, wherein the node is wireless and mobile.

20. The node of claim 15, wherein the configuration information includes the GPS coordinates of the at least one other node.