Mesh network within a device

• US 20080160926A1
• Filed: 12/30/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Granted Patent: US 8,149,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A radio transceiver device includes circuitry for radiating electromagnetic signals at a very high radio frequency both through space, as well as through wave guides that are formed within a substrate material. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a dielectric substrate formed within a board, for example, a printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the invention, the wave guide is formed within a die of an integrated circuit radio transceiver. A plurality of transceivers with different functionality is defined. Substrate transceivers are operable to transmit through the wave guides, while local transceivers are operable to produce very short range wireless transmissions through space. A third and final transceiver is a typical wireless transceiver for communication with remote (non-local to the device) transceivers.

Claims

1. A method for communications within a single device, comprising:

generating, in a first local transceiver of an integrated circuit, a wireless communication signal for a specified second local transceiver and inserting one of an address or an ID of the second local transceiver in the wireless communication signal; and

determining whether to transmit the wireless communication signal to a third local transceiver for forwarding to the second local transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication signal is sent to the third local transceiver through a wireless communication link.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication signal is sent to the third local transceiver through a wireless communication link through an electromagnetic wave guide operably disposed within the integrated circuit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining to transmit the wireless communication to the third local transceiver is based upon instantaneous loading conditions of the first wireless transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1 further including receiving loading information that reflects loading of communication links within the single device.

6. The method of claim 1 further including transmitting over a first communication link between local transceivers on a first substrate and also transmitting over a second communication link between local transceivers operably disposed on different substrates.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a communication is relayed through at least one local transceiver wherein the communication is by way of communication links solely between local transceivers on the same integrated circuit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a communication is relayed through at least one local transceiver wherein the communication is by way of communication links solely between local transceivers on the same board.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a communication is relayed through at least one local transceiver wherein the communication is by way of communication links between local transceivers in the same device but wherein at least one communication link is between local transceivers operably disposed on separate boards within the same device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein a communication is relayed through at least one local transceiver wherein at least one communication link is within a wave guide of a substrate.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of local transceivers operable to forward communications as nodes in a mesh network wherein each node forms a communication link with at least one other node to forward communications; and

wherein a first local transceiver of the plurality of local transceivers is operable to forward communications received from a second local transceiver located on the same substrate to a third local transceiver located on the same substrate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first local transceiver is operable to establish a communication link with at least one local transceiver operably disposed on a separate substrate.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the separate substrate is a different integrated circuit operably disposed on the same board.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the separate substrate is a different integrated circuit operably disposed on a different board.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first and second local transceivers is operable to select a downstream local transceiver for receiving a communication based upon loading.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the loading of at least one integrated circuit is evaluated.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the loading of at least one communication link is evaluated.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each local transceiver is operable to specify a final destination address for a communication and to make transmission decisions based upon the final destination address.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each local transceiver is operable to specify a destination address for a next destination of a communication and to make transmission decisions based upon a final destination address.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein communication paths between specified local intra-device transceivers is statically specified.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein communication paths between specified local intra-device transceivers is dynamically determined based upon loading conditions.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a local transceiver is operable to determine to establish a communication link through a wave guide formed within a substrate material.

23. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first local transceiver is operable to transmit and receive loading information.

24. A method for communications within a device, comprising:

evaluating loading information of at least one of a local transceiver or of a communication link between two local transceivers;

determining a next hop destination node comprising a local transceiver within the device,

transmitting a communication to the next hop destination node, which communication includes a final destination address of a local transceiver.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein determining the next hop destination node is based upon loading information and upon the final destination of the communication.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one communication link is between local transceivers operably disposed on the same substrate.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one communication link is between local transceivers on the different integrated circuits operably disposed on the same substrate.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one communication link is between local transceivers on the different integrated circuits operably disposed on the same board.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one communication link is between local transceivers on the different integrated circuits operably disposed on different substrates.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one communication link is between local transceivers by way of a wave guide formed within a substrate supporting the local transceivers.