Mobile radio network

• US 20090080350A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anthony Paul Osborn, David Bening, David Julian Clarke, Douglas Terence Todd, Henry Alan Jones, Matthew David Leask
• Original Assignee: Anthony Paul Osborn, David Bening, David Julian Clarke, Douglas Terence Todd, Henry Alan Jones, Matthew David Leask
• Inventors: Clarke, David Julian, Jones, Henry Alan, Bennett, David Frazer, Osborn, Anthony Paul, Todd, Douglas Terence, Leask, Matthew David
• Application Number:
  US12/291,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20090080350A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile radio network comprises a plurality of communication points, each of which are capable of communicating with any other communication point. Each communication point has a proximity sensor, a transmitter/receiver (14), which is able to send signals to and receive signals from the other communication points. Means for controlling the transmitter/receiver and means for storing data to identify the communication points is also described.

Claims

1. A mobile communication point for use in a mobile radio network comprising a plurality of communication points, each capable of communicating with other communication points, the mobile communication point comprising

a transmitter/receiver for sending signals to and receiving signals from the other communication points;

a control element for switching between a high power mode in which said mobile communication point is able to transmit or receive signals and a low power mode in which said mobile communication point is in a sleep state and is unable to transmit or receive signals; and

a processor coupled to the control element for;

enabling the communication to switch from the low power mode to the high power mode on a periodic basis

broadcasting a unique identity packet on switching into the high power mode; and

waiting a predetermined time after broadcasting to detect whether any other communication point to attempting to transmit back and, if so, remaining in the high power mode;

otherwise

returning to the low power mode for a predetermined period of time.

2. A mobile communication point according to claim 1 in which said mobile communication point remains able to transmit or receive signals for an extended period of time upon receiving a response during the predetermined period.

3. A mobile communication point according to claim 1 in which the communication point includes means responsive to an external input to cause the control element to switch the communication point from low power mode to high power mode.

4. A mobile communication point according to claim 3 in which the means responsive to an external input comprises a low power RF detection circuit responsive to a radio transmission.

5. A mobile communication point according to claim 3 in which the means responsive to an external input comprises an ultrasonic detector.

6. A mobile communication point according to claim 3 in which the means responsive to an external input comprises an infrared detector.

7. A mobile communication point according to claim 3 in which the means responsive to an external input comprises a manual input.

8. A mobile communication point according to claim 1 wherein the processor further comprises

a data storage means storing the unique identity packet associated with said mobile communication point and storing data identifying other recently-contacted communication points, wherein the mobile communication point determines whether data about a second mobile communication point is stored in its data storage means upon receipt of a transmission from the second mobile communication point.

9. A communication point according to claim 8 in which the mobile communication point is responsive to a transmission from a second mobile communication point to send interrogation signals to said second mobile communication point.

10. A mobile radio system comprising a plurality of mobile communication points capable of communicating with each other, each communication point comprising

a transmitter/receiver for sending signals to and receiving signals from the other communication points;

a control element for switching between a high power mode in which said mobile communication point is able to transmit or receive signals and a low power mode in which said mobile communication point is in a sleep state and is unable to transmit or receive signals; and

a processor coupled to the control element for;

enabling the communication to switch from the low power mode to the high power mode on a periodic basis

broadcasting a unique identity packet on switching into the high power mode; and

waiting a predetermined time after broadcasting to detect whether any other communication point to attempting to transmit back and, if so, remaining in the high power mode;

otherwise

returning to the low power mode for a predetermined period of time.

11. A mobile radio system as defined in claim 10 wherein each mobile communication point further comprises

a data storage means storing the unique identity packet associated with said mobile communication point and storing data identifying other recently-contacted communication points, wherein the mobile communication point determines whether data about a second mobile communication point is stored in its data storage means upon receipt of a transmission from the second mobile communication point.