Systems and Methods for Determining Link Quality

• US 20100027437A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Original Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Inventors: Ratiu, Ovidiu
• Application Number:
  US12/533,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20100027437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/203 Details of error rate determination, e.g. BER, FER or WER

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining link quality are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of transmitting a first quantity of messages to a remote device, receiving a second quantity of message acknowledgements from the remote device, determining a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) value, comparing the RSSI value to a minimum RSSI threshold. If the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold, calculating an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) based at least in part on the percentage of message acknowledgements received and the link quality of the previous link in the network, determining a message success rate based on the first quantity and the second quantity, receiving a link quality from the remote device, and determining an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) value based at least in part on a previous EELQ value and the message success rate. Otherwise the EELQ value is set to 0. Then calculating an end-to-end link cost (EELC) value based at least in part on the EELQ; selecting a route based at least in part on the EELC; and transmitting a message to a second device on the route.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting a first quantity of messages to a remote device;

receiving a second quantity of message acknowledgements from the remote device in response to receiving the first quantity of messages;

determining a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) value;

comparing the RSSI value to a minimum RSSI threshold;

if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

calculating an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) based at least in part on the percentage of message acknowledgements received and the link quality of the previous link in the network,

determining a message success rate based on the first quantity and the second quantity,

receiving a link quality from the remote device,

determining an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) value based at least in part on a previous EELQ value and the message success rate;

otherwise setting the EELQ value to 0;

calculating an end-to-end link cost (EELC) value based at least in part on the EELQ;

selecting a route based at least in part on the EELC; and

transmitting a message to a second device on the route selected.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein calculating the EELC is based at least in part on the EELQ, a bandwidth value, an expected battery life, and a crystal oscillator accuracy.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein calculating the EELC is based at least in part on a plurality of weighting factors.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method is executed a plurality of times to calculate a plurality of EELC values, each corresponding to one of a plurality of remote devices.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising requesting the link quality from the remote device.

6. A computer-readable medium comprising program code, the program code comprising:

program code for transmitting a first quantity of messages to a remote device;

program code for receiving a second quantity of message acknowledgements from the remote device;

program code for determining a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) value;

program code for comparing the RSSI value to a minimum RSSI threshold;

if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

program code for calculating an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) value based at least in part on the percentage of message acknowledgements received and the link quality of the previous link in the network, the program code for calculating the EELQ value configured to execute if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

program code for determining a message success rate (MSR) value based on the first quantity and the second quantity, the program code for determining the MSR value configured to execute if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

program code for receiving a link quality from the remote device, the program code for receiving the link quality configured to execute if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold,

program code for determining an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) value based at least in part on a previous EELQ value and the message success rate, the program code for determining the EELQ value configured to execute if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

program code for setting the EELQ value to 0, the program code for setting the EELQ value to 0 if the RSSI value is less than the minimum RSSI threshold;

program code for calculating an end-to-end link cost (EELC) value based at least in part on the EELQ;

program code for selecting a route based at least in part on the EELC; and

program code for transmitting a message to a second device on the route.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the program code for calculating the EELC is configured to calculate the EELC based at least in part on the EELQ, a bandwidth value, an expected battery life, and a crystal accuracy.

8. The computer-readable medium claim 7, wherein the program code for calculating the EELC is configured to calculate the EELC based at least in part on a plurality of weighting factors.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the program code is configured to be executed a plurality of times to calculate a plurality of EELC values, each corresponding to one of a plurality of remote devices.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising program code for requesting the link quality from the remote device.

11. A system comprising:

a memory;

a wireless receiver; and

a processor in communication with the memory and the wireless receiver, the processor configured to;

transmit a first quantity of messages to a remote device;

receive a second quantity of message acknowledgements from the remote device;

determine a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) value;

compare the RSSI value to a minimum RSSI threshold;

calculate an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) value based at least in part on the percentage of message acknowledgements received and the link quality of the previous link in the network if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

determine a message success rate (MSR) value based on the first quantity and the second quantity if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

receive a link quality from the remote device if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold,

determine an end-to-end link quality (EELQ) value based at least in part on a previous EELQ value and the message success rate if the RSSI value is greater than the minimum RSSI threshold;

set the EELQ value to 0 if the RSSI value is less than the minimum RSSI threshold;

calculate an end-to-end link cost (EELC) value based at least in part on the EELQ;

select a route based at least in part on the EELC; and

transmit a message to a second device on the route.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor calculates the EELC based at least in part on the EELQ, a bandwidth value, an expected battery life, and a crystal accuracy.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor calculates the EELC based at least in part on a plurality of weighting factors.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a plurality of EELC values, each corresponding to one of a plurality of remote devices.

15. The system of claim 11, further configured to request the link quality from the remote device.