DATA ROUTING IN HYBRID WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

• US 20110085494A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), NEC Laboratories America Inc (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Chonggang, Ji, Lusheng, Wang, Ting
• Granted Patent: US 8,958,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/35 by embedding flow control information in regular packets, e.g. piggybacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

System(s), device(s), and method(s) are provided to route data in a mesh network of devices that can communicate wirelessly through a plurality of technologies. One or more of such devices receive broadcast message(s) from a destination device intended to receive the data, and generate a first radio link quality metric (RLQM) value based on the broadcast message(s). A source device originates and delivers a quantum of data with an embedded first RLQM value. A set of intermediate devices relays the quantum of data if a forwarding criterion is fulfilled; the forwarding criterion is based in part on the first RLQM value and a second RLQM value generated by an intermediate device in the set of intermediate devices based on the broadcast message(s). The intermediate device exploits an optical interface to transmit the quantum of data. The destination device broadcasts an acknowledgement signal in response to receiving intended data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

employing a first processor to execute a first set of code instructions retained in a first memory, the first set of code instructions when executed by the first processor carry out the following acts;

generating a first radio link quality metric (RLQM) value based in part on a broadcast message received via a first telecommunication protocol; and

if a first data packet is available for transmission, delivering the first data packet according to a second telecommunication protocol, wherein the first data packet includes the first RLQM value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message is received periodically or at scheduled intervals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

employing a second processor to execute a second set of code instructions retained in a second memory, the second set of code instructions when executed by the second processor carry out the following acts;

generating a second RLQM value based in part on the broadcast message received according to the first telecommunication protocol;

receiving the first data packet according to the second telecommunication protocol; and

if a forwarding criterion based in part on at least one of the first RLQM value and the second RLQM value is fulfilled;

formatting the first data packet to include the second RLQM value; and

transmitting the formatted first data packet according to the second telecommunication protocol.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the forwarding criterion is whether the second radio link quality metric (RLQM) value is greater than the first second RLQM value by a predetermined margin.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the formatted first data packet via the second interface includes:

queuing the formatted first data packet for delivery;

triggering a timer in response to queuing the formatted first data packet for delivery; and

conveying the formatted first data packet if at least one of the timer is elapsed and at least one of a second data packet with payload data that matches payload data in the first data packet is not received or an acknowledgement signal is not received.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

discarding the formatted first data packet when at least one of the timer is not elapsed and the second data packet with payload data that matches payload data in the first data packet is received.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

discarding the formatted data packet when at least one of the timer is not elapsed and the acknowledgement signal is received.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

employing a third processor to execute a third set of code instructions retained in a third memory, the third set of code instructions when executed by the third processor carry out the following acts;

collecting the formatted first data packet according to the second telecommunication protocol; and

delivering signaling to acknowledge receipt of the formatted first data packet, wherein the signaling is delivered according to at least one of the first telecommunication protocol or the second telecommunication protocol.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first telecommunication protocol is a radio telecommunication protocol and the second telecommunication protocol is an optical telecommunication protocol.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a radio link quality metric (RLQM) includes at least one of a radio signal strength (RSS) indicator, a received signal code power (RSCP) indicator, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or a signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNIR).

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the broadcast message includes at least one of an identity (ID) of a device intended to receive the formatted first data packet or an identity of the broadcast message.

12. A system, comprising:

a first device configured to receive a broadcast message from a second device via radio telecommunication interface, and deliver a first data packet via optical telecommunication, wherein the first data packet includes a first radio link quality metric (RLQM) value generated based in part on the broadcast message; and

a set of devices configured to;

receive the broadcast message and generate one or more RLQM values based in part on the broadcast message; and

route payload data in the first data packet to the second device via optical telecommunication and based at least on the one or more RLQM values.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one device in the set of devices is configured to:

receive a data packet via an optical telecommunication interface, wherein the data packet is one of the first data packet or a second data packet;

transmit the data packet through the optical telecommunication interface based at least on fulfillment of at least one routing criterion based in part on at least one of an RLQM value generated by the at least one device and an RLQM value included in the data packet.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one device in the set of devices is configured to implement a contention resolution protocol to mitigate likelihood of collision amongst a plurality of data packets routed to the second device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, to implement the contention resolution protocol, the at least one device is further configured to queue a data packet and for a random time interval.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the span of the random time interval is based at least in part on difference amongst a radio quality link metric (RQLM) value determined by the at least one device and an RLQM value received in the data packet that is queued.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the second device is configured to broadcast an acknowledgement (ACK) signal in response to reception of the first data packet, the ACK signal is broadcasted via at least one of an optical interface or a radio interface.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the broadcast message includes at least one of an identity (ID) of the second device or an ID of the broadcast message, the second device is configured to update the ID of the broadcast message for a new instance of the broadcast message.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein means for routing payload data in the first data packet includes:

means for receiving a data packet in accordance with an optical telecommunication protocol, wherein the data packet is one of the first data packet or a second data packet;

means for applying at least one forwarding rule based in part on at least one of the one or more RLQM values and an RLQM value included in the data packet; and

based on outcome of applying the forwarding rule, means for transmitting the data packet in accordance with an optical telecommunication protocol.

19. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a broadcast message in accordance with a radio telecommunication protocol from a destination device;

means for generating a first radio link quality metric (RLQM) value generated based in part on the broadcast message;

means for delivering a first data packet in accordance with an optical telecommunication protocol, wherein the first data packet includes the first RLQM value; and

means for routing payload data in the first data packet to the destination device in accordance with the optical telecommunication protocol and based at least on one or more RLQM values.