SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF A DYNAMIC NETWORK USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES

• US 20110201275A1
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IP Investment Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: E3, LLC
• Inventors: Gharibjanians, Gharib, Jabara, Gary B., Simon, David Brett, Linder, Lloyd Frederick, Karmis, Christos
• Granted Patent: US 8,995,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A short-range wireless communication network may be established by direct communication between two or more wireless communication devices. A conventional cellular telephone includes an integrated short-range transceiver. The short-range transceivers of multiple wireless communication devices can be coupled together to form a short-range communication network without utilizing any wireless communication network supported by wireless service providers. The short-range communication network may be extended as additional devices come within range or consolidated as wireless communication devices leave the communication range. The short-range communication network is built upon the proximity of wireless communication devices with each other. Data is disseminated between the wireless communication devices using a data message synchronization process. Messages may also be carried from one wireless network to another as the communication devices are carried by individuals.

Claims

1. A method for network management of wireless communication devices comprising:

in a first wireless communication device, monitoring a predetermined radio frequency channel with a receiver to detect a beacon signal, having a predetermined beacon identifier, from a second wireless communication device;

if the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier is detected, using a transmitter and the receiver in the first wireless communication device to establish a first communication link between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device to thereby form a first wireless group;

upon formation of the first wireless group, transmitting message data from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device and receiving message data from the second wireless communication device;

if the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier is not detected, using the transmitter in the first wireless communication device to transmit the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier;

using the receiver to receive a signal from a third wireless communication device that has detected the beacon signal transmitted from the first wireless communication device;

using the transmitter and receiver in the first wireless communication device to establish a second wireless communication link between the first wireless communication device and the third wireless communication device to thereby form a second wireless group; and

upon formation of the second wireless group, transmitting message data from the first wireless communication device to the third wireless communication device and receiving message data from the third wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message data comprises one or more messages, each of the one or more messages including time data indicative of a transmission time of the message and location data indicative of a location from which the message originated.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the message data comprises a data file.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data file comprises a data file having a data form selected from a plurality of data forms comprising audio data, video data, image data, and document data.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the data file has a PDF image data form.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the data file has a word processor document data form.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the data file has an audio document data form and transmitting audio data comprises providing a push-to-talk button on the first wireless communication device to permit a user to speak into an audio input device on the first wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the message data transmitted from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device comprises a message intended for a specified recipient.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the message is intended for a specified recipient other than the second wireless communication device, the method further comprising transmitting the message between a plurality of wireless communication devices wherein only the intended recipient can read the message when received.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein the message data transmitted from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device comprises a message intended for any recipient.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device transmitting the beacon signal is designated as a group owner.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication device detecting the beacon signal is designated as a group client.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the group owner storing a list of group clients having wireless communication links with the group owner.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the second wireless communication device is a wireless access point.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the wireless access point is designated as a group owner.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the group owner transmitting data indicative of a number of group clients coupled to the group owner via wireless communication links.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and receiver in the first wireless communication device operate in accordance with WiFi standards.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second wireless communication devices are cell phone devices having network transceivers for communication with a public land mobile network (PLMN) and wherein the transmitter and receiver in the first wireless communication device are non-network communication devices not used with the PLMN.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless communication device detected the beacon signal from the second wireless device, the method further comprising:

in a fourth wireless communication device, monitoring the predetermined radio frequency channel with a receiver to detect the beacon signal having a predetermined beacon identifier from the second wireless communication device;

if the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier is detected, using a transmitter and the receiver in the fourth wireless communication device to establish a third communication link between the fourth wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device to thereby add the fourth wireless communication device to the first wireless group;

upon the addition of the fourth wireless communication device to the first wireless group, transmitting message data from the fourth wireless communication device to other wireless communication devices in range of the fourth wireless communication device and receiving message data from other wireless communication devices in range of the fourth wireless communication device.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the message data is transferred from the fourth wireless communication device to the first wireless communication device via the second wireless communication device.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless communication device detected the beacon signal from the second wireless device, the method further comprising:

in a fourth wireless communication device, monitoring the predetermined radio frequency channel with a receiver to detect the beacon signal having a predetermined beacon identifier from the second wireless communication device;

if the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier is not detected, using the transmitter in the fourth wireless communication device to transmit the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier;

breaking the first wireless communication link;

in the first wireless communication device, monitoring the predetermined radio frequency channel with the receiver to detect the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier from the fourth wireless communication device;

if the beacon signal having the predetermined beacon identifier from the fourth wireless communication device is detected,

using the transmitter and receiver in the first wireless communication device to establish a fourth wireless communication link between the first wireless communication device and the fourth wireless communication device to thereby form a third wireless group; and

upon formation of the third wireless group, transmitting message data from the first wireless communication device to the fourth wireless communication device and receiving message data from the fourth wireless communication device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein breaking the first wireless communication link comprises determining a signal quality indicator of the first wireless communication link and breaking the first wireless communication link if the signal quality indicator is less than a threshold value.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein breaking the first wireless communication link comprises periodically breaking the first wireless communication link.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

breaking the fourth wireless communication link between the first wireless communication device and the fourth wireless communication device;

re-establishing the first wireless communication link between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device to thereby rejoin the first wireless group; and

upon rejoining the first wireless group, transmitting message data from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device and receiving message data from the second wireless communication device, wherein the second wireless communication thereby receives message data received by the first wireless communication device from the fourth wireless communication device while the first wireless communication device was in the third wireless group.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein breaking the first wireless communication link, establishing the fourth wireless communication link between the first wireless communication device and the fourth wireless communication device, transmitting message data from the first wireless communication device to the fourth wireless communication device and receiving message data from the fourth wireless communication device, breaking the fourth wireless communication link, re-establishing the first wireless communication link between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, transmitting message data from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device and receiving message data from the second wireless communication device is performed repeatedly whereby the first wireless communication device is a member of the first group and the third group.

26. A system for network management of wireless communication devices comprising:

a first wireless device having;

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

a controller configured to control operation of the first wireless device, the receiver being configured to detect a beacon signal having a selected beacon identifier, with the transmitter being configured to establish a first communication link with a second wireless device whose beacon signal is detected by the receiver;

wherein the controller is configured to cause the transmitter to transmit the beacon signal having the selected beacon identifier if no beacon signal is detected by the receiver.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a data storage area configured to store message data, the controller being configured to cause the transmitter to transmit message data in the storage area if the beacon signal is detected and to cause the receiver to receive message data from nearby wireless communication devices.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the message data comprises a data file.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the data file comprises a data file having a data form selected from a plurality of data forms comprising audio data, video data, image data, and document data.

30. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of wireless communication devices each having;

a first transceiver configured to communicate with a wireless communication network;

a second transceiver configured to communicate other than with the wireless communication network;

a controller configured to control operation of the second transceiver; and

a data storage area;

wherein the second transceiver in a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices is configured to transmit message data stored in the data storage area and to receive message data stored in the data storage area of others of the plurality of wireless communications devices within range of the first of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the second transceiver of the first of the plurality of wireless communications devices is configured to detect a beacon signal having a selected beacon identifier transmitted from a second of the plurality of wireless communications devices.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices joins a short-range communication network to communicate directly with the second of the plurality of wireless communication devices separate from the wireless communication network used by the first transceiver.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the second transceiver of the first of the plurality of wireless communications devices is configured to transmit the beacon signal having the selected beacon identifier if the beacon signal having the selected beacon identifier transmitted from a second of the plurality of wireless communications devices is not detected.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the transceiver in the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices is configured to transmit public message data to be received and processed by any nearby ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices within communication range of the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein the transceiver in the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices is configured to transmit private message data to be received by any nearby ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices within communication range of the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices wherein the private message data is intended for receipt by a designated one of the plurality of wireless communication devices and the private message data can only be processed by the designated one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the transceivers in the respective nearby ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices within communication range of the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices are configured to re-transmit private message data if nearby ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices within communication range of the first of the plurality of wireless communication devices are not the designated one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

37. The system of claim 30 wherein the second transceiver in a third of the plurality of wireless communication devices is configured to exchange message data with the others of the plurality of wireless communication devices when in range of the second transceivers in the others of the plurality of wireless communication devices during a first period of time, the second transceiver in the third of the plurality of wireless communication devices being moved out of range of the second transceivers in the others of the plurality of wireless communication devices and unable to receive message data during a second period of time subsequent to the first period of time, the second transceiver in the third of the plurality of wireless communication devices being moved back in range of the second transceivers in the others of the plurality of wireless communication devices during a third period of time subsequent to the second period of time, and being configured to exchange message data with the others of the plurality of wireless communication devices, including message data exchanged between the others of the plurality of wireless communication devices during the second period of time.