COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, CONTROL STATION THEREOF AND COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20120106561A1
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Horio, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,982,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A plurality of control stations supervise respective ones of different networks and multiple nodes belonging to each network perform redundant transmission of data. The number of communication paths for which the qualities of communication links between the nodes belonging to the network are greater than a threshold value are calculated as the number of active paths of each of the nodes belonging to each network, and it is determined whether the calculated number of active paths of each node in each network is equal to or greater than a predetermined redundancy. In case of existence of a node for which the number of active paths is less than the predetermined redundancy, then the node is moved between the network in which the node exists and another network.

Claims

1. A communication system in which a plurality of control stations supervise respective ones of different networks and multiple nodes belonging to each network perform a data transmission, wherein each control station comprises:

an acquisition unit which acquires the number of active paths for which the qualities of communication links between the nodes belonging to the supervised network exceed a prescribed threshold value; and

a moving unit which, in case of existence of a node for which the number of active paths that exceeds the prescribed threshold value is smaller than a prescribed number, moves the node between the network in which the node exists and another network.

2. A control station of a communication system in which a plurality of control stations supervise respective ones of different networks and multiple nodes belonging to each network perform a data transmission, comprising:

an acquisition unit which acquires the number of active paths for which the qualities of communication links between the nodes belonging to the supervised network exceed a prescribed threshold value; and

a moving unit which, in case of existence of a node for which the number of active paths is smaller than a prescribed number, moves the node between the network in which the node exists and another network.

3. The control station according to claim 2, wherein said moving unit moves at least one node, from among the multiple nodes belonging to said other network, to the network supervised by the control station.

4. The control station according to claim 3, wherein a node for which the number of active paths in said other network is smallest is selected as the node moved to the network.

5. The control station according to claim 2, wherein in a case where a node for which the number of active paths is less than a prescribed number exists in each network, said moving unit moves the node in accordance with the overall number of the nodes and the number of nodes for which the number of active paths exceeds the prescribed number in each network.

6. The control station according to claim 5, wherein said moving unit moves a node from a network in which a ratio between the overall number of nodes and the number of nodes for which the number of active paths exceeds the prescribed number is larger to a network in which the ratio is smaller.

7. The control station according to claim 5, wherein in a case where the ratios between the overall number of nodes and the number of nodes for which the number of active paths exceeds the prescribed number are equal, said moving unit moves a node from the network in which the overall number of active nodes is larger to the network in which the overall number of active paths is smaller.

8. The control station according to claim 2, wherein in a case where there is no communication band that can be used by the node in the network to which the node is moved, said moving unit interchanges nodes between the networks.

9. A communication method in a control station of a communication system in which a plurality of control stations supervise respective ones of different networks and multiple nodes belonging to each network perform a data transmission, comprising:

acquiring the number of active paths for which the qualities of communication links between the nodes belonging to the supervised network exceed a prescribed threshold value; and

in case of existence of a node for which the number of active paths is smaller than a prescribed number, moving the node between the network in which this node exists and another network.

10. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the communication method set forth in claim 9.