INTERFACING WITH LOW-POWER AND LOSSY NETWORKS

• US 20140126431A1
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hui, Jonathan W., Hong, Wei, Vasseur, Jean-Philippe
• Application Number:
  US13/669,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20140126431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/277
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In one embodiment, a client device determines when it is coupled to an IoT/LLN device to establish and enable an IP link between a headset interface on the client device and a signal interface on the IoT/LLN device. Once the IP link is established, a duplex data signal is transmitted between the client device and the IoT/LLN device, via the IP link.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing an Internet Protocol (IP) link between a headset interface on a client device and a signal interface on a device in a Low-Power and Lossy Network (LLN) wherein the client device is external of the LLN; and

transmitting, between the client device and the LLN device, a duplex data signal via the IP link.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the IP link is a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) data link.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the PPP data link uses a RFC 1661 standard.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communicating data step further includes detecting operation of the LLN device via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) provided on the client device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal interface of the LLN device is a headset interface.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each headset interface is configured to couple with a 3.5 mm coupling member.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the IP link between the client device and the LLN device is a wireless link.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client device is configured to initiate a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) link with another client device to establish data communication therebetween.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the client device comprises a portable computer device.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the portable computer device comprises a mobile phone, smart phone, personal digital assistant or tablet device.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps:

determining in the client device when it is coupled to the LLN device; and

enabling the IP link when it is determined the client device is coupled to the LLN device.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the steps:

determining a device type for the LLN device that is coupled to the client device; and

configuring the client device to interface with the LLN device contingent upon the determined LLN device type.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces to communicate with a Wide Area Network (WAN);

a headset interface adapted to send and receive duplex data signals;

a processor coupled to the network interfaces and the headset interface, the processor adapted to execute one or more processes; and

a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to;

establish an Internet Protocol (IP) link between the headset interface and a signal interface on device coupled in a Low-Power and Lossy Network (LLN); and

transmit, between the apparatus and the LLN device, a duplex data signal via the IP link.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the IP link is a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) data link.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the signal interface of the LLN device is a headset interface.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein each headset interface is configured to couple with a 3.5 mm coupling member.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the process when executed is further operable to initiate a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) link with another apparatus using the WAN to establish data communication therebetween.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone, smart phone, personal digital assistant or tablet device.

19. An apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

determine when the apparatus is coupled to the LLN device; and

enable the IP link when it is determined the apparatus is coupled to the LLN device.

20. An apparatus recited in claim 19, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

determine a device type for the LLN device that is coupled to the apparatus; and

configure the apparatus to interface with the LLN device contingent upon the determined LLN device type.

21. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed by a processor operable to:

establish an Internet Protocol (IP) link between a headset interface on a client device and a signal interface on a device in a Low-Power and Lossy Network (LLN) wherein the client device is external of the LLN; and

transmit, between the client device and the LLN device, a duplex data signal via the IP link.

22. The computer-readable media as in claim 21, wherein the software when executed is further operable to:

determine when the client device is coupled to the LLN device; and

enable the IP link when it is determined the client device is coupled to the LLN device.

23. The computer-readable media as in claim 22, wherein the software when executed is further operable to:

determine a device type for the LLN device that is coupled to the client device; and

configure the client device to interface with the LLN device contingent upon the determined LLN device type.