Communication Method

• US 20140149547A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited
• Original Assignee: Nomad Spectrum Limited
• Inventors: Barker, Nick
• Granted Patent: US 10,447,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices

Abstract

A method of transmitting data from a first device. The method comprises: at the first device, establishing a connection with a first one of a plurality of second devices and establishing a first virtual connection, the first virtual connection being between the first device and a third device through the first one of a plurality of second devices; and receiving details of a second virtual connection, the second virtual connection being between a fourth device and the third device through a second one of the plurality of second devices, the fourth device being connected to the first device. The method further comprises selecting one of said first or second virtual connections for transmission of a data packet to said third device and transmitting data to said third device using said selected connection.

Claims

1. A method for providing network connections aboard a vehicles, comprising:

at a first device aboard a first vehicle providing a first virtual network to which at least one second device can connect;

entering a first operational mode in which data transmitted by said at least one second device over said first virtual network is received by said first device;

detecting the presence of a third device aboard a second vehicle, said third device being adapted to also provide said first virtual network to which said at least one second device can connect; and

entering a second operational mode in which data transmitted to said virtual network is not received by said first device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first device and said second device are each further arranged to provide a second virtual network to which said at least one second device can connect;

and

wherein in each of said first and second operational modes said first device is arranged to receive data transmitted by said at least one second device over said second virtual network.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one second device comprises a plurality of second devices and the method further comprises:

while said first device is in said second operational mode;

receiving data at said first device on said second virtual network from a first one of said second devices; and

receiving data at said third device on said first virtual network from a second one of said second devices.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first vehicle comprises a first plurality of access points and said second vehicle comprises a second plurality of access points, and the method further comprises:

at said first device in said first operational mode;

maintaining a connection with each of said first plurality of access points but not said second plurality of access points and accepting connection by said at least one second device to said first virtual network via at least one of said first plurality of access points; and

at said first device in said second operational mode;

maintaining a connection with each of said first and second plurality of access points but not accepting connection by said at least one second device to said first virtual network via any of said first and second plurality of access points.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said first device and said second device are each further arranged to provide a second virtual network to which said at least one second device can connect;

and

wherein in each of said first and second operational modes said first device is arranged to receive data transmitted by said at least one second device over said second virtual network; and

the method further comprising at said first device in said second operational mode;

accepting connection by said at least one second device to said second virtual network via at least one of said first access points and/or at least one of said second access points.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second vehicles are the same vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said first and second vehicles are respective carriages of a train.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said first device and said third device are connected via an inter-carriage wired link.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second vehicles are different vehicles and wherein said detection occurs during a transient proximity of said vehicles.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that said third device meets a predetermined criterion and wherein entering said second operational mode is a response to receiving said indication.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first virtual network is a virtual LAN.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an absence of said third device and entering said first operational mode.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising at said first device:

detecting the presence of a fourth device, said fourth device also adapted to provide said first virtual network to which said at least one second device can connect; and

determining that said fourth device does not meet said predetermined criteria and remaining in said first operational mode.

14. An apparatus for providing network connections aboard vehicles, comprising:

a first device aboard a first vehicle, said first device being arranged to;

provide a first virtual network to which at least one second device can connect;

enter a first operational mode in which data transmitted by said at least one second device over said first virtual network is received by said first device;

detect the presence of a third device aboard a second vehicle, said third device being adapted to also provide said first virtual network to which said at least one second device can connect; and

enter a second operational mode in which data transmitted

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions configured to cause a computer to carry out a method for providing network connections aboard a vehicles, comprising:

at a first device aboard a first vehicle providing a first virtual network to which at least one second device can connect;

entering a first operational mode in which data transmitted by said at least one second device over said first virtual network is received by said first device;

detecting the presence of a third device aboard a second vehicle, said third device being adapted to also provide said first virtual network to which said at least one second device can connect; and

entering a second operational mode in which data transmitted to said virtual network is not received by said first device.

16. A computer apparatus for determining suitable communication paths between a first device and a second device, said first device being connected to a plurality of third devices to which said second device is also connected, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor readable instructions; and

a processor arranged to read and execute instructions stored in said memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions arranged to control the computer to carry out a method for providing network connections aboard a vehicles, comprising;

at a first device aboard a first vehicle providing a first virtual network to which at least one second device can connect;

entering a first operational mode in which data transmitted by said at least one second device over said first virtual network is received by said first device;

detecting the presence of a third device aboard a second vehicle, said third device being adapted to also provide said first virtual network to which said at least one second device can connect; and

entering a second operational mode in which data transmitted to said virtual network is not received by said first device.

17. A method of transmitting data from a first device, the method comprising at said first device:

establishing a connection with a first one of a plurality of second devices;

establishing a first virtual connection, said first virtual connection being between said first device and a third device through said first one of a plurality of second devices;

receiving details of a second virtual connection, said second virtual connection being between a fourth device and said third device through a second one of said plurality of second devices, said fourth device being connected to said first device;

selecting one of said first or second virtual connections for transmission of a data packet to said third device; and

transmitting data to said third device using said selected connection.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein selecting one of said first or second virtual connections comprises determining a latency of said first virtual connection and said second virtual connection.

19. A method according to claim 18, receiving details of a second virtual connection comprises receiving details of a latency of said second virtual connection from said fourth device.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said details of a latency of said second virtual connection are received in a first communication, said first communication being sent periodically from said fourth device to said first device.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said first communication comprises latency information for a plurality of connections from said fourth device to a plurality of third devices.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein said selecting is at least partly based upon respective latencies of said first and second virtual connections.

23. A method according to claim 17, further comprising determining at said first device a latency of the connection between said first device and said fourth device and said selecting is at least partly based upon said latency of the connection between said first device and said fourth device.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said selection is at least partly based upon a comparison of a latency of said first virtual connection with a combined latency of said second virtual connection and a latency of said connection between said first and fourth devices.

25. A method according to claim 17, further comprising selecting said second virtual connection and transmitting said data packet to said fourth device for transmission to said third device.

26. A method according to claim 18, wherein said first device and said fourth device are housed in different carriages of a train.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said first and fourth devices are connected via an inter-carriage wired link.

28. A method according to claim 17, wherein said first device and fourth device are connected via a dedicated virtual LAN.

29. Apparatus for transmitting data, the apparatus comprising:

connection means for establishing a connection with one of a plurality of second devices;

virtual connection means for establishing a first virtual connection, said first virtual connection being between said first device and a third device through said one of a plurality of second devices;

connection means for establishing a connection with a fourth device;

a receiver for receiving details of a second virtual connection, said second virtual connection being between said fourth device and said third device through one of said plurality of second devices;

selection means for selecting one of said first or second virtual connections for transmission of a data packet to said third device; and

a transmitter for transmitting data to said third device using said selected connection.

30. A non-transient computer readable medium carrying computer readable instructions configured to cause a computer to carry out a method of transmitting data from a first device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with a first one of a plurality of second devices;

establishing a first virtual connection, said first virtual connection being between said first device and a third device through said first one of a plurality of second devices;

receiving details of a second virtual connection, said second virtual connection being between a fourth device and said third device through a second one of said plurality of second devices, said fourth device being connected to said first device;

selecting one of said first or second virtual connections for transmission of a data packet to said third device; and

transmitting data to said third device using said selected connection.

31. A computer apparatus for transmitting data from a first device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor readable instructions; and

a processor arranged to read and execute instructions stored in said memory;

wherein said processor readable instructions comprise instructions arranged to control the computer to carry out a method of transmitting data from a first device, the method comprising;

establishing a connection with a first one of a plurality of second devices;

establishing a first virtual connection, said first virtual connection being between said first device and a third device through said first one of a plurality of second devices;

receiving details of a second virtual connection, said second virtual connection being between a fourth device and said third device through a second one of said plurality of second devices, said fourth device being connected to said first device;

selecting one of said first or second virtual connections for transmission of a data packet to said third device; and

transmitting data to said third device using said selected connection.