WIRELESS NETWORK PROTOCOL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20180192351A1
• Filed: 01/02/2018
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Granted Patent: US 10,356,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/14 based on stability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A system and method for providing wireless network communications between a plurality of remote devices and a site controller are provided. Each network and the site controller communicates using a communications protocol adapted to allow remote devices and the site controller to independently control the communication path for transmissions sent by each device. In some embodiments, remote devices can collect and store information about other remote devices and available communication paths for optimum data transmission. Also, in some embodiments, remote devices can quickly join a preexisting network by communicating with a site controller and/or other remote devices. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. In a wireless communication network, a system comprising:

a site controller;

a plurality of remote devices wirelessly coupled to the site controller, the plurality of remote devices enabled to perform a communication protocol to identify a communication path when making a transmission, the communication path to at least one of the site controller or another remote device of the plurality of remote devices, the communication protocol enabled to;

(i) monitor successful and unsuccessful transmissions to one or more of the plurality of remote devices as the plurality of remote devices communicate with other remote devices in the network;

(ii) maintain a connection list identifying one or more of the plurality of remote devices and a success data score representative of successful and unsuccessful transmissions to one or more of the plurality of remote devices; and

(iii) select a communication path from the connection list through which to make a communication to the at least one of another remote device or the site controller based on the success data score.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote devices is located out of range from the site controller.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote devices is configured to operate as a repeater such that the at least one remote device is enabled to receive a data packet and retransmit the data packet.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the selected communication path is associated with a favorable success data score.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the communication protocol is enabled to discriminate between data packets associated with normal transmissions and emergency transmissions and prioritize data packets associated with emergency transmissions.

26. In a wireless communication network having a site controller wirelessly coupled to a plurality of remote devices, a system comprising:

a first remote device of the plurality of remote devices, the first remote device enabled to perform a communication protocol to determine a first communication path between the first remote device and at least one of a second remote device or the site controller, the communication protocol enabled to;

(i) monitor successful and unsuccessful transmissions to one or more of the plurality of remote devices as the first remote device communicates with the plurality of remote devices in the network;

(ii) maintain a connection list identifying one or more of the plurality of remote devices and a success data score representative of successful and unsuccessful transmissions to the plurality of remote devices, and

(iii) select a wireless communication path from the connection list through which the first remote device can make a transmission to at least one of a second remote device and the site controller.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the communication path is to the second remote device and the second remote device is selected because it is associated with a favorable success data score.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the first remote device makes a transmission to a second remote device and the second remote device is enabled to perform the communication protocol to determine a second communication path.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the second communication path is configured to wirelessly couple the second remote device to at least one of the site controller and a third remote device.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the first remote device is configured to address a data packet to the second remote device, the data packet comprising identification information of the first remote device and the second remote device.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the second remote device is downstream from the first remote device.

32. A remote device comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a site controller;

a logic unit configured to implement a communication protocol, the communication protocol comprising stored instructions for selecting a wireless communication path between the remote device and the site controller, the communication protocol enabled to;

(i) monitor successful and unsuccessful transmission to one or more of the plurality of remote devices as the first remote device communicates with the plurality of remote devices in the network; and

(ii) maintain a connection list identifying one or more of said plurality of remote devices and a success data score representative of successful and unsuccessful transmissions to remote devices; and

a memory for storing the connection list.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the communication path is to the second remote device and the second remote device is selected because it is associated with a favorable success data score.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the remote device makes a transmission to a second remote device and the second remote device is enabled to perform the communication protocol to determine a second wireless communication path.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the second wireless communication path is configured to wirelessly couple the second remote device to at least one of the site controller and a third remote device.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the remote device is configured to address a data packet to the second remote device, the data packet comprising identification information of the remote device and the second remote device.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the second remote device is downstream from the first remote device.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed, identify one of the first wireless communication path and a second wireless communication path on which to make a transmission.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein at least one of the first wireless communication path and the second wireless communication path comprises a success data score corresponding to a successful wireless communication pathway.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein at least one of the first wireless communication path and the second wireless communication path comprises a success data score corresponding to an unsuccessful wireless communication pathway.