Multiple tree hierarchical portable communication system and method

• US 5,539,922 A
• Filed: 10/01/1993
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Zhonghe
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAILE, ANDREW I
• Application Number:
  US08/130,572
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/33.3, 455/33.4, 455/34.1, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 455/56.1, 379/59, 340/825.02, 340/825.44, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]

Abstract

A communication system has a hierarchical system of nodes organized into multiple node trees (800-806, 820-826, and 835), the communication system for completing calls between various ports (810, 812, 826) for interfacing to various transceivers (840). The method used in the hierarchical system is capable of tracking the location of the transceiver as it moves between ports and trees of the system while substantially reducing the size and modification of a data base for tracking the location of the transceiver. The communication system provides a method of linking root nodes (800, 820, 835) of various trees while providing for the advantages of a reduced amount of memory necessary for tracking transceiver movement through the system. The method allows establishment and growth of node trees in various geographic locations while providing for links between the root nodes of the trees.

Claims

1. A method of locating a portable transceiver in a communication system having

a multiplicity of ports for transferring communication information through the communication system between a plurality of transceivers, the portable transceiver being a member of the plurality of transceivers, each of the plurality of transceivers being coupled to one of the multiplicity of ports,

a multiplicity of nodes for transferring information between the multiplicity of ports, each of the multiplicity of ports coupled to one of the multiplicity of nodes, each of the multiplicity of nodes having memory capable of storing data indicative of a port to which the portable transceiver is coupled, and

a plurality of node trees comprising the multiplicity of ports and the multiplicity of nodes, each of the plurality of node trees having

a plurality of the multiplicity of ports, and

a plurality of the multiplicity of nodes structured as a hierarchical system of nodes, wherein

a root node is structured as a highest node in the hierarchical system of nodes,

wherein the plurality of node trees includes

a home tree associated with the portable transceiver, the portable transceiver having an address indicative of a home port of the home tree, and the plurality of node trees further includes

a second tree having a second port, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the second port to the portable transceiver; and

(b) adding a first data entry to a root node of the home tree in response to step (a) of coupling, the first data entry being associated with the portable transceiver and indicative of a root node of the second tree.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(c) determining a second node of the second tree to be a member of a hierarchical chain of nodes indicative of the second port in response to step (a) of coupling;

(d) adding a second data entry to the second node in response to step (c) of determining, the second data entry being associated with the portable transceiver and indicative of the second port;

(e) determining a third node of the home tree to be a member of a hierarchical chain of nodes indicative of the home port; and

(f) adding a third data entry to the third node in response to step (e) of determining, the third data entry being associated with the portable transceiver and indicative of an absence the portable transceiver from a port of the home tree.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of trees further includes a third tree having a third port, and the method further includes:

(g) coupling the third port to the portable transceiver;

(h) adding a fourth data entry to the root node of the home tree in response to step (g) of coupling, the fourth data entry being associated with the portable transceiver and indicative of a root node of the third tree; and

(i) deleting the first data entry from the root node of the home tree in response to step (g) of coupling.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

(j) determining a fifth node of the third tree to be a member of a hierarchical chain of nodes indicative of the third port; and

(k) adding a fifth data entry to the fifth node in response to step (j) of determining, the fifth data entry being associated with the portable transceiver and indicative of the third port coupling to the portable transceiver; and

(l) deleting the second data entry from the second node in response to step (j) of coupling.

5. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

(m) coupling a port of the home tree to the portable transceiver;

(n) deleting the first data entry from the root node of the home tree in response to step (m) of coupling; and

(o) deleting the second data entry from the second node in response to step (m) of coupling.

6. The method according to claim 5 further wherein the port of the home tree is the home port and the method further comprises the step of:

(p) deleting the third data entry from the third node in response to step (m) of coupling.

7. A method of locating a plurality of portable transceivers in a communication system having

a multiplicity of ports for transferring communication information through the communication system between the plurality of portable transceivers, each of the plurality of portable transceivers being coupled to one of the multiplicity of ports,

a multiplicity of nodes for transferring information between the multiplicity of ports, each of the multiplicity of ports uniquely coupled to one of the multiplicity of nodes, each of the multiplicity of nodes having memory capable of storing data indicative of a port to which at least one of the plurality of portable transceivers is coupled, and

a plurality of node trees comprising the multiplicity of ports and the multiplicity of nodes, each of the plurality of node trees having

a plurality of the multiplicity of ports, and

a plurality of the multiplicity of nodes structured as a hierarchical system of nodes, wherein

a root node is structured as a highest node in the hierarchical system of nodes,

wherein the plurality of node trees includes

a first home tree associated with a first portable transceiver, the first portable transceiver having a first address indicative of a first home port of the first home tree, and the plurality of node trees further includes

a second home tree associated with a second portable transceiver, the second portable transceiver having a second address indicative of a second home port of the second home tree, and the method further comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a third port of the second home tree to the first portable transceiver;

(b) adding a first data entry to a root node of the first home tree in response to step (a) of coupling, the first data entry being associated with the first portable transceiver and indicative of a root node of the second tree;

(c) coupling a fourth port of the first home tree to the second portable transceiver; and

(d) adding a second data entry to a root node of the second home tree in response to step (c) of coupling, the second data entry being associated with the second portable transceiver and indicative of a root node of the first tree.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

(e) determining a third node of the second tree to be a member of a hierarchical chain of nodes which is indicative of the third port;

(f) adding a third data entry to the third node in response to step (e) of determining, the third data entry being associated with the first portable transceiver and indicative of the third port;

(g) determining a fourth node of the first tree to be a member of a hierarchical chain of nodes which is indicative of the fourth port; and

(f) adding a fourth data entry to the fourth node in response to step (g) of determining, the fourth data entry being associated with the second portable transceiver and indicative of the fourth port.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first address is included within the first data entry and the third data entry, thereby associating the first data entry and the third data entry with the first portable transceiver, and further wherein the the second address is included with the second data entry and the fourth data entry, thereby associating the second data entry and the fourth data entry with the second portable transceiver.

10. A method of completing a call to one of a plurality of a transceivers in a communication system having

a multiplicity of ports for transferring communication information through the communication system between the plurality of transceivers, each of the plurality of transceivers being coupled to one of the multiplicity of ports,

a multiplicity of nodes for transferring information between the multiplicity of ports, each of the multiplicity of ports uniquely coupled to one of the multiplicity of nodes, each of the multiplicity of nodes having memory capable of storing data indicative of a port to which the one of the plurality of transceivers is coupled, and

a plurality of node trees comprising the multiplicity of ports and the multiplicity of nodes, each of the plurality of node trees having

a plurality of the multiplicity of ports, and

a plurality of the multiplicity of nodes structured as a hierarchical system of nodes, wherein

a root node is structured as a highest node in the hierarchical system of nodes,

wherein the plurality of node trees includes

a home tree associated with the one of the plurality of transceivers, the one of the plurality of transceivers having an address indicative of a home port of the home tree, and the plurality of node trees further includes

a second tree having a second port, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a connection request at the second port, the connection request intended for reception by the one of the plurality of transceivers;

(b) forwarding the connection request from the second port to a root node of the second tree;

(c) determining an absence of a data entry associated with the one of the plurality of transceivers at the root node of the second tree; and

(d) forward the connection request from the root node of the second tree to a root node of the home tree in response to step (c) of determining.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of:

(e) forwarding the connection request from the root node of the home tree to the home port in response to an absence of a data entry associated with the one of the plurality of transceivers from any node in the home tree.

12. The method according to claim 10 further wherein the plurality of node trees includes a third tree, and the method further includes the step of:

(f) determining the presence of a data entry associated with the one of the plurality of transceivers at the root node of the home tree, the data entry being indicative of the one of the plurality of transceivers coupling to a port of the third tree; and

(g) forwarding the connection request from the root node of the home tree to a root node of the third tree in response step (f) of determining.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of:

(h) forwarding the connection request to the third port in response to step (g) of forwarding.

14. A method of completing a call to a transceiver of a plurality of transceivers in a communication system having

a multiplicity ports for transferring communication information through the communication system between the plurality of transceivers, each of the plurality of transceivers being coupled to one of the multiplicity of ports,

a multiplicity of nodes for transferring information between the multiplicity of ports, each of the multiplicity of ports uniquely coupled to one of the multiplicity of nodes, each of the multiplicity of nodes having memory capable of storing data indicative of a port to which the transceiver is coupled, and

a plurality of node trees comprising the multiplicity of ports and the multiplicity of nodes, each of the plurality of node trees having

a plurality of the multiplicity of ports, and

a plurality of the multiplicity of nodes structured as a hierarchical system of nodes, wherein

a root node is structured as a highest node in the hierarchical system of nodes,

wherein the plurality of node trees includes

a home tree associated with the transceiver, the transceiver having an address indicative of a home port of the home tree, and the plurality of node trees further includes

a second tree having a second port, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a connection request at a port of the home tree, the connection request intended for reception by the transceiver;

(b) determining the presence of a data entry associated with the transceiver at a node in the home tree, the data entry being indicative of an absence of the transceiver from a port of the home tree;

(c) forwarding the connection request to a root node of the home tree in response to step (b) of determining;

(d) determining the presence of a data entry associated with the transceiver at the root node of the home tree, the data entry being indicative of a port of the second tree coupling to the transceiver; and

(e) forwarding the connection request from the root node of the home tree to a root node of the second tree in response to step (d) of determining.

15. A communication system for completing a call to a transceiver of a plurality of transceivers, the communication system comprising:

a multiplicity ports for transferring communication information through the communication system between the plurality of transceivers, each of the plurality of transceivers being coupled to one of the multiplicity of ports;

a multiplicity of nodes for transferring information between the multiplicity of ports, each of the multiplicity of ports uniquely coupled to one of the multiplicity of nodes, each of the multiplicity of nodes having memory capable of storing data indicative of a port to which the transceiver is coupled; and

a plurality of node trees comprising the multiplicity of ports and the multiplicity of nodes, each of the plurality of node trees having

a plurality of the multiplicity of ports, and

a plurality of the multiplicity of nodes structured as a hierarchical system of nodes, wherein

a root node is structured as a highest node in the hierarchical system of nodes, wherein the plurality of node trees includes

a home tree associated with the transceiver, the transceiver having an address indicative of a home port of the home tree, and the plurality of node trees further includes

a second tree having a second port, wherein a connection request is received at a port of the home tree, and intended for reception by the transceiver, and if the presence of a data entry associated with the transceiver is at a node in the home tree indicative of an absence of the transceiver from a port of the home tree, then the connection request is forwarded to a root node of the home tree in response thereto, and if the presence of a data entry associated with the transceiver at the root node of the home tree is indicative of a port of the second tree coupling to the transceiver, then the connection request is forwarded from the root node of the home tree to a root node of the second tree.