Method of setting up ad hoc local area network, method of communicating using said network, and terminal for use with said network

• US 6,134,587 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Okanoue, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US08/993,652
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 370/315, 370/338, 370/397, 370/227, 370/95.2, 370/350, 370/94.1, 370/85.13, 709/223, 709/203, 709/200, 709/222, 455/113, 342/50
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1854 with non-centralised forwarding system, e.g. chaincast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An ad hoc LAN is set up in an environment in which there simultaneously exist a backbone-connected LAN connected by a high-speed backbone network and an ad hoc LAN not connected to the backbone network, wherein the ad hoc LAN is capable of communicating simultaneously with both LANs. An ad hoc LAN is defined as one multicast group used within the backbone network and backbone-connected LAN. This makes it possible for a terminal, which is connected to the ad hoc LAN and backbone-connected LAN simultaneously so that it may communicate with both LANs, to participate in the ad hoc LAN in the same manner as it would participate in a multicast group of a conventional backbone-connected LAN. As a result, the terminal construction is simplified and the terminal can be connected to an ad hoc LAN and backbone-connected LAN simultaneously.

Claims

1. A method of setting up an ad hoc LAN in an environment

(a) in which there simultaneously exist a plurality of backbone-connected LANs interconnected by a backbone network via routers and each having a plurality of first terminals constituting first terminal groups connected thereto, and a plurality of ad hoc LANs unconnected to said backbone network and each having a plurality of second terminals constituting second terminal groups connected thereto;

(b) wherein a plurality of multicast groups, in which all or part of the first terminal groups are members, are set up dynamically within a network constituted by said backbone network and said backbone-connected LANs;

(c) identifiers which identify respective ones of said multicast groups are defined for said multicast groups;

(d) communication between the members constituting said multicast groups is performed using the identifies which identify said multicast groups; and

(e) all or part of the second terminal groups are capable of communicating simultaneously not only with terminals connected to said ad hoc LANs to which said second terminal groups are connected but also with terminals connected to said backbone-connected LANs;

said method comprising the steps of;

(f1) deciding said identifiers, which identify said multicast groups, for each of said ad hoc LANs; and

(f2) identifying each of said ad hoc LANs using said identifiers thereby setting up said ad hoc LAN,

wherein the identifiers for identifying said multicast groups set up in said ad hoc LANs are acquired through the following processing sequence;

(a) transmitting, via a terminal 1, an identifier test message and activating a timer, wherein the identifier test message includes an identifier 1, for identifying a multicast group, desired to be used as the identifier of said ad hoc LAN 1, and has a predetermined address as a destination;

(b) in a case where another terminal B that has received said identifier test message is already using said identifier 1, contained in said identifier test message, as said multicast group identifier within said backbone-connected LAN to which said terminal B is currently connected or as the identifier of another ad hoc LAN 2, transmitting via said terminal B an identifier refusal message, which includes said identifier 1, with said predetermined address as the destination;

(c) in a case where said identifier refusal message is not received before said timer, which was activated by said terminal A that starts said ad hoc LAN 1, runs out of time, judging that said identifier 1 is not being used and adopting said identifier 1 as the identifier of said ad hoc LAN 1;

(d) in a case where said identifier refusal message is received before said timer, which was activated by said terminal A that starts said ad hoc LAN 1, runs out of time, judging that said identifier 1 is currently in use; and

(e) until an identifier judged not to be in use is obtained, recursively transmitting, via said terminal A that starts said ad hoc LAN 1, an identifier test message containing a different identifier and activating said timer.