Self-organizing mobile wireless station network

• US 6,418,299 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technlogies Corp. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BBN Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramanathan, Subramanian
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/150,068
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/69
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

In the communications network disclosed herein, each of a plurality of similar stations is operated so that the group automatically organizes or configures itself into a multi-layered network for relaying messages from station to station, with some of the stations operating at a relatively high power level as message gateways for a cluster of stations operating at lower power thereby to form, through the gateways, a network backbone providing longer distance network links. Initially, individual stations attempt to affiliate at a lower power level with an existing cluster gateway and, if that attempt is unsuccessful, the station switches to a higher power level and commences operation as a cluster gateway. Each cluster gateway periodically communicates data at least identifying to other cluster gateways the non-gateway stations which are affiliated with it. Preferably, if a cluster gateway is within affiliation range with another cluster gateway one of them will terminate cluster gateway status if that termination will not reduce connectivity of the network backbone below a preselected level.

Claims

1. A method performed by one of a plurality of similar, interchangeable mobile stations, each of which selectively transmits at a first power level or a second power level, said second power level being greater than said first power level, so as to automatically configure said stations into a multi-tiered network for relaying messages from station to station with at least one of said stations operating at said second power level as an existing message gateway for a cluster of stations, comprising;

attempting to establish an affiliation link to the existing message gateway while operating at said first power level;

determining whether an affiliation link is successfully established;

selecting transmission at the first power level, so as to operate as a member of the cluster of stations corresponding to the existing message gateway based on a determination that the affiliation link is established; and

selecting transmission at said second power level so as to operate as a new message gateway based on a determination that an adequate affiliation link cannot be established to the existing message gateway, and, while operating as a message gateways communicating information identifying other mobile stations within the new message gateway'"'"'s cluster to at least one other message gateway.

2. A mobile radio communication station for communicating with another similar station on a multi-tiered network, wherein the station affiliates with a cluster gateway at a first power level, the cluster gateway operating as a cluster head for a group of stations, wherein the group spans a relatively local region, the mobile radio communication station comprising:

a storage subsystem configured to store information corresponding to the cluster gateway; and

a processor configured to;

determine whether the affiliation with a cluster gateway station is reliable based on the stored information;

receive from the cluster head a request to resign as the cluster head; and

provide a response to the cluster head, wherein the cluster head will not resign as the cluster head unless all affiliated stations provide a confirmation.

3. A method for reconfiguring a mobile radio communications station in a multi-tiered network employing a plurality of similar mobile stations each of which selectively operates as a non-gateway station or a message gateway station for a cluster of non-gateway stations, comprising:

providing an affiliation procedure that permits a first similar station and a second similar station to affiliate with one another, such that the first similar station selects operation as a non-gateway station if the affiliation procedure with the second similar station is successful; and

such that the first similar station selects operation as a message gateway station if the affiliation procedure with the second similar station is unsuccessful, wherein, when the first similar station selects operation as a message gateway station, the operation of the first similar station further comprises;

periodically communicating to at least one other message gateway station, data identifying affiliated non-message gateway stations; and

determining if any other message gateway stations are within affiliation range and, if so, initiating a procedure which terminates operation as a message gateway if such termination will not reduce connectivity of said network below a preselected level.

4. A mobile radio communications reconfigurable station for communication with another similar station on a multi-tiered network, wherein each station selectively operates as a non-gateway station or a message gateway station for a cluster of non-gateway stations, the station comprising:

a storage subsystem with an affiliation procedure that permits the station and the another similar station to affiliate with one another; and

a processor responsive to the affiliation procedure to;

select operation as a non-gateway station based on successful completion of the affiliation procedure; and

select operation as a message gateway station if the affiliation procedure is not successfully completed,

wherein the storage subsystem comprises;

an ordered list of message gateway stations within a predetermined affiliation range; and

the processor is configured to;

send an affiliation request message to a selected message gateway station from the list;

attempt to affiliate with one of the message gateway stations on the list; and

delete an entry on the list if a response to the affiliation request is not received from a message gateway station corresponding to that entry.