Communications system and method based on the relative positions of mobile units

• US 6,580,909 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Carro, Fernando Incertis
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/634,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435, 455/11.1, 455/7, 455/433, 455/31.2, 455/509, 455/512, 455/514, 455/519, 455/557, 455/550, 455/563, 455/524, 455/450
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• 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 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A system and method of forming a network, out of a plurality of mobile communications units sharing a common transmission medium without requiring a base station, are disclosed. Each unit is assumed to have provision for self asserting its own position and has facility for two-way communicating with the other mobile communications units. The method allows that any two mobile communications units, participating in the network i.e., registered to it, eventually acquire the capability of communicating even though the units are not capable of communicating directly e.g., because of the distance between them. Hence, they gain the capability of communicating indirectly through intermediate units of the network acting as relays.

Claims

1. A method of forming a network out of a plurality of mobile communications units sharing a common transmission medium, wherein each unit has provision for self asserting its own position and facility for two-way communicating with other units out of said plurality of mobile communications units, wherein any two mobile communications units eventually acquire a capability of communicating, having an initial step of registering a new mobile communications unit to said network, wherein said step of registering further comprises the steps of:

(a) broadcasting registration commands from each one of said mobile communications units not yet registered;

(b) capturing said registration commands by at least another mobile communications unit out of said plurality of mobile communications units;

(c) recording registration data provided by a new mobile communications unit, said registration data comprising a unique unit identifier of said new mobile communications unit and information describing its current location;

(d) acknowledging to said new mobile communications unit its registration; and

(e) stopping the broadcasting of the registration commands by said now registered mobile communications unit.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said registered mobile communications units perform, in turn, the further steps of:

(a) in a first cycle, establishing for a first time, and in subsequent cycles updating a polling sequence, said polling sequence encompassing all said mobile communications units registered to said network;

(b) formatting a polling command containing said polling sequence;

(c) authorizing, through said polling command, only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command during said polling sequence;

(d) issuing said polling command to next in sequence of said mobile communications units specified in said polling sequence; and

(e) capturing said polling command by said next mobile communications unit thus granting it the permission to perform, in turn, all of steps (a)-(e).

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

6. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

7. The method according to claim 4 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

9. The method according to claim 4 wherein, for every mobile communications unit registered to said network, said polling command comprises:

a unit identifier;

a current geographic location; and

all other operational parameters.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of de-registering a mobile communications unit from said network, said step of de-registering further comprising the step of removing all entries from said polling sequence corresponding to said mobile communications unit having to de-register, said entries comprising:

its unit identifier;

its geographic location; and

all other operational parameters.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

15. The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of in a first cycle, establishing for the first time, and in subsequent cycles, updating, a polling sequence, in each of said mobile communications units, comprises the further steps of:

(a) building or updating a map of said plurality of mobile communications units registered to said network on the basis of their current geographic location;

(b) analyzing all additional operational parameters recorded on said registered mobile communications units to said network; and

(c) determining a best path, for said polling sequence, of registered mobile communications units to go through.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of de-registering a mobile communications unit from said network, said step of de-registering further comprising the step of removing all entries from said polling sequence corresponding to said mobile communications unit having to de-register, said entries comprising:

its unit identifier;

its geographic location; and

, all other operational parameters.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

21. A network of mobile communications units sharing a common transmission medium, wherein each unit has provision for self asserting its own position and facility for two-way communicating with other units out of said plurality of mobile communications units, wherein any two mobile communications units eventually acquire a capability of communicating, having an initial means for registering a new mobile communications unit to said network, wherein said means for registering further comprises:

(a) means for broadcasting registration commands from each one of said mobile communications units not yet registered;

(b) means for capturing said registration commands by at least another mobile communications unit out of said plurality of mobile communications units;

(c) means for recording registration data provided by a new mobile communications unit, said registration data comprising a unique unit identifier of said new mobile communications unit and information describing its current location;

(d) means for acknowledging to said new mobile communications unit its registration; and

(e) means for stopping the broadcasting of the registration commands by said now registered mobile communications unit.

22. The network according to claim 21 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

23. The network according to claim 21 further comprising means for enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said means for establishing two-way communications comprising the further means for communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

24. The network according to claim 21 wherein each of said registered mobile communications units further comprise:

(a) in a first cycle, means for establishing for a first time, and in subsequent cycles updating a polling sequence, said polling sequence encompassing all said mobile communications units registered to said network;

(b) means for formatting a polling command containing said polling sequence;

(c) means for authorizing, through said polling command, only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command during said polling sequence;

(d) means for issuing said polling command to next in sequence of said mobile communications units specified in said polling sequence; and

(e) means for capturing said polling command by said next mobile communications unit.

25. The network according to claim 24 wherein the means for authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further means for asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

26. The network according to claim 24 further comprising means for enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said means for establishing two-way communications comprising the further means for communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

27. The network according to claim 24 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

28. The network according to claim 27 Wherein the means for authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further means for asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

29. The network according to claim 24 wherein, for every mobile communications unit registered to said network, said polling command comprises:

a unit identifier;

a current geographic location; and

all other operational parameters.

30. The network according to claim 29 further comprising means for enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said means for establishing two-way communications comprising the further means for communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

31. The network according to claim 29 wherein the means for authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications its to issue said polling command is obtained with the further means for asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

32. The network according to claim 29 further comprising means for de-registering a mobile communications unit from said network, said means for de-registering further comprising means for removing all entries from said polling sequence corresponding to said mobile communications unit having to de-register, said entries comprising:

its unit identifier;

its geographic location; and

all other operational parameters.

33. The network according to claim 29 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

34. The network according to claim 33 wherein the means for authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further means for asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

35. The network according to claim 29 wherein the means for establishing for the first time, and in subsequent cycles, updating, a polling sequence, in each of said mobile communications units, comprises:

(a) means for building or updating a map of said plurality of mobile communications units registered to said network on the basis of their current geographic location;

(b) means for analyzing all additional operational parameters recorded on said registered mobile communications units to said network; and

(c) means for determining a best path, for said polling sequence, of registered mobile communications units to go through.

36. The network according to claim 35 further comprising means for enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said means for establishing two-way communications comprising the further means for communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

37. The network according to claim 35 further comprising means for de-registering a mobile communications unit from said network, said means for de-registering further comprising means for removing all entries from said polling sequence corresponding to said mobile communications unit having to de-register, said entries comprising:

its unit identifier;

its geographic location; and

, all other operational parameters.

38. The network according to claim 35 wherein the means for authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further means for asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

39. The network according to claim 35 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

40. The network according to claim 39 wherein the means for authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

41. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out a network of mobile communications units sharing a common transmission medium, wherein each unit has provision for self asserting its own position and facility for two-way communicating with other units out of said plurality of mobile communications units, wherein any two mobile communications units eventually acquire a capability of communicating, the computer readable medium having an initial programming step of registering a new mobile communications unit to said network, wherein said programming step of registering further comprises the programming steps of:

(a) broadcasting registration commands from each one of said mobile communications units not yet registered;

(b) capturing said registration commands by at least another mobile communications unit out of said plurality of mobile communications units;

(c) recording registration data provided by a new mobile communications unit, said registration data comprising a unique unit identifier of said new mobile communications unit and information describing its current location;

(d) acknowledging to said new mobile communications unit its registration; and

(e) stopping the broadcasting of the registration commands by said now registered mobile communications unit.

42. The computer readable medium according to claim 41 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

43. The computer readable medium according to claim 41 further comprising the programming step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said programming step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further programming step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

44. The computer readable medium according to claim 41 wherein each of said registered mobile communications units perform, in turn, the further programming steps of:

(a) in a first cycle, establishing for a first time, and in subsequent cycles updating a polling sequence, said polling sequence encompassing all said mobile communications units registered to said network;

(b) formatting a polling command containing said polling sequence;

(c) authorizing, through said polling command, only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command during said polling sequence;

(d) issuing said polling command to next in sequence of said mobile communications units specified in said polling sequence; and

(e) capturing said polling command by said next mobile communications unit thus granting it the permission to perform, in turn, all of programming steps (a)-(e).

45. The computer readable medium according to claim 44 wherein the programming step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further programming step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

46. The computer readable medium according to claim 44 further comprising the programming step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said programming step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further programming step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

47. The computer readable medium according to claim 44 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

48. The computer readable medium according to claim 47 wherein the programming step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further programming step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

49. The computer readable medium according to claim 44 wherein, for every mobile communications unit registered to said network, said polling command comprises:

a unit identifier;

a current geographic location; and

all other operational parameters.

50. The computer readable medium according to claim 49 further comprising the programming step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said programming step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further programming step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

51. The computer readable medium according to claim 49 wherein the programming step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further programming step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

52. The computer readable medium according to claim 49 further comprising the programming step of de-registering a mobile communications unit from said network, said programming step of de-registering further comprising the programming step of removing all entries from said polling sequence corresponding to said mobile communications unit having to de-register, said entries comprising:

its unit identifier;

its geographic location; and

all other operational parameters.

53. The computer readable medium according to claim 49 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

54. The computer readable medium according to claim 53 wherein the programming step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further programming step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

55. The computer readable medium according to claim 49 wherein the programming step of in a first cycle, establishing for the first time, and in subsequent cycles, updating, a polling sequence, in each of said mobile communications units, comprises the further programming steps of:

(a) building or updating a map of said plurality of mobile communications units registered to said network on the basis of their current geographic location;

(b) analyzing all additional operational parameters recorded on said registered mobile communications units to said network; and

(c) determining a best path, for said polling sequence, of registered mobile communications units to go through.

56. The computer readable medium according to claim 55 further comprising the programming step of enabling two-way communications between any two mobile communications units registered to said network, said programming step of establishing two-way communications comprising the further programming step of communicating directly, when possible, and indirectly, when not, through other mobile communicating units.

57. The computer readable medium according to claim 55 further comprising the programming step of de-registering a mobile communications unit from said network, said programming step of de-registering further comprising the programming step of removing all entries from said polling sequence corresponding to said mobile communications unit having to de-register, said entries comprising:

its unit identifier;

its geographic location; and

, all other operational parameters.

58. The computer readable medium according to claim 55 wherein the programming step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further programming step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.

59. The computer readable medium according to claim 55 wherein said mobile communications units are wireless mobile communications units.

60. The computer readable medium according to claim 59 wherein the programming step of authorizing only one at a time of said registered mobile communications units to issue said polling command is obtained with the further programming step of asserting a polling flag for those of said mobile communications already gone through during said polling sequence.