Hierarchical modile ad-hoc network and methods for route error recovery therein
First Claim
1. A method for sending data in a mobile ad-hoc network comprising a plurality of nodes grouped into clusters of nodes and a plurality of wireless links connecting the plurality of nodes, each cluster node having a designated cluster leader node, the method comprising:
- sending a cluster-level route request from a source node of a source cluster to a cluster leader node of the source cluster;
determining a cluster-level route between the source cluster and a destination cluster comprising a destination node responsive to the cluster-level route request and using a plurality of the cluster leader nodes;
determining node-level routes through each cluster along the cluster-level route to a cluster target node in a next cluster along the cluster-level route;
transferring the data from the source node to the destination node using the node-level routes;
if a node-level route failure occurs along a node-level route, determining a new node-level route therefor; and
if a cluster-level route failure occurs between adjacent clusters along the cluster-level route, sending a cluster-level route error message to the source node and determining new cluster-level and node-level routes responsive thereto and transferring the data using the new node-level routes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for sending data in a mobile ad-hoc network may include a plurality of nodes grouped into clusters of nodes and a plurality of wireless links connecting the plurality of nodes, where each cluster node has a designated cluster leader node. The method may include sending a cluster-level route request from a source node of a source cluster to a cluster leader node of the source cluster, and determining a cluster-level route through the source cluster and a destination cluster including a destination node responsive to the cluster-level route request and using a plurality of the cluster leader nodes. Furthermore, the method may also include determining node-level routes through each cluster along the cluster-level route to a cluster target node in a next cluster along the cluster-level route. Recovery for cluster-level and node-level routing errors/failures is also provided.
137 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for sending data in a mobile ad-hoc network comprising a plurality of nodes grouped into clusters of nodes and a plurality of wireless links connecting the plurality of nodes, each cluster node having a designated cluster leader node, the method comprising:
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sending a cluster-level route request from a source node of a source cluster to a cluster leader node of the source cluster;
determining a cluster-level route between the source cluster and a destination cluster comprising a destination node responsive to the cluster-level route request and using a plurality of the cluster leader nodes;
determining node-level routes through each cluster along the cluster-level route to a cluster target node in a next cluster along the cluster-level route;
transferring the data from the source node to the destination node using the node-level routes;
if a node-level route failure occurs along a node-level route, determining a new node-level route therefor; and
if a cluster-level route failure occurs between adjacent clusters along the cluster-level route, sending a cluster-level route error message to the source node and determining new cluster-level and node-level routes responsive thereto and transferring the data using the new node-level routes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
determining designated communication links between the cluster leader nodes;
sending a cluster leader node route request from the cluster leader node of the source cluster to the remaining cluster leaders via the designated communication links; and
returning a cluster leader node route reply from the cluster leader node of the destination cluster to the cluster leader node of the source cluster along a delivery route of the cluster leader node route request.
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7. The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the designated communications links comprises a node that is not a cluster leader node.
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8. The method of claim 6 wherein each cluster leader node stores addresses of adjacent cluster leader nodes;
- and wherein sending the cluster leader node route request comprises sending the cluster leader node route request from each cluster leader node to its adjacent cluster leader nodes.
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9. The method of claim 8 further comprising periodically polling the adjacent cluster leader nodes to maintain current addresses therefor.
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10. The method of claim 6 wherein the delivery route comprises a least number of cluster leader nodes between the cluster leader nodes of the source and destination clusters.
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11. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining the delivery route based upon at least one of delay, link capacity, and availability.
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12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the node-level routes does not include a cluster leader node.
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13. A method for sending data in a mobile ad-hoc network comprising a plurality of nodes grouped into clusters of nodes and a plurality of wireless links connecting the plurality of nodes, each cluster node having a designated cluster leader node, the method comprising:
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sending a cluster-level route request from a source node of a source cluster to a cluster leader node of the source cluster;
determining designated communication links between the cluster leader nodes;
determining a cluster-level route between the source cluster and a destination cluster comprising a destination node responsive to the cluster-level route request and using a plurality of the cluster leader nodes and the designated communication links therebetween;
determining node-level routes through each cluster along the cluster-level route to a cluster target node in a next cluster along the cluster-level route, at least one of the node-level routes not including a cluster leader node;
transferring the data from the source node to the destination node using the node-level routes;
if a node-level route failure occurs along a node level route, determining a new node-level route therefor; and
if a cluster-level route failure occurs between adjacent clusters along the cluster-level route, sending a cluster-level route error message to the source node and determining new cluster-level and node-level routes responsive thereto and transferring the data using the new node-level routes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
sending a cluster leader node route request from the cluster leader node of the source cluster to the remaining cluster leaders via the designated communication links; and
returning a cluster leader node route reply from the cluster leader node of the destination cluster to the cluster leader node of the source cluster along a delivery route of the cluster leader node route request.
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19. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the designated communications links comprises a node that is not a cluster leader node.
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20. The method of claim 18 wherein each cluster leader node stores addresses of adjacent cluster leader nodes;
- and wherein sending the cluster leader node route request comprises sending the cluster leader node route request from each cluster leader node to its adjacent cluster leader nodes.
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21. The method of claim 20 further comprising periodically polling the adjacent cluster leader nodes to maintain current addresses therefor.
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22. The method of claim 18 wherein the delivery route comprises a least number of cluster leader nodes between the cluster leader nodes of the source and destination clusters.
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23. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining the delivery route based upon at least one of delay, link capacity, and availability.
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24. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the node-level routes does not include a cluster leader node.
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25. A mobile ad-hoc network comprising:
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a plurality of nodes grouped into clusters of nodes, each cluster node having a designated cluster leader node; and
a plurality of wireless links connecting said plurality of nodes;
said plurality of nodes sending data therebetween by sending a cluster-level route request from a source node of a source cluster to a cluster leader node of said source cluster, determining a cluster-level route between said source cluster and a destination cluster comprising a destination node responsive to the cluster-level route request and using a plurality of said cluster leader nodes, determining node-level routes through each cluster along the cluster-level route to a cluster target node in a next cluster along the cluster-level route, transferring the data from said source node to said destination node using the node-level routes, if a node-level route failure occurs along a node level route, determining a new node-level route therefor, and if a cluster-level route failure occurs between adjacent clusters along the cluster-level route, sending a cluster-level route error message to said source node and determining new cluster-level and node-level routes responsive thereto and transferring the data using the new node-level routes. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification