Dynamic logical control of network units in ad-hoc communications networks

• US 6,640,253 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACOBS, LASHONDA T
• Application Number:
  US09/892,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224, 709/228, 709/229, 709/249, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/352, 370/401, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• 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

Abstract

A logical function is executed in addressable units in a wireless local area network based upon the current state value of other units in the network. Depending upon a persistence setting which may be pre-set or programmed into each unit, the logical function may be recomputed at predetermined time intervals, or upon receiving an overriding resetting signal or control packet.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless area network in which each unit has a state value at any given time, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting from each unit in the network its network-associated address and state value; and

receiving in each mobile unit in the network the network-associated address and state value of every other unit and computing a predetermined Boolean expression in each respective mobile unit a new state value based upon the received addresses and state values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one node on the network is a distribution node which is an Internet website.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of broadcasting from each unit in the network its identity and state value as an announcement broadcast in the form of a radio signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of broadcasting from each unit in the network information on the location of the unit.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the distribution node includes a database containing address information for each network unit.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the distribution node on the network is a stationary access point in a wireless local area network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of broadcasting from each unit in the network an announcement broadcast in the form of a HTML script.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing access to a network page through a URL containing appropriate query strings necessary to present the network page to a destination station.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a radio signal identifies the user to the destination station.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is an ad hoc network.

11. A method for providing control signals to network addressable nodes in a wireless area network, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting an announcement message from each node in the network including a state value corresponding to each respective node;

receiving the announcement message at each node in the network; and

processing the state value to determine a new state value for each node based upon the state value of at least one other node.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of broadcasting another announcement message from each node in the network including the new state value corresponding to each respective node.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of periodically broadcasting the announcement message.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein one node in the network is a distribution node which includes a database containing address information for each node.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the distribution node is a stationary access point in a wireless local area network.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of broadcasting the announcement message in the form of a radio signal.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of broadcasting the announcement message in the form of a HTML script.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of broadcasting comprises the step of broadcasting from each node in the network information on the location of the node.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a setting for maintaining the state value for a given node until an overriding reset signal is received.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a setting for maintaining the state value for a given node for a predetermined time period.