Implementation of power control in a wireless overlay network

• US 6,654,614 B2
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WIDCOMM, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Martin, Kumar, Rajiv, Pham, Hiep, Nguyen, Lyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US09/347,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20030013474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/7, 455/571, 455/522, 455/69, 455/443, 455/553, 455/68, 455/426, 455/436, 455/509, 455/454, 455/418, 455/419, 455/425, 455/420, 455/462, 455/465, 455/552, 455/427
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for internetworked communication between first and second wireless networks containing first and second pluralities of wireless nodes, respectively, is disclosed herein. In a preferred implementation a first dual-power node participates in both a first wireless network and an overlay network. The dual-power node is configured to transmit and receive in both a high-power mode and a low-power mode. The dual-power node operates in an overlay network and facilitates data transmission between low-power nodes and high-power nodes by toggling between these two power modes. In a preferred implementation, a third wireless network containing a third plurality of wireless nodes is utilized. The overlay network can accommodate a plurality of high-power or dual-power nodes.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes wherein the first plurality of wireless nodes are configured to intercommunicate at a first power level;

an overlay network including a second plurality of wireless nodes wherein the second plurality of wireless nodes are configured to intercommunicate at a second power level; and

a first dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first dual-power node including;

means for receiving, when operative in a low-power mode, information transmitted at the first power level by one of said first plurality of wireless nodes;

means for transmitting said information, at the second power level wherein the second power level is substantially greater than said first power level, to at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes when operative in a high-power mode; and

means for transitioning between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said first dual-power node is operative in a low-power mode and in a high-power mode, said first dual-power node further including:

means for receiving network information, while operative in said low-power mode, from said first plurality of wireless nodes; and

means for transmitting, at said second power level and while operative in said high-power mode, said network information to said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

3. The communication system of claim 1 further including a relay node in said overlay network, said relay node including:

means for transmitting information between said first dual-power node and said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

6. The communication system of claim 2 wherein said first dual-power node further includes:

means for operating as a first master node; and

means for operating as a first slave node.

7. The communication system of claim 2 wherein said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes is a second dual-power node including:

means for determining if said first dual-power node is operating as a master node;

means for operating as a second slave node; and

means for operating as a second master node.

4. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes;

an overlay network including a second plurality of wireless nodes;

a first dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first dual-power node including;

means for receiving when operative in a low-power mode, information transmitted at a first power level by one of said first plurality of wireless nodes;

means for transmitting said information, at a second power level substantially greater than said first power level, to at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes when operative in a high-power mode; and

means for transitioning between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode; and

a third wireless network containing said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes and a third plurality of wireless nodes, said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes including;

means for transmitting information, at a third power level, to said third plurality of wireless nodes; and

means for transmitting information, at a fourth power level substantially greater than said third power level, to said first dual-power node.

5. The communication system of claim 4 further including a relay node in said overlay network, said relay node including:

means for transmitting information between said first dual-power node and said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

8. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first dual-power node and a first plurality of low-power wireless nodes, wherein the first plurality of low-power wireless nodes are configured to intercommunicate in accordance with a first communication protocol, said first dual-power node toggling between operation in a high-power mode and in a low-power mode such that said first dual-power node communicates with said first plurality of low-power wireless nodes in accordance with the first communication protocol while operative in said low-power mode; and

an overlay network comprising a second plurality of nodes configured to intercommunicate in accordance with a second communication protocol, the overlay network including at least one node disposed to communicate with said first dual-power node according to a second communication protocol while said first dual-power node is operative in said high-power mode, said first dual-power node transmitting information received from one of said first plurality of low-power nodes to said at least one node.

9. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first dual-power node and a first plurality of low-power wireless nodes said first dual-power node toggling between operation in a high-power mode and in a low-power mode such that said first dual-power node communicates with said first plurality of low-power wireless nodes while operative in said low-power mode;

an overlay network including at least one node disposed to communicate with said first dual-power node while said first dual-power node is operative in said high-power mode, said first dual-power node transmitting information received from one of said first plurality of low-power nodes to said at least one node; and

a third wireless network having a dual-power node and a second plurality of low-power wireless nodes, said dual-power node communicating with said overlay network while operative in a higher-power mode and with said second plurality of low-power wireless nodes while operative in a lower-power mode.

10. In a communication system including a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a low-power mode and an overlay network having a second plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a high-power mode, a dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said dual-power node comprising:

a first transceiver operative to receive, during operation of said dual-power node in said low-power mode, information transmitted within a first range of power levels by said first plurality of wireless nodes, wherein said first plurality of wireless nodes are configured to intercommunicate within the first range of power levels; and

a second transceiver operative to transmit said information within a second range of power levels to said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in said high-power mode wherein said second plurality of wireless nodes are configured to intercommunicate within the first range of power levels.

11. The dual-power node of claim 10 wherein said dual-power node further includes a controller for transitioning said dual-power node between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode as required to communicate with ones of said first plurality of wireless nodes and one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

12. The dual-power node of claim 10 wherein said first transceiver transmits a first notification message indicative of low-power mode operation and said second transceiver transmits a second notification message indicative of high-power mode operation.

13. In a communication system including a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a low-power mode and an overlay network having a second plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a high-power mode, a dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said dual-power node comprising:

a transceiver operative to receive information within a first range of power levels from said first plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in said low-power mode and operative to transmit said information within a second range of power levels to said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in said high-power mode, said second range of power levels being distinct from said first range of power levels; and

a controller for transitioning said dual-power node between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode;

wherein said first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within the first range of power levels and said second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within the second range of power levels.

14. The dual-power node of claim 13 wherein said transceiver is configured to:

receive network information, during operation in said low-power mode, from said first plurality of wireless nodes, and

transmit said network information to said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation in said high-power mode.

15. The dual-power node of claim 13 wherein said transceiver transmits a first notification message indicative of low-power mode operation and a second notification message indicative of high-power mode operation.

16. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a low-power transmission range;

an overlay network including a second plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a high-power transmission range; and

a first dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first dual-power node including;

a first transceiver module configured to receive information within the low-power transmission range from said first plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a low-power mode;

a second transceiver module configured to transmit said information within the high-power transmission range to said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a high-power mode, said high-power transmission range being distinct from said low-power transmission range; and

a controller for transitioning between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode.

17. In a communication system including a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a low-power mode and an overlay network having a second plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a high-power mode, a method for communicating message information comprising:

receiving, at one of said first plurality of wireless nodes, network connectivity information relating to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes;

transmitting, in response to said network connectivity information and at a low-power level consistent with said low-power mode, said message information from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to a dual-power node wherein said first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate at the low-power level; and

transmitting, at a high-power level consistent with said high-power mode, said message information to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, wherein said second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate at the high-power level.

18. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first dual-power node and a first plurality of low-power wireless nodes, wherein the first plurality of low-power wireless nodes are configured to intercommunicate in accordance with a first communication protocol, said first dual-power node toggling between operation in a high-power mode and in a low-power mode such that said first dual-power node communicates with said first plurality of low-power wireless nodes in accordance with the first communication protocol while operative in said low-power mode; and

an overlay network comprising a second plurality of nodes configured to intercommunicate in accordance with a second communication protocol, the overlay network including at least one node disposed to communicate with said first dual-power node according to a second communication protocol while said first dual-power node is operative in said high-power mode, said first dual-power node transmitting information received from said at least one node to one of said first plurality of low-power nodes.

19. A communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a low-power transmission range;

an overlay network including a second plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a high-power transmission range; and

a first dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first dual-power node including;

a first transceiver module configured to receive information transmitted within the high-power transmission range by said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a high-power mode; and

a second transceiver module configured to transmit said information within the low-power transmission range to said first plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a low-power mode, said low-power transmission range being distinct from said high-power transmission range;

a controller for transitioning between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode.