Short-range RF access point design enabling dynamic role switching between radio modules to optimize service delivery

• US 6,847,625 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Heinonen, Tomi, Perälä, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/880,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 208 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/255, 370/338, 370/465, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A short-range RF access point contains a plurality of wireless transceiver devices. At least one device is programmed to remain a master device. At least a second device is programmed to remain a scanning slave device. At least a third device is responsive to a control signal provided by a coordinating module to switch between an inquiry/paging state and a master device state according to the communication load of the first device as calculated by the coordinating module. When the calculated load exceeds a threshold, the control signal is sent to the third device which is programmed to switch from an inquiry/paging state to a master device state for reducing the communication load. The coordinating module balances the load of the first and third devices in the master device state. When the communication load falls below the threshold, the coordinating module sends a signal to the third device to return to the inquiry/paging state.

Claims

1. A short-range RF access point dynamically managing communication capacity in establishing connections with mobile devices, comprising:

at least one first wireless transceiver module operating as an access point slave device for scanning packets initiated by mobile devices within a coverage area of the access point and in response to a packet, outputting a control signal;

at least one second wireless transceiver module coupled to the first module, operating in the access point as a fixed master device and having a maximum capacity for transmitting messages in response to the control signal, for establishing wireless connections with mobile devices;

at least one third wireless transceiver module coupled to the second wireless transceiver module operating in a first state as an inquiry/paging master for establishing connections with mobile devices that respond to its inquiries and handing off the connections to the second wireless transceiver module, and

a coordinating module calculating current communication load of the second wireless transceiver module and changing the first state of the third wireless transceiver module to a second state as a master device establishing connections with mobile devices when the mobile devices establish a communication load that exceeds the maximum capacity of the second wireless transceiver module.

2. The short range access point of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting means in the coordinating module detecting when the current communicating load is less than the maximum capacity of the second wireless transceiver module and returning the third wireless transceiver module to the first state.

3. The short range access point of claim 1, further comprising:

signaling means in the coordinating module for signaling the third wireless transceiver module when to change state.

4. The short range access point of claim 3, further comprising:

bypass means in the third wireless transceiver module responsive to the signaling means to terminate handoff connections to the second wireless transceiver module.

5. The short range access point of claim 1, further comprising:

first connecting means connecting the coordinating module to the second wireless transceiver module as a fixed master device.

6. The short range access point of claim 1, further comprising:

second connecting means connecting the coordinating module to the third wireless transceiver module as a fixed master device.

7. The short range access point of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of fixed master devices, including the first module;

load balancing means in the coordinating module for balancing the communication load among the plurality of fixed master devices.

8. The short range access point of claim 7, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of active connections served by respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

9. The short range access point of claim 7, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of dynamic bandwidth allocation levels of respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

10. The short range access point of claim 7, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of currently available bandwidth of respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

11. The short range access point of claim 1, wherein the third wireless transceiver module operating with an inquiry/paging method while in the first state.

12. The short range access point of claim 1, wherein the third wireless transceiver module operates in a master device state while in the second state.

13. The short range access point of claim 1, wherein the third wireless transceiver module is a hybrid communication device discovering new mobile devices in the first state and providing services to mobile devices in the second state.

14. The short range access point of claim 1, wherein the first wireless transceiver module is connected to the third wireless transceiver module when in the second state.

15. The short range access point of claim 1, wherein the second and third wireless transceiver modules controlled by the coordinating module.

16. A method dynamically managing communication capacity in a short-range RF access point establishing connections with mobile devices, comprising:

operating at least one first wireless transceiver module as an access point slave device for scanning packets initiated by mobile devices within a coverage area of the access point and in response to a packet, outputting a control signal;

operating at least one second wireless transceiver module coupled to the first module in the access point as a fixed master device and having a maximum capacity for transmitting messages in response to the control signal, for establishing wireless connections with mobile devices;

operating at least one third wireless device transceiver module coupled to the second wireless transceiver module in a first state as an inquiry/paging master for establishing connections with mobile devices that respond to its inquiries and handing off the connections to the second wireless transceiver module, and

calculating the current communication load of the second wireless transceiver module in a coordinating module and changing the first state of the third wireless transceiver module to a second state as a master device establishing connections with mobile devices when the mobile devices establish a communication load that exceeds the maximum capacity of the second wireless transceiver module.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detecting in the coordinating module when the current communicating load is less than the maximum capacity of the second wireless transceiver module and returning the third wireless transceiver module to the first state.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

signaling in the coordinating module for the third wireless transceiver module when to change state.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

bypassing the third wireless transceiver module in response to the signaling to terminate handoff connections to the second wireless transceiver module.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

connecting the coordinating module to the second wireless transceiver module as a fixed master device.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

connecting the coordinating module to the third wireless transceiver module as a fixed master device.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

load balancing in the coordinating module the communication load among a plurality of fixed master devices, including the first module.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of active connections served by respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of dynamic bandwidth allocation levels of respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of currently available bandwidth of respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the third wireless transceiver module operates with an inquiry/paging method while in the first state.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the third wireless transceiver module operates in a master device state while in the second state.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the third wireless transceiver module is a hybrid communication device discovering new mobile devices in the first state and providing services to mobile devices in the second state.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the first wireless transceiver module is connected to the third wireless transceiver module when in the second state.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein the second and third wireless transceiver modules controlled by the coordinating module.

31. A medium, executable in a computer system for dynamically managing communication capacity in a short-range RF access point establishing connections with mobile devices, comprising:

program code for operating at least one first wireless transceiver module as an access point slave device for scanning packets initiated by mobile devices within a coverage area of the access point and in response to a packet, outputting a control signal;

program code for operating at least one second wireless transceiver module coupled to the first module in the access point as a fixed master device and having a maximum capacity for transmitting messages in response to the control signal, for establishing wireless connections with mobile devices;

program code for operating at least one third wireless device transceiver module coupled to the second wireless transceiver module in a first state as an inquiry/paging master for establishing connections with mobile devices that respond to its inquiries and handing off the connections to the second wireless transceiver module, and

program code for calculating current communication load of the second wireless transceiver module in a coordinating module and changing the first state of the third wireless transceiver module to a second state as a master device establishing connections with mobile devices when the mobile devices establish a communication load that exceeds the maximum capacity of the second wireless transceiver module.

32. The medium of claim 31, further comprising:

program code for detecting in the coordinating module when the current communicating load is less than the maximum capacity of the second wireless transceiver module and returning the third wireless transceiver module to the first state.

33. The medium of claim 31, further comprising:

program code for signaling in the coordinating module for the third wireless transceiver module when to change state.

34. The medium of claim 33, further comprising:

program code for bypassing the third wireless transceiver module in response to the signaling to terminate handoff connections to the second wireless transceiver module.

35. The medium of claim 31, further comprising:

program code for connecting the coordinating module to the second wireless transceiver module as a fixed master device.

36. The medium of claim 31, further comprising:

program code for connecting the coordinating module to the third wireless transceiver module as a fixed master device.

37. The medium of claim 31, further comprising:

program code for load balancing in the coordinating module the communication load among a plurality of fixed master devices, including the first module.

38. The medium of claim 37, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of active connections served by respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

39. The medium of claim 37, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of dynamic bandwidth allocation levels of respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

40. The medium of claim 37, wherein balancing the communication load is done by the coordinating module in terms of currently available bandwidth of respective ones of the plurality of fixed master devices.

41. The medium of claim 31, wherein the third wireless transceiver module is in an inquiry/paging medium while in the first state.

42. The medium of claim 31, wherein the third wireless transceiver module is in a master device state while in the second state.

43. The medium of claim 31, wherein the third wireless transceiver module is a hybrid communication device discovering new mobile devices in the first state and providing services to mobile devices in the second state.

44. The medium of claim 31, wherein the first wireless transceiver module is connected to the third wireless transceiver module when in the second state.

45. The medium of claim 31, wherein the second and third wireless transceiver modules controlled by the coordinating module.

46. A short-range RF access point dynamically managing communication capacity in establishing connections with mobile devices, comprising:

at least one wireless transceiver module programmed to operate as an access point master device performing inquiries for detecting and servicing mobile devices within a coverage area of the access point;

at least one wireless transceiver switchable module coupled to the access point master devices and programmed to selectively operate (1) as an access point slave device scanning packets initiated by mobile devices within the coverage area of the access point for establishing a connection and passing the connection to the at least one access point master device, and (2) switchable to a master device role; and

a coordinating module coupled to the at least one access point master device and the at least one access point switchable module, the coordinating module switching the at least one switchable module to a master device-role based on the communication load of the at least one access point master device.

47. The short-range access point of claim 46, wherein the at least one access point switchable module is a hybrid device scanning the coverage for new mobile devices in a first state and providing services to mobile devices in a second state.

48. The short-range access point of claim 46, wherein the coordinating module calculates the current communication load of the at least one access point master device and changes the state of the at least one access point switchable module to a second state as a master device establishing connections with mobile devices when the mobile devices establish a communication load that exceeds the maximum capacity of the at least one access point master device.

49. The short-range access point of claim 46, wherein the coordinating module detects when the current communicating load of the at least one access point master device is less than the maximum capacity of the at least one access point master device and returns the at least one access point switchable module to the first state.

50. A method dynamically managing communication capacity in a short-range communication system establishing connections with mobile devices, comprising:

operating at least one wireless transceiver module programmed as an access point master device performing inquiries for detecting and servicing mobile devices within a coverage area of the access point;

operating at least one wireless transceiver switchable module coupled to the access point master device as (1) an access point slave device scanning packets initiated by mobile devices within the coverage area of the access point for establishing a connection and passing the connection to the at least one access point master device, and (2) switchable to a master device role; and

switching the at least one switchable module to a master device role based on the communication load of the access point master device.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the at least one access point switchable module is a hybrid device scanning the coverage for new mobile devices in a first state and providing services to mobile devices in a second state.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the operation of the at least one access point master device and the at least one switchable module is coordinated by a coordinating module coupled to the at least one access point master device and the at least one switchable module.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the coordinating module calculates the current communication load of the at least one access point master device and changes the state of the at least one access point switchable module to a second state as a master device establishing connections with mobile devices when the mobile devices establish a communication load that exceeds the maximum capacity of the at least one access point master device.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the coordinating module detects when the current communicating load of the access point master device is less than the maximum capacity of the access point master device and returns the access point switchable module to the first state.

55. A short-range RF access point dynamically managing communication capacity in establishing connections with mobile devices, comprising:

a plurality of wireless transceiver modules for communicating with devices over short-range communication links within a coverage of the short-range RF access point, the plurality of wireless transceiver modules including at least one wireless transceiver module programmed to operate as an access point master device performing inquiries for detecting and servicing mobile devices within the coverage area of the access point; and

a coordinating module coupled to the at least one access point master device and other wireless transceiver modules of the short range RF access point, the coordinating module switching the operation of the other modules based on the communication load of the at least one access point master device.

56. The short-range RF access point of claim 55, wherein the operation of said other wireless transceiver modules is switchable between the role of (1) an access point slave device scanning packets initiated by devices within the coverage area of the access point for receiving mobile device information and passing the mobile device information to the at least one access point master device for detecting and servicing the mobile devices, and the role of (2) the access point master device.

57. The short-range RF access point of claim 55, wherein the operation of said other wireless transceiver modules is switchable between the role of (1) an inquiry/paging master device for establishing connections with devices that respond to inquiries and handing off the connections to the access point master device and the role of (2) the access point master device.

58. A method dynamically managing communication capacity in a short-range communication system establishing connections with mobile devices, comprising:

operating a plurality of wireless transceiver modules for communicating with devices over short-range communication links within a coverage of a short-range RF access point, wherein at least one wireless transceiver module of the plurality of wireless transceiver modules is programmed to operate solely as an access point master device performing inquiries for detecting and servicing mobile devices within a coverage area of said access point;

coupling a coordinating module to the at least one access point master device and the other wireless transceiver modules of the short range RF access point; and

switching, by the coordinating module, the operation of the other modules based on the communication load of the at least one access point master device.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of switching the operation of the other modules based on the communication load of the at least one access point master device comprises:

switching the operation between the role of (1) an access point slave device scanning packets initiated by devices within the coverage area of the access point for receiving mobile device information and passing the mobile device information to the at least one access point master device for detecting and servicing the mobile devices, and the role of (2) the access point master device.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of switching the operation of the other modules based on the communication load of the at least one access point master device comprises:

switching the operation between the role of between the role of (1) an inquiry/paging master device for establishing connections with devices that respond to inquiries and handing off the connections to the access point master device and the role of (2) the access point master device.

61. A medium, executable in a computer system, for dynamically managing communication capacity in a short-range communication system establishing connections with mobile devices, the medium comprising:

program code for operating at least one wireless transceiver module programmed as an access point master device performing inquiries for detecting and servicing mobile devices within coverage area of the access point;

program code for operating at least one wireless transceiver switchable module coupled to the access point master device as (1) an access point slave device scanning packets initiated by mobile devices within the coverage area of the access point for establishing a connection and passing the connection to the at least one access point master device, and (2) switchable to a master device role; and

program code for switching the at least one switchable module to a master device role based on the communication load of the access point master device.

62. The medium of claim 61, wherein the at least one access point switchable module is a hybrid device scanning the coverage for new mobile devices in a first state and providing services to mobile devices in a second state.

63. The medium of claim 61, wherein the operation of the at least one access point master device and the at least one switchable module is coordinated by a coordinating module coupled to the at least one access point master device and the at least one switchable module.

64. The medium of claim 63, wherein the coordinating module calculates the current communication load of the at least one access point master device and changes the state of the at least one access point switchable module to a second state as a master device establishing connections with mobile devices when the mobile devices establish a communication load that exceeds the maximum capacity of the at least one access point master device.

65. The medium of claim 63, wherein the coordinating module detects when the current communicating load of the access point master device is less than the maximum capacity of the access point master device and returns the access point switchable module to the first state.