System and method for selecting repeaters

• US 6,862,430 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2000
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echelon Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Duffy, Darrell, Riley, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/610,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/445, 455/15, 455/16, 370/252, 370/338, 370/328, 370/310.2, 370/332, 370/333
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal.

Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for selecting repeaters comprising:

transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node;

measuring signal strength of said first signal at said second node;

transmitting a second signal from said second node to said first node, said signal strength of said first signal stored as data in said second signal;

measuring signal strength of said second signal at said first node; and

selecting said second node as a repeater based on said signal strength of said first signal and/or said signal strength of said second signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting said second node as a repeater if said signal strength of said first signal is within a specified range and said signal strength of said second signal is within a specified range.

3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

selecting said second node as a repeater if combined signal strength of said first signal and said second signal is within a specified range.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

selecting said second node as a repeater if an average of said signal strength of said first signal and said signal strength of said second signal is within a specified range.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein said first node performs selecting of said second node as a repeater based on said signal strength of said first signal and/or said signal strength of said second signal.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

if said second node is selected as a repeater, transmitting a third signal from said second node to a third node;

measuring signal strength of said third signal at said third node;

transmitting a fourth signal from said third node to said second node;

measuring signal strength of said fourth signal at said second node; and

selecting said third node as a second-tier repeater based on said signal strength of said third signal and/or said signal strength of said fourth signal.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting said third node as a second-tier repeater if said signal strength of said first signal is within a specified range and said signal strength of said second signal is within a specified range.

8. An article of manufacture including a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a first network node, cause said processor to:

transmit a first signal from said first network node to a second node;

measure signal strength of said first signal at said second node;

transmit a second signal from said second node to said first node, said signal strength of said first signal is stored as data in said second signal;

measure signal strength of said second signal at said first node; and

select said second node as a repeater based on said signal strength of said first signal and/or said signal strength of said second signal.

9. The article of manufacture as in claim 8 including additional instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to:

select said second node as a repeater if said signal strength of said first signal is within a specified range and said signal strength of said second signal is within a specified range.

10. The article of manufacture as in claim 8 including additional instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to:

select said second node as a repeater if combined signal strength of said first signal and said second signal is within a specified range.

11. The article of manufacture as in claim 8 including additional instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to:

select said second node as a repeater if an average of said signal strength of said first signal and said signal strength of said second signal is within a specified range.

12. The article of manufacture as in claim 8 wherein said first node performs selecting of said second node as a repeater based on said signal strength of said first signal and/or said signal strength of said second signal.

13. The article of manufacture as in claim 8 including additional instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to:

if said second node is selected as a repeater, transmit a third signal from said second node to a third node;

measure signal strength of said third signal at said third node;

transmit a fourth signal from said third node to said second node;

measure signal strength of said fourth signal at said second node; and

select said third node as a second-tier repeater based on said signal strength of said third signal and/or said signal strength of said fourth signal.