Short range RF network with roaming terminals

• US 6,954,443 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Forstadius, Antti, Heinonen, Tomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, RICHARD K
• Application Number:
  US09/803,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 370330-339, 370345-347, 370/401, 455/435.1, 455436-440
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A short-range RF network deployed at a site larger than the coverage area of a single short-range RF transceiver includes a plurality of short-range RF transceivers deployed with overlapping coverage areas and accessible through a gateway, and accommodates terminal devices to establish communication through any transceivers with the gateway or with other of the terminal devices. The system further includes a WAP/Web server in communication with the Internet and in communication with the gateway. Terminal devices may establish Internet sessions through a node, the gateway, the WAP/Web server, and the Internet with remote Web servers or with remote users, and are assigned PPP IP numbers for such sessions. A terminal device which roams from the coverage area of one node to the coverage area of another node, and which is accordingly assigned a new PPP IP number, may continue in an Internet session by virtue of a shared database associated with the WAP/Web server and updated by the gateway. The shared database enables correlation of the terminal device'"'"'s current location in the network with the PPP IP number by which Internet communications refer to it.

Claims

1. A short-range RF network, the network comprising:

a plurality of nodes connected wirelessly to each other, and to at least one resource;

at least one mobile device wirelessly communicating with at least one of the plurality of nodes, and capable of roaming out of one node'"'"'s coverage area into another node'"'"'s coverage area; and

a periodically updated first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with at least one of the plurality of nodes for each node of the short-range RF network;

the at least one resource having a periodically updated second database including information concerning the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network and relative information concerning the first databases of each node of the short-range RF network;

the at least one mobile device capable of sending a user-initiated request for data using the short-range RF network,

the network being arranged to forward said request to the at least one resource;

the at least one resource being arranged to provide the requested data via the network to a node communicating with the at least one mobile device according to the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource; and

wherein the node receiving the requested data is arranged to determine whether the at least one mobile device is still in communication with said node, and, if the at least one mobile terminal is still in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information stored at the first database, said node forwards the requested data to the at least one mobile device.

2. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein if said node determines that the at least one mobile device is not in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information stored at the first database, said node forwards the requested data to a periodically updated third database for temporary storing.

3. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein the first database is located within each node of the short-range RF network respectively.

4. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein if the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource indicates that the at least one mobile device is not in communication with any of the plurality of nodes, the requested data is sent to a periodically updated third database for temporary storing.

5. The short-range RF network according to claim 4, wherein if the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource indicates that the at least one mobile device has returned to communication with any of the plurality of nodes, the requested data is retrieved from the third data base and forwarded to the at least one mobile device.

6. The short-range RF network according to claim 4, wherein if the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource indicates that the at least one mobile device has returned to communication with a different one of the plurality of nodes, and if the requested data stored in third data base is pertinent only to a coverage area of a node with which the at least one mobile device was last in communication, data pertinent to said different one of the plurality of nodes is forwarded to the at least one mobile device.

7. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resource includes a node selected to be a control node of the short-range RF network capable of communicating with other nodes of the short-range RF network and with the at least one mobile device, the control node being associated with a periodically updated first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with said control node.

8. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resource is further a gateway to other networks.

9. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is located outside the coverage area of the at least one resource and communicates with said at least one resource by relaying through at least one other node of the plurality of nodes.

10. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein the short-range RF network is a Bluetooth network.

11. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein the requested data comprises continuous repetition of a predetermined set of data items.

12. The short-range RF network according to claim 11, wherein the content of the data items is subject to updating to a value current for each repetition.

13. The short-range RF network according to claim 12, wherein the requested data remains requested until actuation of a predetermined signal from the mobile terminal.

14. The short-range RF network according to claim 1, wherein the requested data has a predetermined length and wherein the requested data ceases to be requested after transmission of the predetermined length of data.

15. The short-range RF network according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one resource has access to a periodically updated fourth database including information concerning mobile devices which were formerly in communication with any of the plurality of nodes during a predetermined time period;

and

when at least one other mobile device enters into the coverage area of any node of the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network, the at least one resource determines whether the at least one other mobile device has been in communication with any of the plurality of nodes of the short range RF network during said predetermined time period; and

if the information stored at the periodically updated fourth database indicates that the at least one other mobile device has been in communication with any node of the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network during said predetermined time, the at least one resource scans through periodically updated third database to determine whether there is still requested data at the temporary storage, and if requested data exists at the temporary storage, the at least one resource provides said data to a node communicating with the at least one other mobile device according to the periodically updated information stored at the second database.

16. The short-range RF network according to claim 15, wherein

the node receiving the data packet determines whether the at least one other mobile device is still in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information stored at the first database, and;

if the at least one other mobile device is still in communication with said node according to the information stored at the first database, said node forwards the requested data to the at least one other mobile device.

17. The short-range RF network according to claim 16, wherein if said node determines that the at least one other mobile device is not in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information stored at the first database, said node forwards the requested data to the periodically updated third database for temporary storing.

18. The short-range RF network according to claim 15, wherein the at least one resource includes a node selected to be a control node of the short-range RF network capable of communicating with other nodes and with the at least one other mobile device, the control node comprising a periodically updated first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one other mobile device currently in communication with said control node.

19. The short-range RF network according to claim 15, wherein the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device is the same device.

20. The short-range RF network according to claim 15, wherein the at least one resource is further a gateway to other networks.

21. The short-range RF network according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is located outside the coverage area of the at least one resource and communicates with said at least one resource by relaying through at least one other node of the plurality of nodes.

22. The short-range RF network according to claim 15, wherein the short-range RF network is a Bluetooth network.

23. A method of operating a short-range RF network, the network comprising:

a plurality of nodes connected wirelessly to each other, and to at least one resource; and

at least one mobile device wirelessly communicating with at least one of the plurality of nodes, and capable of roaming our of one node'"'"'s coverage area into another node'"'"'s coverage area;

and the method comprising the steps of;

periodically updating a first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with at least one of the plurality of nodes for each node of the short-range RF network;

in the at least one resource, periodically updating a second database including information concerning the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network and relative information concerning the first databases of each node of the short-range RF network;

sending a request for data using the short-range RF network, the request initiated by a user of the at least one mobile device and forwarding the request to the at least one resource; and

providing the requested data to a node communicating with the at least one mobile device according to the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource;

wherein the node receiving the requested data determines whether the at least one mobile device is still in communication with said node, and, if the at least one mobile device is still in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information stored at the first database, the requested data is forwarded to the at least one mobile device.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein if the determination indicates that the at least one mobile device is not in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information stored at the first database, the requested data is forwarded to a periodically updated third database for temporary storing.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the first database is located within each node of the short-range RF network respectively.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein if the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource indicates that the at least one mobile device is not in communication with any of the plurality of nodes, the requested data is sent to a periodically updated third database for temporary storing.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein if the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource indicates that the at least one mobile device has returned to communication with any of the plurality of nodes, the requested data is retrieved from the third data base and forwarded to the at least one mobile device.

28. The short-range RF network according to claim 26, wherein if the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource indicates that the at least one mobile device has returned to communication with a different one of the plurality of nodes, and if the requested data stored in third data base is pertinent only to a coverage area of a node with which the at least one mobile device was last in communication, data pertinent to said different one of the plurality of nodes is forwarded to the at least one mobile device.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one resource includes a node selected to be a control node of the short-range RF network capable of communicating with other nodes of the short-range RF network and with the at least one mobile device, and the control node periodically updates a first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with said control node.

30. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one resource is further a gateway to other networks.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is located outside the coverage area of the at least one resource and communicates with said at least one resource by relaying through at least one other node of the plurality of nodes.

32. The method according to claim 23, wherein the short-range RF network is a Bluetooth network.

33. The method according to claim 23, wherein the requested data comprises continuous repetition of a predetermined set of data items.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the content of the data items is subject to updating to a value current for each repetition.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the requested data remains requested until actuation of a predetermined signal from the mobile terminal.

36. The method according to claim 23, wherein the requested data has a predetermined length and wherein the requested data ceases to be requested after transmission of the predetermined length of data.

37. The method according to claim 23, wherein:

the at least one resource has access to a periodically updated fourth database including information concerning mobile devices which were formerly in communication with any of the plurality of nodes during a predetermined time period;

when at least one other mobile device enters into the coverage area of any node of the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network, the at least one resource determines whether the at least one other mobile device has been in communication with any of the plurality of nodes of the short range RF network during said predetermined time period; and

if the information stored at the periodically updated fourth database indicates that the at least one other mobile device has been in communication with any node of the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network during said predetermined time, the at least one resource scans through periodically updated third database to determine whether there is still requested data at the temporary storage, and if requested data exists at the temporary storage, said data is provided to a node communicating with the at least one other mobile device according to the periodically updated information stored at the second database.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein

the node receiving the data packet determines whether the at least one other mobile device is still in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information scored at the first database, and;

if the at least one other mobile device is still in communication with said node according to the information stored at the first database, the requested data is forwarded to the at least one other mobile device.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein If the determination indicates, that the at least one other mobile device is not in communication with said node according to the periodically updated information stored at the first database, the requested data is forwarded to the periodically updated third database for temporary storing.

40. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one resource includes a node selected to be a control node of the short-range RF network capable of communicating with other nodes and with the at least one other mobile device, the control node comprising:

a periodically updated first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one other mobile device currently in communication with said control node.

41. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobile device is the same device.

42. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one resource is further a gateway to other networks.

43. The method according to claim 37, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is located outside the coverage area of the at least one resource and communicates with said at least one resource by relaying through at least one other node of the plurality of nodes.

44. The method according to claim 37, wherein the short-range RF network is a Bluetooth network.

45. A short-range RF network, the network comprising:

a plurality of nodes connected wirelessly to each other, and to at least one resource;

at least one mobile device wirelessly communicating with at least one of the plurality of nodes, and capable of roaming out of one node'"'"'s coverage area into another node'"'"'s coverage area; and

a periodically updated first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with at least one of the plurality of nodes for each node of the short-range RF network, wherein said first database is located within each node of the short range RF network respectively;

the at least one resource having a periodically updated second database including information concerning the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network and relative information concerning the first databases of each node of the short-range RF network;

the at least one mobile device capable of sending a user-initiated request for data using the short-range RF network,

the network being arranged to forward said request to the at least one resource;

the at least one resource being arranged to provide the requested data via the network to a node communicating with the at least one mobile device according to the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource.

46. A short-range RF network, the network comprising:

a plurality of nodes connected wirelessly to each other, and to at least one resource;

at least one mobile device wirelessly communicating with at least one of the plurality of nodes, and capable of roaming out of one node'"'"'s coverage area into another node'"'"'s coverage area; and

a periodically updated first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with at least one of the plurality of nodes for each node of the short-range RF network;

the at least one resource having a periodically updated second database including information concerning the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network and relative information concerning the first databases of each node of the short-range RF network, wherein the at least one resource is further a gateway to other networks;

the at least one mobile device capable of sending a user-initiated request for data using the short-range RF network,

the network being arranged to forward said request to the at least one resource;

the at least one resource being arranged to provide the requested data via the network to a node communicating with the at least one mobile device according to the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource.

47. A method of operating a short-range RF network, the network comprising:

a plurality of nodes connected wirelessly to each other, and to at least one resource; and

at least one mobile device wirelessly communicating with at least one of the plurality of nodes, and capable of roaming out of one node'"'"'s coverage area into another node'"'"'s coverage area;

and the method comprising the steps of;

periodically updating a first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with at least one of the plurality of nodes for each node of the short-range RF network, wherein the first database is located within each node of the short-range RF network respectively;

in the at least one resource, periodically updating a second database including information concerning the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network and relative information concerning the first databases of each node of the short-range RF network;

sending a request for data using the short-range RF network, the request initiated by a user of the at least one mobile device and forwarding the request to the at least one resource; and

providing the requested data to a node communicating with the at least one mobile device according to the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource.

48. A method of operating a short-range RF network, the network comprising:

a plurality of nodes connected wirelessly to each other, and to at least one resource; and

at least one mobile device wirelessly communicating with at least one of the plurality of nodes, and capable of roaming out of one node'"'"'s coverage area into another node'"'"'s coverage area;

and the method comprising the steps of;

periodically updating a first database for maintaining information concerning the at least one mobile device currently in communication with at least one of the plurality of nodes for each node of the short-range RF network;

in the at least one resource, periodically updating a second database including information concerning the plurality of nodes of the short-range RF network and relative information concerning the first databases of each node of the short-range RF network, wherein the at least resource is further a gateway to other networks;

sending a request for data using the short-range RF network, the request initiated by a user of the at least one mobile device and forwarding the request to the at least one resource; and

providing the requested data to a node communicating with the at least one mobile device according to the periodically updated relative information concerning the first databases stored at the second database of the at least one resource.