Method and apparatus for creating links to extend a network
First Claim
1. A method of extending the coverage area of a network that is accessible via at least one network interface node by establishing links among the at least one network interface node and a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein each mobile node includes at least three directional antennas for creating links to other nodes to, the method at a mobile node comprising:
- determining possible links to other nodes based on route data for the nodes;
scoring each remaining link;
eliminating the lowest scoring links when the number of remaining links for the mobile node exceeds the maximum number of links permitted; and
aiming the directional antennas of the mobile node to create the remaining links.
8 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
High bandwidth network access is extended to vehicles and passengers on vehicles. The network is extended to a vehicle by way of one or more intermediate nodes, which may be other vehicles or signal relays. In order to acquire the vehicles to which to extend the network, route data is provided to the intermediate nodes and to the vehicles. Computers on-board the vehicles and intermediate nodes determine which pairs of vehicles and intermediate nodes should establish links to form a network based on the route data and link scoring. The vehicles and intermediate nodes then control directional antennas to point at each other based on the route data and the scoring to establish the links.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of extending the coverage area of a network that is accessible via at least one network interface node by establishing links among the at least one network interface node and a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein each mobile node includes at least three directional antennas for creating links to other nodes to, the method at a mobile node comprising:
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determining possible links to other nodes based on route data for the nodes; scoring each remaining link; eliminating the lowest scoring links when the number of remaining links for the mobile node exceeds the maximum number of links permitted; and aiming the directional antennas of the mobile node to create the remaining links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product for causing a system on a node to establish links to other nodes, including network interface nodes for accessing a network and mobile nodes, wherein each node includes at least three directional antennas for creating links to other nodes, the computer program product including a computer useable medium having computer program logic therein, the computer program logic comprising:
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determining means for causing a system to determine possible links to other nodes based on route data for the nodes; scoring means for causing the system to score each link; eliminating means for causing the system to eliminate the lowest scoring links when the number of links for the mobile node exceeds the maximum number of links permitted; and aiming means for causing the computer to aim the directional antennas of the mobile node to create the remaining links. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification