Apparatus and method for peer-to-peer link monitoring of a wireless network with centralized control
First Claim
1. A wireless communications device for communicating in a network comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein each of the plurality of wireless communication devices comprise a transmitter and a receiver, the wireless communications device comprising:
- an identifying device for identifying an identity of the transmitter of a received message; and
a link monitor for measuring quality of the received message, wherein the receiver is for receiving messages intended to be received at one or more of the other wireless communication devices and for receiving a quality factor from at least one other wireless device, and wherein the transmitter is for transmitting a message and for transmitting the quality factor to one of the plurality of wireless devices, the wireless communication device being designatable as a central station in dependence on the measured quality.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Centrally controlled wireless networks require reliable communications between the central controller and each of the stations within the wireless networks. The structure of a wireless network is often dynamic, or ad-hoc, as stations enter and exit the network, or are physically relocated. The selection of the central controller for the network may also be dynamic, either because the current central controller desires to exit the network, or because the communication between the current central controller and one or more of the stations is poor. This invention discloses a method and apparatus for assessing the quality of the communication paths among all stations in the network. This assessment is useful as a continual monitor of the quality of the network, and can be utilized to select an alternative central control station based upon the quality of communication paths to and from this station. Additionally, the quality assessment can be utilized to establish relay communication paths, as required.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A wireless communications device for communicating in a network comprising a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein each of the plurality of wireless communication devices comprise a transmitter and a receiver, the wireless communications device comprising:
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an identifying device for identifying an identity of the transmitter of a received message; and a link monitor for measuring quality of the received message, wherein the receiver is for receiving messages intended to be received at one or more of the other wireless communication devices and for receiving a quality factor from at least one other wireless device, and wherein the transmitter is for transmitting a message and for transmitting the quality factor to one of the plurality of wireless devices, the wireless communication device being designatable as a central station in dependence on the measured quality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A communication system comprising:
a plurality of devices, each of the plurality of devices comprising; a transmitter for transmitting a message; and a receiver for receiving messages from each other of the devices, determining from the received messages corresponding quality factors of the received messages and determining an identity of the transmitter of the received message, wherein each of the plurality of devices is selectable as a central station in dependence upon the quality factors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless communication device for communication within a wireless communication system containing a plurality of other wireless communication devices, said wireless device comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting a message; and a receiver for receiving messages from the other wireless devices and from the received messages, determining corresponding quality factors of the received messages and determining an identity of the transmitter of the received message, wherein the wireless device is selectable as an alternate central station in dependence upon the quality factors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for assessing the quality of a communications network, said network comprising communication stations comprising means of transmitting and receiving messages, wherein said system comprises:
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a means for transmitting a message from a transmitting communication station, a means for receiving the message at a plurality of receiving communication stations, and, at each receiving communication station, a means for identifying the transmitting communication station, a means for measuring the quality of the received message, and a means for determining a quality factor associated with the transmitting communication station in dependence upon the measured quality of the received message; a means for repeating the above steps for other transmitting communication stations, and a means for having each communication station communicate the quality factors associated with each of said transmitting communication stations to a central station, said central station thereby having a means for assessing the quality of the communication network in dependence upon said quality factors. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system for determining a preferred central controller for a communications network, said communications network comprising communication stations and communication paths between each of said communication stations, one of said communication stations being a current central controller, wherein said system comprises:
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a means for transmitting a message from a transmitting communication station, a means for receiving die message at a plurality of receiving communication stations, and, at each receiving communication station, a means for identifying the transmitting communication station, a means for measuring the quality of the received message, and a means for determining a quality factor associated with the transmitting communication station in dependence upon the measured quality of the received message; and
,a means for repeating the above for other transmitting communication stations, a means for having each communication station communicate the quality factors associated with each of said transmitting communication stations to the current central controller, at said current central controller thereafter; a means for assessing the quality of the communication paths in dependence upon said quality factors, and, a means for determining the preferred central controller in dependence upon the assessed quality of the communication paths. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system for determining a relay pat for a communication path within a communications network, said communications network comprising communication stations and communication paths between each of said communication stations, one of said communication stations being a current central controller, wherein said system comprises:
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a means for transmitting a message from a transmitting communication station, a means for receiving the message at a plurality of receiving communication stations, and, at each receiving communication station, a means for identifying the transmitting communication station, a means for measuring the quality of the received message, and a means for determining a quality factor associated with the transmitting communication station in dependence upon the measured quality of the received message; and
,a means for repeating the above steps for other transmitting communication stations, a means for having each communication station communicate the quality factors associated wit each of said transmitting communication stations to the current central controller, said current central controller having; a means for assessing the quality of the communication paths in dependence upon said quality factors, and, a means for determining the relay pat in dependence upon the assessed quality of the communication paths. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A peer-to-peer wireless communication device comprising:
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at least one means for transmitting and receiving peer-to-peer communications from and to other wireless communications devices in a network, the communications comprising a plurality of received messages; a plurality of received link quality measures; at least one transmitted message; and at least one transmitted link quality measure; and at least one processing means for performing operations, the operations including identifying respective transmitters of the received messages; measuring respective link qualities for the received messages; maintaining data regarding link quality for a plurality of the other devices in the network, responsive to bath measuring link quality and receiving link quality measures; and enabling the device to convert to a central station, rather than a peer-to-peer station, based on the data and agreement with at least one other device in the network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification