Wireless terminals with multiple transceivers
First Claim
1. A wireless network, comprising:
- a plurality of first wireless terminals configured to operate as cluster heads by communicating with at least one other cluster head over one or more backbone links, each one of the plurality of first wireless terminals including one or more backbone transceivers,at least one second wireless terminal configured to operate as a cluster member by communicating with an associated cluster head over one or more local links, each one of the at least one second wireless terminals including one or more cluster transceivers,wherein at least one of the first or second wireless terminals includes both a backbone transceiver and a cluster transceiver, anda third wireless terminal configured to;
determine whether the third wireless terminal includes a functioning backbone transceiver, andaffiliate with one of the first wireless terminals when the third wireless terminal includes no functioning backbone transceiver.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless network [100] includes a number of first wireless terminals configured to operate as cluster heads [110] by communicating with at least one other cluster head over a relatively long range backbone link [115]. Each one of the first wireless terminals includes a backbone transceiver. The backbone transceivers may operate in a first frequency range. At least one second wireless terminal is configured to operate as a cluster member [120] by communicating with an associated cluster head over a local link. Each one of the second wireless terminals includes a cluster transceiver. The cluster transceivers may operate in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range of the backbone transceivers. At least one of the first and second wireless terminals includes both a backbone transceiver and a cluster transceiver.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A wireless network, comprising:
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a plurality of first wireless terminals configured to operate as cluster heads by communicating with at least one other cluster head over one or more backbone links, each one of the plurality of first wireless terminals including one or more backbone transceivers, at least one second wireless terminal configured to operate as a cluster member by communicating with an associated cluster head over one or more local links, each one of the at least one second wireless terminals including one or more cluster transceivers, wherein at least one of the first or second wireless terminals includes both a backbone transceiver and a cluster transceiver, and a third wireless terminal configured to; determine whether the third wireless terminal includes a functioning backbone transceiver, and affiliate with one of the first wireless terminals when the third wireless terminal includes no functioning backbone transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method performed by a first terminal, the first terminal being a wireless, mobile terminal, the method comprising:
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receiving beacons from a plurality of second terminals, where at least one of the beacons is received according to a first wireless access protocol and at least one other one of the beacons is received according to a second wireless access protocol; determining a signal strength associated with each of the second terminals based on the beacons received according to the first and second wireless access protocols; sending an affiliation message to one of the second terminals based on the determined signal strength; determining whether a response to the affiliation message is received from the one of the second terminals; affiliating with the one of the second terminals when the response to the affiliation message is received from the one of the second terminals; and periodically repeating the receiving beacons, determining a signal strength, sending an affiliation message, determining whether a response to the affiliation message is received, and affiliating with the one of the second terminals as the first terminal moves to different locations.
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11. A first terminal, comprising:
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means for receiving beacons from a plurality of second terminals, where at least one of the beacons is received according to a first wireless access protocol and at least one other one of the beacons is received according to a second wireless access protocol; means for determining a signal strength associated with each of the second terminals based on the beacons received according to the first and second wireless access protocols; means for sending an affiliation message to one of the second terminals based on the determined signal strength; means for determining whether a response to the affiliation message is received from the one of the second terminals; means for affiliating with the one of the second terminals when the response to the affiliation message is received from the one of the second terminals; and means for periodically repeating the receiving beacons, determining a signal strength, sending an affiliation message, determining whether a response to the affiliation message is received, and affiliating with the one of the second terminals as the first terminal moves to different locations.
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Specification