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Method and apparatus for providing directed communications through a networked array of nodes

  • US 7,158,511 B2
  • Filed: 09/27/2001
  • Issued: 01/02/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for messaging within a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the nodes includes a processor, a memory connected with the processor, and a directional communication interface, the method comprising:

  • a. receiving a message including an address code and corresponding data at a current node among the plurality of nodes, the address code including a relative target address of the node to which the corresponding message is intended to be sent;

    b. processing the received address code to determine if the address code indicates that the current node is the intended recipient of the message;

    c. modifying the message based on the direction from which the message was received, the address code in the message, and the direction to which the message is to be re-transmitted;

    d. re-transmitting the message including the modified address code, in each direction in which it is to be re-transmitted; and

    e. repeating steps a to d at every node until the message reaches the node to which the message is intended to be sent, whereby a message may be propagated across a plurality of nodes along multiple paths until the message reaches a desired recipient, thereby providing path redundancy without the need for the use of unique node identities;

    further including a step of initializing a cumulative hop count in the message when it is initially transmitted, a step of incrementing or decrementing the hop-count each time the message is re-transmitted, and a step of halting the re-transmission of the message when the hop-count reaches a predetermined level, whereby messages propagate through the plurality of nodes for a pre-specified number of hops and then are no-longer re-transmitted regardless whether they reach the node to which they were intended to be sent.

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