Method and apparatus for determining a pro-active region of a mobile ad hoc network

• US 7,177,652 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2000
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hopper, Stephen A, Gipson, Jack A
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US09/614,026
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/525, 455/11.1, 455/440, 455/441, 370/389, 370/315, 370/316, 370/319, 370/326, 370337-339, 370/344, 370/347, 370/442, 370/483, 370/487, 370/493, 370/519
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless device for use in an ad hoc network is provided. The wireless device includes a transceiver, a global positioning system, and a controller. The transceiver is capable of receiving positional information from a plurality of remote users. The global positioning system is capable of generating positional information regarding the wireless device. The controller selects a first portion of the plurality of remote users to be within a pro active region of the ad hoc network based upon the positional information, and then maintains information on the remote users selected to be within the pro active region.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless device, comprising:

receiving positional information from a plurality of users in an ad hoc network;

selecting a first portion of the plurality of users to be within a pro active region based upon said positional information;

maintaining information on the users selected to be within the pro active region; and

accessing topographical information on a region in which the wireless device is currently located,

wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users further comprises selecting the users based on the positional and topographical information.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein receiving said positional information further comprises receiving information on the position, heading, and speed of the plurality of users in the ad hoc network.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users further comprises selecting the users that are relatively stationary to be within the pro active region.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising determining the position, heading and speed of the wireless device, and wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users further comprises selecting the users that have a position, heading and speed similar to that of the wireless device to be within the pro active region.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising calculating a heading and speed of the plurality of users in the ad hoc network.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users further comprises selecting the users that are relatively stationary to be within the pro active region.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 5, further comprising determining the position, heading and speed of the wireless device, and wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users further comprises selecting the users that have a position, heading and speed similar to that of the wireless device to be within the pro active region.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users further comprises selecting the users based on the absence of topographical features that could interfere with communications between the wireless device and the selected users.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising accessing a radio frequency map of a region in which the wireless device is currently located, and wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users further comprises selecting the users based on the positional information and the radio frequency map.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein selecting the first portion of the plurality of users based on the positional information and the radio frequency map further comprises selecting the users located within relatively high strength regions of the radio frequency map.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the topographical information comprises topographic maps of manmade structures.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the topographical information comprises topographic maps including naturally occurring geographic formations.

13. A wireless device for use in an ad hoc network, comprising:

a transceiver capable of receiving positional information from a plurality of remote users;

a global positioning system capable of generating positional information regarding the wireless device; and

a controller capable of selecting a first portion of the plurality of remote users to be within a pro active region based upon said positional information, and maintaining information on the remote users selected to be within the pro active region,

wherein the controller is capable of accessing topographical information on a region in which the wireless device is currently located, and selecting the first portion of the plurality of remote users based on the positional and topographical information.

14. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said transceiver is capable of receiving positional information that includes information on the position, heading, and speed of the plurality of remote users in the ad hoc network.

15. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the controller is capable of selecting the first portion of the plurality of remote users by selecting the users that are relatively stationary to be within the pro active region.

16. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the controller is capable of selecting the first portion of the plurality of remote users by selecting the remote users that have a position, heading and speed similar to that of the wireless device to be within the pro active region.

17. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the controller is capable of calculating a heading and speed of the plurality of remote users in the ad hoc network.

18. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the controller is capable of selecting the first portion of the plurality of remote users by selecting the users that are relatively stationary to be within the pro active region.

19. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the controller is capable of selecting the first portion of the plurality of remote users by selecting the remote users that have a position, heading and speed similar to that of the wireless device to be within the pro active region.

20. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the controller is capable of selecting the first portion of the plurality of remote users based on the absence of topographical features that could interfere with communications between the wireless device and the selected remote users.

21. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the controller is capable of accessing a radio frequency map of a region in which the wireless device is currently located, and selecting the first portion of the plurality of users based on the positional information and the radio frequency map.

22. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the topographical information comprises topographic maps of manmade structures.

23. A wireless device, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the topographical information comprises topographic maps including naturally occurring geographic formations.

24. A method of operating a wireless device, comprising:

receiving positional information from a plurality of users in an ad hoc network;

accessing topographical information on a region in which the wireless device is currently located, wherein the topographical information comprises a topographic map of formations that may interfere with communications between the plurality of users;

selecting a first portion of the plurality of users to be within a pro active region based upon the positional information and the topographical information; and

maintaining information on the users selected to be within the pro active region.