Method for discovery and routing within mobile ad-hoc networks

• US 7,190,961 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Burr, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Application Number:
  US10/035,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/445, 455/426.1, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/432.2, 455/553.1, 455/324, 455/552.1, 370/338, 370/350, 370/502, 370/389, 709/220, 709/221
• US Class Current: 455/502
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A device scans its range for newly-discovered devices in a mobile ad-hoc network. Upon detecting a newly-discovered device, the two devices arbitrate how to synchronize their internal clocks. The devices then re-synchronize on schedule to enable data transmission. The devices may dynamically rearbitrate synchronization. The network as a whole is an emergent property of the peer-to-peer relationships between pairs of devices.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a synchronization system able to synchronize with first and second mobile communication devices to rout one or more messages from the first mobile communication device to the second mobile communication device by utilizing a first communication technology to a first communication frequency agreed by the first mobile communication device and by utilizing a second communication technology to a second communication frequency agreed by the second mobile communication device.

2. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a synchronization table listing synchronization information for the mobile communication device.

3. The mobile communication device according to claim 2, wherein the synchronization table includes a device identifier, a communications frequency, a communications technology, and a time interval for resynchronization.

4. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization system includes an arbitrator to provide the first and second agreed communications frequencies, the first and second agreed communication technologies, and a time interval for communication.

5. The mobile communication device according to claim 4, wherein the synchronization system further includes a synchronization table updater designed to update a synchronization table to reflect a device identifier the communication frequency, the communication technology and the time interval.

6. A method for a first mobile communication device to communicate with second and third mobile communication devices in an ad-hoc network including at least the first mobile communication device, the second mobile communication device and the third mobile communication device, comprising:

discovering the second mobile communication device;

determining a synchronization period with the second mobile communication device;

synchronizing with the second device by utilizing an agreed communication technology to an agreed communication frequency independently of the third device; and

routing messages from the third mobile communication device to the second mobile communication device.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

discovering the third device;

determining a synchronization period with the third mobile communication device; and

synchronizing with the third mobile communication device independently of the second mobile communication device.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

discovering the third mobile communication device by the second mobile communication device;

determining a synchronization period between the second mobile communication device and the third mobile communication device; and

synchronizing the second mobile communication device with the third mobile communication device independently of the first mobile communication device.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein discovering a second mobile communication device includes discovering the second mobile communication device within range of the first mobile communication device.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein determining a synchronization period includes arbitrating a time interval between synchronizations.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising re-synchronizing with the second mobile communication device after the time interval.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein determining the synchronization period includes arbitrating a frequency for communicating between the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device to provide the agreed communication frequency.

13. A method according to claim 6, wherein determining the synchronization period includes arbitrating a communication technology for communicating between the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device to provide the agreed communication technology.

14. A method according to claim 6, wherein synchronizing with the second mobile communication device includes resetting a clock in the first device.

15. A method according to claim 6, wherein synchronizing with the second mobile communication device includes informing the second mobile communication device that the first mobile communication device has data to transmit.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

arbitrating a time to transmit the data to the second mobile communication device; and

transmitting the data to the second mobile communication device at the arbitrated time.

17. A method according to claim 6, further comprising determining a new synchronization period with the second mobile communication device.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein determining a new synchronization period includes determining at least one of a new frequency, a new communications technology, and a new time interval.

19. An article comprising:

a storage medium said storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a first device in a network including at least the first device, a second device, and a third device, result in;

discovering the second device;

determining a synchronization period with the second device;

synchronizing with the second device by utilizing an agreed communication technology to an agreed communication frequency independently of the third device; and

routing messages from the third communication device to the second device.

20. An article according to claim 19, further comprising:

discovering the third device;

determining a synchronization period with the third device; and

synchronizing with the third device independently of the second device.

21. An article according to claim 19, further comprising:

discovering the third device by the second device;

determining a synchronization period between the second device and the third device; and

synchronizing the second device with the third device independently of the first device.

22. An article according to claim 19, wherein discovering a second device includes discovering a second device within range of the first device.

23. An article according to claim 19, wherein the storage medium has further stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by the first device, result in determining a synchronization period includes arbitrating a time interval between synchronizations.

24. An article according to claim 23, further comprising re-synchronizing with the second device after the time interval.

25. An article according to claim 19, wherein determining the synchronization period includes arbitrating a frequency for communicating between the first device and the second device to provide the agreed communication frequency.

26. An article according to claim 19, wherein determining the synchronization period includes arbitrating a communication technology for communicating between the first device and the second device to provide the agreed communication technology.

27. An article according to claim 19, wherein synchronizing with the second device includes resetting a clock in the first device.

28. An article according to claim 19, wherein synchronizing with the second device includes informing the second device that the first device has data to transmit.

29. An article according to claim 28, wherein the storage medium has further stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by the first device, result in:

arbitrating a time to transmit the data to the second device; and

transmitting the data to the second device at the arbitrated time.

30. An article according to claim 19, wherein the storage medium has further stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by the first device, result in determining a new synchronization period with the second device.

31. An article according to claim 30, wherein determining a new synchronization period includes determining at least one of a new frequency, a new communications technology, and a new time interval.