System and method for networking a plurality of nodes

• US 7,269,506 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U-Nav Microelectronics (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maimone, Peter Joseph, Jackson, Timothy Ronald, Jenkins, Daniel Collin
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/724,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-213, 701/214, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 3404255-438, 342450-463
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/26 Route discovery packet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/244 using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update

Abstract

A system and method for networking a plurality of nodes is disclosed. A network of data devices having data representations of connectivity, network node position, and/or position topologies is also disclosed, wherein the network may be self-configuring and the network nodes spatially addressable. In another embodiment, a unique form of signal acquisition assistance intrinsic in the signal structure may also be used. A data positioning device capable of operating as a node in a network of the present invention is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a first network node having a first storage with a topology of said network; and

a second network node having a second storage with said topology, wherein communication signals are transmitted between said first and second network nodes;

wherein said first and second storages are updated in response to network topology changes, and said first and second network nodes are addressable by one or more parameters that are useable to selectively communicate data, and a master transmitter sets the basic frequency and phase of said network and said first and second network nodes.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein said first and second network nodes are positioning devices capable of sending and receiving darn wirelessly.

3. The network of claim 2 wherein said one or more parameters comprise spatial parameters for said first and second network nodes, said spatial parameters to include at least one of a position parameter and velocity parameter.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein said network is self-configuring in that a new node may join said network by protocol sharing, and said topology of the first and second storages will be automatically updated to reflect the addition of said new node to the network.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein said communication signals include non-position data and relative position information.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein relative position information is derived from said communication signals using triangulation techniques.

7. The network of claim 1, further comprising weak-position-signal nodes and strong-position-signal nodes, and wherein said communication signals are transmitted to said weak-position-signal nodes by being relayed through said strong-position-signal nodes.

8. The network of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of navigation beacons which transmit position signals to said first and second network nodes, and wherein said first and second network nodes are position transponders.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein said communication signals are synchronized to said position signals.

10. The network of claim 1, wherein said communication signals are used as ranging signals for other network nodes, said other network nodes to determine signal propagation time using signal tune tagging.

11. The network of claim 8, wherein said position signals are usable for determining absolute positioning information for said first and second network nodes.

12. The network of claim 11, wherein said communication signals include non-position data and absolute position information.

13. The network of claim 8, wherein said communication signals substitute for said position signals in determining network node position information.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein said communication signals are used to provide frequency and signal phase assistance in the determination of node position information.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein said frequency and signal phase assistance is used by said first network node to detect attenuated positioning signals from said plurality of navigation beacons.