Network system dynamically made for a short-distance wireless communication and network structuring method

• US 7,418,510 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakakura, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): HAMZA, FARUK
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMZA, FARUK
• Application Number:
  US10/234,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,182 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709/227, 709/249
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

In a network system, an internet is connected with a gateway router through a wire link, a plurality of access routers are connected with each other through wireless links, and one access router is connected with the gateway router through a wireless link. Each wireless link connects a Bluetooth device of one access router and a Bluetooth device of another access router or a Bluetooth device of the gateway router. When a wireless terminal unit is connected with one access router through one wireless link while issuing a network connect request, the gateway router functions as a gateway to the wire link, and an IP route from the wireless link connected with the wireless terminal unit to the wire link is set.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a wire link;

a plurality of wireless links;

a gateway router, with which a wireless terminal unit is connected through the wireless links and which is connected with the wire link, for setting a communication route from the wireless link directly connected with the wireless terminal unit to the wire link to function as a gateway to the wire link; and

one or more access routers, at least one of which connects the gateway router and the wireless terminal unit through the wireless links, for setting a communication route from the wireless link connected with the gateway router to the wireless link connected with the wireless terminal unit, wherein the gateway router sets a communication route from the wireless link connected with the wireless terminal unit to the wire link through the other wireless link or the other wireless links connected with the one or more access routers to function as a gateway to the wire link;

wherein

one remarked access router is connected through a first wireless link with the gateway router or another access router,

the remarked access router searches the gateway router and the other access routers for a non-used wireless link having data transfer capability higher than that of the first wireless link,

the connection of the remarked access router through the first wireless link is changed to the connection of the remarked access router with the gateway router or one of the other access routers through the non-used wireless link having data transfer capability higher than that of the first wireless link,

the gateway router and the one or more access routers are configured as master devices, while the wireless terminal is configured as a slave device,

the communication route includes the changed connection of the remarked access router through the non-used wireless link, and

the communication route is set such that every node connecting the wireless terminal to the wire link is a gateway router or access router.

2. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the remarked access router searches for the non-used wireless link according to a network remaking trigger periodically generated in a timer.

3. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the remarked access router searches for the non-used wireless link according to a network remaking command broadcasted by a network administrator.

4. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer capability of the non-used wireless link or the first wireless link is estimated according to a hop count denoting the number of access routers between the wire link and the non-used wireless link or the first wireless link.

5. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer capability of the non-used wireless link or the first wireless link is estimated according to a data transfer rate of the non-used wireless link or the first wireless link.

6. A network system according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless terminal is configured to issue an inquiry in order to establish a direct wireless link with one of the master devices in the network system, and

each master device within a proximity of the wireless terminal is configured to respond to the inquiry to establish, if available, the direct wireless link.

7. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the gateway router is an internet protocol (IP) router, and the wire link is connected to the internet.

8. A network system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wire network connected with the gateway router through the wire link; and

an authentication database, disposed in the wire network, for registering authentication data used for authenticating the wireless terminal unit, wherein a communication route from the wireless terminal unit to the wire network is set for the wireless terminal unit, which is authenticated according to the authentication data registered in the authentication database.

9. A network system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wire network connected with the gateway router through the wire link; and

an accounting database, disposed in the wire network, for storing accounting information which denotes a charge for communication performed by the wireless terminal unit and is produced according to a connect time period of the wireless terminal unit.

10. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the gateway router provides benefit information registered in advance for the wireless terminal unit connected with the gateway router through the wireless link or the wireless links.

11. A network system according to claim 1, wherein each wireless link is formed as one of the following:

a link between a Bluetooth device of the gateway router and a Bluetooth device of the wireless terminal unit,

a link between the Bluetooth device of the gateway router and a Bluetooth device of one access router,

a link between the Bluetooth device of the wireless terminal unit and a Bluetooth device of one access router, or

a link between a Bluetooth device of one access router and a Bluetooth device of another access router, and

wherein an inactive time period in a standby mode of each Bluetooth device is set to zero.