Method and system for supporting residual energy awareness in an ad hoc wireless communications network
First Claim
1. A method in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:
- (a) coordinating wireless communications in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network including the wireless communications device and a plurality of remote devices;
(b) maintaining a database, the database storing at least residual energy status information for each of plurality of remote devices;
(c) receiving updated residual energy status information from a remote device of the plurality of remote devices;
whereina first class is assigned to the remote device if the remote device receives power from a fixed power supply;
a second class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is greater than a first percentage value; and
a third class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is less than a second percentage value;
(d) dynamically updating the database based on the received information; and
(e) selecting one of the plurality of remote devices as a best candidate for coordinating future communications in the wireless communications network, said selection based on at least the class assignment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communications device detects a change in its residual energy status, and transmits the residual energy status across a wireless communications network to a remote device that coordinates communications in the wireless communications network. For example, the remote device may be a piconet coordinator (PNC) in an IEEE 802.15.3 network, or a master device in a Bluetooth network. A wireless communications device that coordinates communications in a wireless communications network (the coordinator) transmits one or more first handover commands to one or more remote devices upon the occurrence of a triggering event. Based on responses to these first commands, the coordinator selects a remote device for coordinating future communications in the wireless communications network.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:
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(a) coordinating wireless communications in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network including the wireless communications device and a plurality of remote devices; (b) maintaining a database, the database storing at least residual energy status information for each of plurality of remote devices; (c) receiving updated residual energy status information from a remote device of the plurality of remote devices;
whereina first class is assigned to the remote device if the remote device receives power from a fixed power supply; a second class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is greater than a first percentage value; and a third class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is less than a second percentage value; (d) dynamically updating the database based on the received information; and (e) selecting one of the plurality of remote devices as a best candidate for coordinating future communications in the wireless communications network, said selection based on at least the class assignment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A wireless communications device, comprising:
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a wireless communications portion for communicating with a plurality of remote devices in a wireless communications network; a memory; and a processor that executes instructions stored in the memory for; coordinating wireless communications in the wireless communications network; maintaining a database, the database storing at least residual energy status information for each of plurality of remote devices; receiving updated residual energy status information from a remote devices or the plurality of remote devices;
whereina first class is assigned to the remote device if the remote device receives power from a fixed power supply; a second class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is greater than a first percentage value; and a third class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is less than a second percentage value; dynamically updating the database based on the received information; selecting one of the plurality of remote devices as a best candidate for coordinating future communications in the wireless communications network, said selection based on at least class assignment.
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18. A wireless communications device, comprising:
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means for coordinating wireless communications in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network including the wireless communications device and a plurality of remote devices;
information for each of remote devices;means for maintaining a database, the database storing at least residual energy status information for each of plurality of remote devices; means for receiving updated residual energy status information from a remote device of the plurality of remote devices;
whereina first class is assigned to the remote device if the remote device receives power from a fixed power supply; a second class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is greater than a first percentage value; and a third class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is less than a first percentage value; means for dynamically updating the database based on the received information; and means for selecting one of the plurality of remote devices as a best candidate for coordinating future communications in the wireless communications network, said selection based on at least the class assignment.
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19. A computer program product in computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor to operate in a wireless communications device, the computer program logic configured to:
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coordinate wireless communications in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network including the wireless communications device and a plurality of remote devices; maintain a database, the database storing at least residual energy status information for each of plurality of remote devices; receive updated residual energy status information from a remote devices of the plurality of remote devices;
whereina first class is assigned to the remote device if the remote device receives power from a fixed power supply; a second class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is greater than a first percentage value; and a third class is assigned to the remote device if a residual energy percentage level of the remote device is less than a second percentage value; update the database based on the received information; and select one of the plurality of remote devices as a best candidate for coordinating future communications in the wireless communications network, said selection based on at least the class assignment.
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Specification