Central coordinator selection, handover, backup and failure recovery
First Claim
1. A method of network management in a centralized network comprising a first central coordinator (CCO) and a station adapted to transmit beacons comprising network scheduling and resource allocation, the method comprising the steps of:
- indicating to the centralized network that a CCO handover is in progress;
transmitting, by the first CCO to the station, a list of stations associated with the centralized network;
receiving, by the first CCO from the station, a message in response to the transmitted list of stations;
initiating a handover countdown timer; and
if the handover countdown timer expires, transmitting, by the station, beacons within the centralized network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and devices for improving network management in a centralized network, which typically includes a central coordinator (CCO) that manages and schedules activities within the network. The embodiments of the invention provide a manner of selecting a CCO, including a backup CCO, best suited to manage the network based on a set of rules. Furthermore, the embodiments provide a manner of transferring the current CCO functions to a new CCO, e.g., via message exchanges. Moreover, a process of a backup CCO assuming the function of an unavailable CCO is also described.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of network management in a centralized network comprising a first central coordinator (CCO) and a station adapted to transmit beacons comprising network scheduling and resource allocation, the method comprising the steps of:
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indicating to the centralized network that a CCO handover is in progress; transmitting, by the first CCO to the station, a list of stations associated with the centralized network; receiving, by the first CCO from the station, a message in response to the transmitted list of stations; initiating a handover countdown timer; and if the handover countdown timer expires, transmitting, by the station, beacons within the centralized network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of improving network management in a centralized network comprising a first central coordinator (CCO), a first backup CCO, and at least one station, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting, by the first backup CCO, first CCO beacons from the first CCO; and if the first CCO beacons are not detected within a defined period, transmitting, by the first backup CCO, first backup beacons comprising network scheduling and allocation information, wherein at least one of the first backup beacons is transmitted using a beacon slot previously allocated to the first CCO; requesting topology information from the at least one station in the centralized network, wherein the topology information comprises at least one of the following;
information related to stations discovered by the at least one station and information related to centralized networks discovered by the at least one station; andselecting a second backup CCO to replace the first backup CCO; wherein the step of selecting the second backup CCO is based on a set of rules of precedence; wherein the set of rules of precedence is based on at least one of the following criteria; whether a CCO is user-appointed; CCO-capability classification of a CCO; a count of discovered stations associated with a CCO; and a count of discovered networks associated with a CCO; wherein the criterion of whether the CCO is user-appointed is ranked higher than the CCO-capability classification of the CCO; the CCO-capability classification of the CCO is ranked higher than the count of discovered stations associated with the CCO; and the count of discovered stations associated with the CCO is ranked higher than the count of discovered networks associated with the CCO; wherein a greater count value of the count of discovered stations associated with the CCO is ranked higher than a lower count value of the count of discovered stations associated with the CCO; and wherein a greater count value of the count of discovered networks associated with the CCO is ranked higher than a lower count value of the count of discovered networks associated with the CCO.
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7. A method of improving network management in a centralized network comprising a first central coordinator (CCO), a first backup CCO, and at least one station, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting, by the first backup CCO, first CCO beacons from the first CCO; and if the first CCO beacons are not detected within a defined period, transmitting, by the first backup CCO, first backup beacons comprising network scheduling and allocation information, wherein at least one of the first backup beacons is transmitted using a beacon slot previously allocated to the first CCO; requesting topology information from the at least one station in the centralized network, wherein the topology information comprises at least one of the following;
information related to stations discovered by the at least one station and information related to centralized networks discovered by the at least one station; andselecting a second backup CCO to replace the first backup CCO; wherein if the first CCO beacons are not detected within a defined period, requesting at least one active link information associated with the at least one station, wherein the at least one active link information comprises quality of service requirement and channel characteristic information.
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8. A method of improving network management in a centralized network comprising a first central coordinator (CCO), a first backup CCO, and at least one station, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting, by the first backup CCO, first CCO beacons from the first CCO; and if the first CCO beacons are not detected within a defined period, transmitting, by the first backup CCO, first backup beacons comprising network scheduling and allocation information, wherein at least one of the first backup beacons is transmitted using a beacon slot previously allocated to the first CCO; requesting topology information from the at least one station in the centralized network, wherein the topology information comprises at least one of the following;
information related to stations discovered by the at least one station and information related to centralized networks discovered by the at least one station; andselecting a second backup CCO to replace the first backup CCO; wherein if the first CCO beacons are not detected within a defined period, transmitting a timing offset between the first CCO and the first backup CCO.
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9. A method of improving network management in a centralized network comprising a first central coordinator (CCO), a first backup CCO, and at least one station, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting, by the first backup CCO, first CCO beacons from the first CCO; and if the first CCO beacons are not detected within a defined period, transmitting, by the first backup CCO, first backup beacons comprising network scheduling and allocation information, wherein at least one of the first backup beacons is transmitted using a beacon slot previously allocated to the first CCO; requesting topology information from the at least one station in the centralized network, wherein the topology information comprises at least one of the following;
information related to stations discovered by the at least one station and information related to centralized networks discovered by the at least one station; andselecting a second backup CCO to replace the first backup CCO; wherein if the first CCO beacons are not detected within a defined period, determining by the at least one station a timing offset between the first CCO and the first backup CCO based on time stamp values associated with first CCO beacons and first backup beacons associated with the first backup CCO.
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10. A method of selecting a new central coordinator (CCO) within a centralized network comprising a current CCO and at least one station, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining one or more stations from the at least one station that are ranked higher than the current CCO based on a topology table associated with the current CCO and a set of rules of precedence, wherein the topology table comprises a list of discovered stations and a list of discovered centralized networks; and selecting a new CCO with a highest ranking from the determined one or more stations, wherein the selecting step is based on at least one of the following; if there is only one station from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting the only one station to be the new CCO; and if there are two or more stations from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting one of the two or more stations with the highest ranking to be the new CCO. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A device adapted to be coupled to a centralized network, the device comprising:
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a central coordinator (CCO) auto-selection module adapted to; determine one or more stations associated with the centralized network, wherein the one or more stations are ranked higher than a current CCO; and select a new CCO with a highest ranking from the determined one or more stations, wherein the selecting step is based on at least one of the following; if there is only one station from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting the only one station to be the new CCO; and if there are two or more stations from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting one of the two or more stations with the highest ranking to be the new CCO; and a rules of precedence module adapted to; rank one or more stations associated with the centralized network, based on a topology table associated with the centralized network and a set of rules of precedence, wherein the topology table comprises a list of discovered stations; wherein the set of rules of precedence is based on at least one of the following criteria; whether a station is user-appointed; CCO-capability classification of a station; a count of discovered stations associated with a station; and a count of discovered networks associated with a station; and wherein the topology table further comprises a list of discovered centralized networks.
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15. A device adapted to be coupled to a centralized network, the device comprising:
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a central coordinator (CCO) auto-selection module adapted to; determine one or more stations associated with the centralized network, wherein the one or more stations are ranked higher than a current CCO; and select a new CCO with a highest ranking from the determined one or more stations, wherein the selecting step is based on at least one of the following; if there is only one station from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting the only one station to be the new CCO; and if there are two or more stations from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting one of the two or more stations with the highest ranking to be the new CCO; and a rules of precedence module adapted to; rank one or more stations associated with the centralized network, based on a topology table associated with the centralized network and a set of rules of precedence, wherein the topology table comprises a list of discovered stations; wherein the set of rules of precedence is based on at least one of the following criteria; whether a station is user-appointed; CCO-capability classification of a station; a count of discovered stations associated with a station; and a count of discovered networks associated with a station; and further comprising; a central coordinator (CCO) handover module adapted to; indicate to the centralized network at least one of the following; that a CCO handover is in progress; that a CCO handover is not in progress; transmit a list of stations associated with the centralized network; transmit information related to one or more links in the centralized network; and initiate a handover countdown timer. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A device adapted to be coupled to a centralized network, the device comprising:
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a central coordinator (CCO) auto-selection module adapted to; determine one or more stations associated with the centralized network, wherein the one or more stations are ranked higher than a current CCO; and select a new CCO with a highest ranking from the determined one or more stations, wherein the selecting step is based on at least one of the following; if there is only one station from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting the only one station to be the new CCO; and if there are two or more stations from the determined one or more stations with the highest ranking, selecting one of the two or more stations with the highest ranking to be the new CCO; and a rules of precedence module adapted to; rank one or more stations associated with the centralized network, based on a topology table associated with the centralized network and a set of rules of precedence, wherein the topology table comprises a list of discovered stations; wherein the set of rules of precedence is based on at least one of the following criteria; whether a station is user-appointed; CCO-capability classification of a station; a count of discovered stations associated with a station; and a count of discovered networks associated with a station; and further comprising; a CCO user-appointed module adapted to; present a user interface adapted to receive station identification information.
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18. A system comprising:
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a central coordinator (CCO) adapted to; transmit beacons, wherein each first beacon comprises network scheduling and allocation information; auto-select a new CCO from at least one station based on ranking information associated with each of the at least one station, wherein the ranking information is determined based on a CCO topology table and a set of rules of precedence; accept station identification of a station to function as a new central coordinator; the backup CCO adapted to; detect the first beacons transmitted by the CCO; if the first beacons transmitted by the CCO are not detected within a defined period, transmit second beacons, each second beacon comprising network scheduling and allocation information, wherein at least one of the second beacons is transmitted using a beacon slot previously allocated to the CCO; request topology information, wherein the topology information comprises a list of discovered stations and a list of discovered networks; request link information; and select a new backup CCO; and at least one network segment operably connecting the CCO and the backup CCO.
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19. A device adapted to be coupled to a centralized network, the device comprising:
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an input and output interface adapted to receive and transmit messages within the centralized network; and a backup and failure recovery module adapted to; detect first beacons from a CCO; and if the first beacons are not detected within a defined period, transmit second beacons, each second beacon comprising network scheduling and allocation information, wherein at least one of the second beacons is transmitted using a beacon slot previously allocated to the CCO; request topology information from at least one station associated with the centralized network, wherein the topology information comprises information related to a set of stations discovered by the at least one station and information related to centralized networks discovered by the at least one station; request link information associated with one or more links active within the centralized network; and select a backup CCO, wherein the backup CCO is adapted to perform CCO operations when currently operating beacons from a currently operating CCO are no longer detected by the second backup CCO.
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Specification