Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing an ad-hoc, autonomous communications network

• US 7,797,023 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/148,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20060280137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 455/550.1, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455/425
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing an ad-hoc, autonomous communications network is provided. The method includes activating a power supply for a first article embedded with communications components. The power supply is generated by at least one of a power source of the communications components and a power generator of the communications components that is implemented via active motion of the first article. The method also includes broadcasting a transmission event via the first article for a time period less than or equal to the life of the power supply. The method further includes detecting a communications node within a proximity of the first article, the communications node receiving the transmission event.

Claims

1. A method for implementing an ad-hoc, autonomous communications network, comprising:

activating a power supply for a first article embedded with communications components, the power supply generated via a power generator of the communications components that is implemented by active motion of the first article, the power generator being mechanically charged and providing mechanically produced electrical power to establish an alive power state;

broadcasting a first transmission event via the communications components of the first article for a time period less than or equal to the duration of the alive power state;

detecting a communications node within a proximity of the first article, the communications node comprising a second article embedded with communications components, the communications components of the second article including a power supply, the power supply generated by a power generator that is implemented via active motion of the second article, the power generator of the second article being mechanically charged and providing mechanically produced electrical power to establish an alive power state; and

the second article detecting a presence of a third article within proximity of the second article, wherein the first article and the third article are not in broadcast proximity of each other;

wherein the second article continues broadcast of the first transmission event when the duration of the alive power state of the first article has ended.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications components of the second article further performing:

temporarily storing the first transmission event at the second article;

broadcasting the first transmission event by the second article for a time period less than or equal to the duration of the alive power state of the second article; and

wherein the third article is embedded with communications components, the communications components of the third article including a power supply, the power supply generated by a power generator that is implemented by active motion of the third article, the power generator of the third article being mechanically charged and providing electrical power to establish an alive power state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second article broadcasts a second transmission event originating from the second article.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first transmission event comprises:

an identifier of at least one of;

the first article;

the second article;

the third article; and

the communications node;

a location of at least one of the first and second articles;

a time that the at least one of the first and second articles are at the location;

a brand identifier of the at least one of the first and second articles; and

entertainment elements, comprising at least one of;

text;

rich media; and

audio elements; and

wherein the first transmission event is selectable via at least one of the first article and the second article.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first transmission

event comprises entertainment elements comprising lights that are activated upon discovery of at least one of the first, second, and third articles in proximity of the first transmission event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmission event is selectively assigned to a target article including at least one of:

articles embedded with communications components and within range of the first article;

selected articles embedded with communications components that are identified by the first article;

a stationary node; and

an aggregator node for collecting transmission event information from articles embedded with communications components.

7. A system for implementing an ad-hoc, autonomous communications network, comprising:

a first article embedded with communications components, the communications components comprising;

a power supply generated by a power generator that is implemented via active motion of the first article, the power generator being mechanically charged and providing mechanically produced electrical power to establish an alive power state;

a transmitter broadcasting a first transmission event, the first transmission event broadcasted for a time period less than or equal to the duration of the alive power state;

a means for detecting a communications node within a proximity of the first article, the communications node comprising a second article embedded with communications components, the communications components of the second article including a power supply, the power supply generated by a power generator that is implemented via active motion of the second article, the power generator of the second article being mechanically charged and providing mechanically produced electrical power to establish an alive power state; and

the second article detecting a presence of a third article within proximity of the second article, wherein the first article and the third article are not in broadcast proximity of each other;

wherein the second article continues broadcast of the first transmission event when the duration of the alive power state of the first article has ended.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communications components of the second article further comprises:

a temporary storage location for temporarily storing the first transmission event;

a transmitter for broadcasting the first transmission event for a time period less than or equal to the duration of the alive power state of the second article; and

wherein the third article is embedded with communication components, the communications components of the third article including a power supply, the power supply generated by a power generator that is implemented via active motion of the third article, the power generator of the third article being mechanically charged and providing mechanically produced electrical power to establish an alive power state.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the communications node is a stationary unit, comprising at least one of:

a server; and

a personal computer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the second article broadcasts a second transmission event originating from the second article.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first transmission event comprises:

an identifier of at least one of;

the first article;

the second article;

the third article; and

the communications node;

a location of at least one of the first and second articles;

a time that the at least one of the first and second articles are at the location; and

entertainment elements, comprising at least one of;

text;

lights;

rich media; and

audio elements.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first, second, and third articles further comprise a processor and at least one of:

a global positioning system; and

a rich media generator; and

wherein the first transmission event is selectable via at least one of the first article and the second article.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first transmission event comprises a brand identifier of the at least one of the first and second articles.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the first transmission event is selectively assigned to a target article including at least one of:

articles embedded with communications components and within range of the first article;

selected articles embedded with communications components that are identified by the first article;

a stationary node; and

an aggregator node comprising a means for collecting transmission event information from the articles.

15. The system of claim 7 wherein:

the first article is footwear, each step on the footwear causing the power generator to emit a charge.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program product for implementing an ad-hoc, autonomous communications network, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to perform a method, comprising:

activating a power supply for a first article embedded with communications components, the power supply generated via a power generator of the communications components that is implemented by active motion of the first article, the power generator being mechanically charged and providing mechanically produced electrical power to establish an alive power state;

broadcasting a first transmission event via the first article for a time period less than or equal to the duration of the alive power state;

detecting a communications node within a proximity of the first article, the communications node comprising a second article embedded with communications components, the communications components of the second article including a power supply, the power supply generated by a power generator that is implemented via active motion of the second article, the power generator of the second article being mechanically charged and providing mechanically produced electrical power to establish an alive power state; and

the second article detecting a presence of a third article within proximity of the second article, wherein the first article and the third article are not in broadcast proximity of each other;

wherein the second article continues broadcast of the first transmission event when the duration of the alive power state of the first article has ended.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the communications components of the second article, the computer program product further comprising instructions for performing:

temporarily storing the first transmission event at the second article;

broadcasting the first transmission event by the second article for a time period less than or equal to the duration of the alive power state of the second article; and

wherein the third article is embedded with communications components, the communications components of the third article including a power supply generated by a power generator that is implemented via active motion of the third article, the power generator of the third article being mechanically charged and providing electrical power to establish an alive power state.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second article broadcasts a second transmission event originating from the second article.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first transmission event comprises:

an identifier of at least one of;

the first article;

the second article;

the third article; and

the communications node;

a location of at least one of the first and second articles;

a time that the at least one of the first and second articles are at the location;

brand identifier of the at least one of the first and second articles; and

entertainment elements, comprising at least one of;

text;

lights;

rich media; and

audio elements.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first transmission event is selectable via at least one of the first article and the second article.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first transmission event is selectively assigned to a target article including at least one of:

articles embedded with communications components and within range of the first article;

selected articles embedded with communications components that are identified by the first article;

a stationary node; and

an aggregator node for collecting transmission event information from the articles.