Fast deployment of modules in adaptive network
First Claim
1. An interactive module for forming an adaptive wireless network in conjunction with other interactive modules communicating intermittently to conserve power, the interactive module comprising:
- a transceiver unit for transmitting a burst of beacon messages after the interactive module is activated to discover a neighboring interactive module via which the interactive module can communicate with a destination, the beacon messages persisting for a first interval longer than a second interval during which neighboring interactive modules remain in a sleep mode of low-power expenditure, the transceiver unit receiving response messages from the neighboring interactive modules responsive to receiving the beacon messages;
a processor coupled to the transceiver unit for determining a selected neighboring interactive module via which to communicate with the destination based on the response messages from the neighboring interactive modules; and
a transducer coupled to the transceiver unit for generating information representing a physical property sensed at the interactive module, the information transmitted via the transceiver unit,wherein each beacon message includes data having a plurality of data fields, the plurality of data fields including a first data field indicating that the beacon message is part of the transmitted burst of beacon messages, a second data field indicating a total number of beacon messages transmitted in the burst of beacon messages, and a third data field indicating a sequence of the beacon message within the burst of beacon messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of physical properties sensed at the modules. A new module is joined in the adaptive network in an expedient manner. The new module transmits a burst of beacon messages after the interactive module is activated to discover neighboring interactive modules deployed and operating in the adaptive network. The neighboring interactive module stays in a sleep-mode of low-power expenditure. The beacon messages persist for a first interval longer than a second interval during which the neighboring interactive modules remain in the sleep mode. After receiving the beacon messages, one or more neighboring interactive modules transmit response messages to the new interactive module. The new interactive module receives the response messages and selects a neighboring interactive module for communication based on the received response messages. The new module can also include an indicator for indicating discovery of a neighboring interactive module with which a reliable wireless link can be established.
76 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An interactive module for forming an adaptive wireless network in conjunction with other interactive modules communicating intermittently to conserve power, the interactive module comprising:
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a transceiver unit for transmitting a burst of beacon messages after the interactive module is activated to discover a neighboring interactive module via which the interactive module can communicate with a destination, the beacon messages persisting for a first interval longer than a second interval during which neighboring interactive modules remain in a sleep mode of low-power expenditure, the transceiver unit receiving response messages from the neighboring interactive modules responsive to receiving the beacon messages; a processor coupled to the transceiver unit for determining a selected neighboring interactive module via which to communicate with the destination based on the response messages from the neighboring interactive modules; and a transducer coupled to the transceiver unit for generating information representing a physical property sensed at the interactive module, the information transmitted via the transceiver unit, wherein each beacon message includes data having a plurality of data fields, the plurality of data fields including a first data field indicating that the beacon message is part of the transmitted burst of beacon messages, a second data field indicating a total number of beacon messages transmitted in the burst of beacon messages, and a third data field indicating a sequence of the beacon message within the burst of beacon messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium structured to store instructions executable by a processor in an interactive module that forms an adaptive wireless network in conjunction with other interactive modules communicating intermittently to conserve power, the instructions, when executed cause the processor to:
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at a transceiver unit, transmit a burst of beacon messages after the interactive module is activated to discover a neighboring interactive module via which the interactive module can communicate with a destination, the beacon messages persisting for a first interval longer than a second interval during which neighboring interactive modules remain in a sleep mode of low-power expenditure; at the transceiver unit, receive response messages from the neighboring interactive modules responsive to receiving the beacon messages; determine a selected neighboring interactive module via which to communicate with the destination based on the response messages from the neighboring interactive modules; and generate and transmit information representing a physical property sensed at the interactive module to the selected neighboring interactive module, wherein each beacon message includes data having a plurality of data fields, the plurality of data fields including a first data field indicating that the beacon message is part of the transmitted burst of beacon messages, a second data field indicating a total number of beacon messages transmitted in the burst of beacon messages, and a third data field indicating a sequence of the beacon message within the burst of beacon messages. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An adaptive network including a plurality of interactive modules communicating intermittently to conserve power, the adaptive network comprising:
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a first interactive module after being activated operable to transmit a burst of beacon messages to discover a neighboring interactive module with which the interactive module can communicate, each beacon message persisting for a first interval longer than a second interval during which neighboring interactive modules are in a sleep mode of low-power expenditure; and a plurality of second interactive modules in an active mode subsequent to the sleep mode operable to receive the burst of beacon messages and to transmit response messages responsive to the beacon messages, the response messages being transmitted in a burst of the response messages, the response messages comprising data representing a first communication quality between the first interactive module and the second interactive modules as determined by the beacon messages received at the second interactive module, wherein the first interactive module determines a selected interactive module via which to communicate with a destination among the second interactive modules based on the response messages and a second communication quality between the first interactive module and the second interactive modules as determined by the response messages received at the first interactive module, and wherein each response message includes data having a plurality of data fields, the plurality of data fields including a first data field indicating that the response message is part of the transmitted burst of response messages, a second data field indicating a total number of response messages transmitted in the burst of response messages, and a third data field indicating a sequence of the response message within the burst of response messages. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An interactive module for forming an adaptive wireless network in conjunction with other interactive modules communicating intermittently to conserve power, the interactive module comprising:
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a transceiver unit for transmitting a burst of beacon messages after the interactive module is activated to discover a neighboring interactive module via which the interactive module can communicate with a destination, the beacon messages persisting for a first interval longer than a second interval during which neighboring interactive modules remain in a sleep mode of low-power expenditure, the transceiver unit receiving response messages from the neighboring interactive modules responsive to receiving the beacon messages; a processor coupled to the transceiver unit for determining a selected neighboring interactive module via which to communicate with the destination based on the response messages from the neighboring interactive modules; and a transducer coupled to the transceiver unit for generating information representing a physical property sensed at the interactive module, the information transmitted via the transceiver unit, wherein each beacon message comprises a repeat message that is repeated in the beacon message at least during the second interval, each repeat message including data having a plurality of data fields, the plurality of data fields including a first data field indicating that the beacon message is part of the transmitted burst of beacon messages, a second data field indicating a total number of beacon messages transmitted in the burst of beacon messages, and a third data field indicating a sequence of the beacon message within the burst of beacon messages.
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25. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium structured to store instructions executable by a processor in an interactive module that forms an adaptive wireless network in conjunction with other interactive modules communicating intermittently to conserve power, the instructions, when executed cause the processor to:
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at a transceiver unit, transmit a burst of beacon messages after the interactive module is activated to discover a neighboring interactive module via which the interactive module can communicate with a destination, the beacon messages persisting for a first interval longer than a second interval during which neighboring interactive modules remain in a sleep mode of low-power expenditure; at the transceiver unit, receive response messages from the neighboring interactive modules responsive to receiving the beacon messages; determine a selected neighboring interactive module via which to communicate with the destination based on the response messages from the neighboring interactive modules; and generate and transmit information representing a physical property sensed at the interactive module to the selected neighboring interactive module, wherein each beacon message includes a repeat message that is repeated in the beacon message at least during the second interval, each repeat message including data having a plurality of data fields, the plurality of data fields including a first data field indicating that the beacon message is part of the transmitted burst of beacon messages, a second data field indicating a total number of beacon messages transmitted in the burst of beacon messages, and a third data field indicating a sequence of the beacon message within the burst of beacon messages.
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Specification