Method and apparatus for controlling packet transmissions within wireless networks to enhance network formation

• US 8,050,196 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Global Communications, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoon, Chang-June
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US12/500,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20110007669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/026 Details of "hello" or keep-alive messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/028 Dynamic adaptation of the update intervals, e.g. event-triggered updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Network formation in wireless networks according to an embodiment of the present invention is enhanced based on control of network formation packet transmissions (e.g., Packet Radio Organizational Packet (PROP) transmissions). A source-initiated approach controls re-transmission of inquiry/reply PROP packets based on the presence of a neighboring node. This reduces the size and amount of PROP packets transmitted during neighbor discovery. In addition, the source-initiated approach controls re-transmission of PROP packets indicating a change in an upstream or control type node (e.g., LNC PROP). In this case, the node determines the presence of steady-state conditions (e.g., maintenance of conditions for the original LNC PROP transmission), and enables a single re-transmission of the LNC PROP packet, thereby reducing the transmission of unnecessary or duplicate LNC PROP packets (e.g., containing substantially the same information as previously transmitted packets since conditions have remained the same).

Claims

1. A communication unit to transmit and receive information within a wireless communications network including a plurality of communication units and to control transference of said information to enhance network formation comprising:

a transmitter to transmit outgoing information to at least one other communication unit within said network;

a receiver to receive incoming information from at least one other communication unit within said network; and

a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming information, wherein said processor includes;

a network formation module to control re-transmission of a network organizational packet previously transmitted by said communication unit to reduce packet transmissions during formation of said communications network, wherein said network organizational packet includes information enabling formation of said communications network by said communication units, and wherein said network formation module includes;

a neighbor discovery module to exchange said network organizational packets with one or more other communication units to determine neighboring units; and

a unit change module to transmit said network organizational packet indicating a change in network topology;

wherein said re-transmission of said network organizational packet previously transmitted by said communication unit is selectively enabled based on one of a request for re-transmission of an expected network organizational packet that failed to be received and said topology of said plurality of communication units within said communications network.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein said communications network includes an ad-hoc network.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein said incoming and outgoing information is in the form of Radio Frequency (RF) signals.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein said

neighbor discovery module enables re-transmission of said network organizational packets in response to said communication unit including at least one neighboring unit.

5. The unit of claim 1, wherein said

change in said network topology relates to a change of one of a controller unit and a relay unit, and said unit change module enables re-transmission of said network organizational packet indicating a change in response to conditions within said communications network remaining constant and the absence of a prior re-transmission of that packet.

6. The unit of claim 1, wherein said network formation module includes:

a request module to transmit said request within said communication link status packet for said re-transmission of said network organizational packet in response to failure to receive said network organizational packet within a time interval.

7. The unit of claim 6, wherein said link status packet includes a HELLO packet.

8. The unit of claim 1, wherein said network organizational packet includes a Packet Radio Organizational packet.

9. A communications network comprising:

a plurality of communication units for transferring information therebetween, wherein re-transmission of a network organizational packet previously transmitted by a communication unit is controlled to reduce packet transmissions during formation of said communications network, wherein said network organizational packet includes information enabling formation of said communications network by said communication units, wherein each communication unit includes a neighbor discovery module to exchange said network organizational packets with one or more other communication units to determine neighboring units, and a unit change module to transmit said network organizational packet indicating a change in network topology, and wherein said re-transmission of said network organizational packet previously transmitted by said communication unit is selectively enabled based on one of a request for re-transmission of an expected network organizational packet that failed to be received and said topology of said communications network.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein said communications network includes an ad-hoc network.

11. The network of claim 9, wherein said communication units communicate via Radio Frequency (RF) signals.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein each

neighbor discovery module enables re-transmission of said network organizational packets in response to said communication unit including at least one neighboring unit.

13. The network of claim 9, wherein

said change in said network topology relates to a change of one of a controller unit and a relay unit, and each said communication unit enables re-transmission of said network organizational packet indicating a change in response to conditions within said communications network remaining constant and the absence of a prior re-transmission of that packet.

14. The network of claim 9, wherein each communication unit includes:

a request module to transmit said request within said communication link status packet for said re-transmission of said network organizational packet in response to failure to receive said network organizational packet within a time interval.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein said link status packet includes a HELLO packet.

16. The network of claim 9, wherein said network organizational packet includes a Packet Radio Organizational packet.

17. A method of controlling transference of information between a communication unit and other units within a communications network to enhance network formation comprising:

(a) controlling re-transmission of a network organizational packet previously transmitted by said communication unit to reduce packet transmissions during formation of said communications network, wherein said network organizational packet includes information enabling formation of said communications network by said communication units, and step (a) further includes;

(a.1) exchanging said network organizational packets with one or more other communication units to determine neighboring units;

(a.2) transmitting said network organizational packet from said communication unit indicating a change in network topology; and

(a.3) selectively enabling said re-transmission of said network organizational packet previously transmitted by said communication unit based on one of a request for re-transmission of an expected network organizational packet that failed to be received and said topology of said communications network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said communications network includes an ad-hoc network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication units communicate via Radio Frequency (RF) signals.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a.3) further includes:

enabling re-transmission of said network organizational packets in response to said communication unit including at least one neighboring unit.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a.3) further includes:

enabling re-transmission of said network organizational packet indicating a change in response to conditions within said communications network remaining constant and the absence of a prior re-transmission of that packet, and wherein said change in said network topology relates to a change of one of a controller unit and a relay unit.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein step (a.3) further includes:

(a.3) requesting within said communication link status packet for said re-transmission of said network organizational packet in response to failure of said communication unit to receive said network organizational packet within a time interval.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said link status packet includes a HELLO packet.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said network organizational packet includes a Packet Radio Organizational packet.