Multi-mode mobile networking device

• US 8,085,680 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Craine, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US11/860,369
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Establishing a mobile ad-hoc network between mobile network devices may include transmitting a signal from a first mobile network device using a plurality of communications formats. One or more other mobile network devices may receive the broadcast signal, select a communications format from the plurality of communications formats and respond to the signal using the selected communications format.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a mobile ad hoc network between a plurality of mobile network devices, the method comprising:

broadcasting a control signal from a first mobile network device, the control signal simultaneously broadcast in a plurality of communications formats, the control signal including requirements of a communications protocol;

receiving a second signal from one or more other mobile network devices, the second signal being broadcast in a format selected from the plurality of communications formats; and

configuring the first mobile network device to broadcast in the selected communications format.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting content from the first mobile network device to the one or more other mobile network devices in the selected communications format.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the content comprises one or more of voice, text, images, video, graphics or music.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the selected communications format in a look-up table residing in the first mobile network device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing content by the first mobile network device for transmission to the one or more other mobile network devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communications formats comprises one or more of WiFi, infrared, Internet, radio frequency (RF) or cellular communications formats.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal, from the one or more other mobile network devices, is received in a primary or secondary communications mode of the mobile network device.

8. A method of establishing a mobile ad-hoc network between a plurality of mobile network devices, the method comprising:

broadcasting a control signal from a first mobile network device, the control signal simultaneously broadcast in a plurality of communications formats, the control signal including requirements of a communications protocol;

receiving a second signal from one or more other mobile network devices, the second signal being broadcast in a format selected from the plurality of communications formats; and

configuring the first mobile network device to broadcast in the selected communications format;

storing the selected communications format in a look-up table residing in the first mobile network device;

selecting, by the first mobile network device, one or more other mobile network devices to receive a message;

searching in the lookup table for one or more communications formats that correspond to the one or more other mobile network devices; and

transmitting a message from the first mobile network device to the one or more other mobile network devices in a plurality of communications formats, simultaneously, that correspond to the one or more other mobile network devices.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the message contains one or more of voice, text, images, video, graphics or music.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising capturing content by the first mobile network device for transmission to the one or more other mobile network devices.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more communications formats comprises one or more of WiFi, RF, infrared, Internet or cellular communications formats.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein searching for one or more communications formats comprises searching for a primary and a secondary mode of communications.

13. A device for establishing a mobile ad-hoc network, the device comprising:

a user interface for receiving a message from a user;

a storage device for storing a lookup table, the lookup table comprising one or more communications modes corresponding to one or more other mobile network devices; and

a wireless communications interface configured to

transmit a control signal in a plurality of communications modes, simultaneously, the control signal including requirements of a communications protocol,

receive a second signal from one or more other mobile network devices, the second signal being broadcast in a format selected from the plurality of communications formats,

configure the first mobile network device to broadcast in the selected communications format, and

store the selected communications format in the look-up table in the storage device;

wherein the wireless communications interface transmits the received a message to the one or more other mobile network devices using the plurality of communications modes listed in the lookup table.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the user interface comprises a key pad, a touch screen, or a pointing device.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a content capture device for capturing content for transmission to the one or more other mobile network devices.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the lookup table contains a primary and a secondary mode of communication that corresponds to the one or more other mobile network devices.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of communications formats comprises one or more of WiFi, RF, infrared, Internet or cellular communications formats.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising an access point for receiving and retransmitting the message to the one or more other mobile network devices.