Personal wireless network user behavior based topology

• US 8,090,317 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Burge, Benjamin D., Isaac, Ronald N., Ueda, Joji
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US12/184,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20100027463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/41.2, 455/420, 455/456.3, 455/66.1, 455/67.11, 455/100, 455/115.1, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

Point-to-point links making up a wireless network in which the point-to-point links connect at least personal portable devices are dynamically altered (i.e., new point-to-point links are established and/or other point-to-point links are removed) in response to recurring comparisons of the extents of interaction of each of the personal portable devices with the wireless network to increase the resiliency of the wireless network to the observed behavior of the user of the personal portable devices in changing which personal portable devices are within the network at any given time.

Claims

1. A first personal portable device to interact with a wireless network having a topology having a first point-to-point link to directly connect the first personal portable device to a second personal portable device, the first personal portable device comprising:

a first processor;

a first wireless transceiver operable by the first processor to enable communications across the wireless network with the second personal portable device;

a first storage accessible to the first processor in which is stored a first routine comprising a sequence of instructions, that when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to;

store within the first personal portable device an indication of a first extent of interaction of the first personal portable device with the wireless network;

receive through the first wireless transceiver an indication of a second extent of interaction of the second personal portable device with the wireless network;

compare the first and second extents of interaction on a recurring basis; and

cooperate with at least one processor of at least one other personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying one position within the topology of the wireless network to occupying a different position within the topology of the network in response to a result of a comparison between the first and second extents of interaction; and

wherein the first and second extents of interaction are measured as one of a group consisting of;

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices are within the wireless network such that each of the first and second personal portable devices are each accessible to at least one other personal portable device through the network; and

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices exchange data with at least one other personal portable device through the network.

2. The first personal portable device of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device in comparing the first and second extents of interaction.

3. The first personal portable device of claim 1, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a star topology having a center position and an endpoint position; and

the cooperation of the first processor with at least one processor of at least one other personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying the one position to occupying the different position comprises the first processor being further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the center and endpoint positions.

4. The first personal portable device of claim 3, wherein the first processor is caused to cooperate with the second processor to move the first personal portable device from the endpoint position to the center position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.

5. The first personal portable device of claim 1, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a chain topology having an endpoint position and a midpoint position; and

the cooperation of the first processor with at least one processor of at least one other personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying the one position to occupying the different position comprises the first processor being further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the endpoint and midpoint positions.

6. The first personal portable device of claim 5, wherein:

the endpoint position is to be occupied by a personal portable device of the wireless network having the greatest extent of interaction with the network; and

the first processor is caused to cooperate with the second processor to move the first personal portable device from the midpoint position to the endpoint position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.

7. The first personal portable device of claim 1, wherein the cooperation of the first processor with at least one processor of at least one other personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying the one position to occupying the different position comprises the first processor being further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device to establish a second point-to-point link consistent with the first personal portable device occupying the different position and to remove a third point-to-point link that is not consistent with the first personal portable device occupying the different position.

8. The first personal portable device of claim 1, wherein the cooperation of the first processor with at least one processor of at least one other personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying the one position to occupying the different position comprises the first processor being further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange identities such that the first processor causes the first personal portable device to be presented on the wireless network as the second personal portable device and the second processor causes the second personal potable device to be presented on the wireless network as the first personal portable device.

9. The first personal portable device of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further caused to store data within the first personal portable device indicating an identity of a third personal portable device that the first processor will attempt to establish a new point-to-point link with in response to a future removal of the second personal portable device from a position in between the first and third personal portable devices in the topology of the wireless network, wherein the first processor is caused to store the data indicating the identity of the third personal portable device at an initial time where the first personal portable device is still directly connected to the second personal portable device through the first point-to-point link and the second personal portable device is still directly connected to the third personal portable device through a second point-to-point link.

10. The first personal portable device of claim 9, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a star topology having a center position and a plurality of endpoint positions;

at the initial time, the first personal portable device occupies an endpoint position of the plurality of endpoint positions, the second personal portable device occupies the center position, and the third personal portable device occupies another endpoint position of the plurality of endpoint positions;

the data stored within the first personal portable device comprises a succession data indicating a line of succession of personal portable devices to occupy the center position in a descending order of extents of interaction of each personal portable device with the wireless network; and

the first processor is further caused to cooperate with at least one processor of at least the third personal portable device to cause the first personal portable device to occupy the center position in response to the second personal portable device being removed from the wireless network at a time subsequent to the initial time and in response to the succession data indicating that the first personal portable device is next in the line of succession after the second personal portable device.

11. The first personal portable device of claim 9, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a chain topology; and

the data stored within the first personal portable device comprises an ordering data indicating an order of positions for personal portable devices to occupy within the topology of the wireless network in an order based on extents of interaction of each personal portable device with the wireless network.

12. The first personal portable device of claim 1, wherein:

the first processor of the first personal portable device is further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device and a third processor of a third personal portable device to exchange a first audio data through the wireless network to enable a user of the first, second and third personal portable devices to hear audio represented by the first audio data;

the second personal portable device is linked through a second point-to-point link with the third personal portable device such that at least a portion of the first audio data is relayed between the first and third personal portable devices through the second personal portable device; and

at least the first and third personal portable devices store a data indicating a personal portable device that each of the first and third personal portable devices will attempt to establish a new point-to-point link with in response to the removal of the second personal portable device from the network.

13. The first personal portable device of claim 12, wherein:

one of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless earphone to audibly output a first audio channel of the first audio data; and

another of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless headset to audibly output a second audio channel of the first audio data and to detect a second audio.

14. The first personal portable device of claim 12, wherein:

one of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless earphone to audibly output the first audio data; and

another of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless remote control to enable control of a characteristic of the first audio.

15. A method of increasing resiliency of a wireless network comprising a plurality of point-to-point links linking a plurality of personal portable devices occupying positions within the topology of the wireless network, the method comprising:

comparing a first extent of interaction with the wireless network of a first personal portable device of the plurality of personal portable devices with a second extent of interaction with the wireless network of a second personal portable device on a recurring basis;

causing at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device from one position in the topology of the wireless network to a different position in the topology of the wireless network in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction; and

wherein the first and second extents of interaction are measured as one of a group consisting of;

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices are within the wireless network such that each of the first and second personal portable devices are each accessible to at least one other personal portable device through the network; and

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices exchange data with at least one other personal portable device through the network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a star topology having a center position and an endpoint position; and

the causing of at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device comprises causing the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the center and endpoint positions.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second personal portable devices are caused to cooperate to move the first personal portable device from the endpoint position to the center position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.

18. The method claim 15, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a chain topology having an endpoint position and a midpoint position; and

the causing of at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device comprises causing the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the endpoint and midpoint positions.

19. The method claim 18, wherein:

the endpoint position is meant to be occupied by a personal portable device of the wireless network having the greatest extent of interaction with the network; and

the first and second personal portable devices are caused to cooperate to move the first personal portable device from the midpoint position to the endpoint position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the causing of at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device comprises causing the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to establish a first point-to-point link consistent with the first personal portable device occupying the different position and to remove a second point-to-point link that is not consistent with the first personal portable device occupying the different position.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the causing of at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device comprises causing the first and second personal portable devices to exchange identities such that the first personal portable device is presented on the wireless network as the second personal portable device and the second personal potable device is presented on the wireless network as the first personal portable device.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing data within the first personal portable device indicating an identity of a third personal portable device of the plurality of personal portable devices to attempt to establish a new point-to-point link with in response to a removal of the second personal portable device from a position in between the first and third personal portable devices in the topology of the wireless network, wherein the storing of the data indicating the identity of the third personal portable device occurs at an initial time where the first personal portable device is still directly connected to the second personal portable device through a first point-to-point link and the second personal portable device is still directly connected to the third personal portable device through a second point-to-point link.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a star topology having a center position and a plurality of endpoint positions;

at the initial time, the first personal portable device occupies an endpoint position of the plurality of endpoint positions, the second personal portable device occupies the center position, and the third personal portable device occupies another endpoint position of the plurality of endpoint positions;

the data stored within the first personal portable device comprises a succession data indicating a line of succession of personal portable devices to occupy the center position in a descending order of extents of interaction of each personal portable device with the wireless network; and

the method further comprises causing at least first and third personal portable devices to cooperate to cause the first personal portable device to occupy the center position in response to the second personal portable device being removed from the wireless network at a time subsequent to the initial time and in response to the succession data indicating that the first personal portable device is next in the line of succession after the second personal portable device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a chain topology; and

the data stored within the first personal portable device comprises an ordering data indicating an order of positions for personal portable devices to occupy within the topology of the wireless network in an order based on extents of interaction of each personal portable device with the wireless network.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

exchanging a first audio data through the wireless network to enable a user of the first, second and third personal portable devices to hear audio represented by the first audio data, wherein the first and second personal portable devices are linked through a first point-to-point link and the second and third personal portable devices are linked through a second point-to-point link such that at least a portion of the first audio data is relayed between the first and third personal portable devices through the second personal portable device; and

storing in at least the first and third personal portable devices a data indicating a personal portable device that each of the first and third personal portable devices will attempt to establish a new point-to-point link with in response to the removal of the second personal portable device from the network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

one of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless earphone to audibly output a first audio channel of the first audio data; and

another of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless headset to audibly output a second audio channel of the first audio data and to detect a second audio.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein:

one of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless earphone to audibly output the first audio data; and

another of the first, second and third personal portable devices is a wireless remote control to enable control of a characteristic of the first audio.

28. A first personal portable device to interact with a wireless network having a topology having a first point-to-point link to directly connect the first personal portable device to a second personal portable device, the first personal portable device comprising:

a first processor;

a first wireless transceiver operable by the first processor to enable communications across the wireless network with the second personal portable device; and

a first storage accessible to the first processor in which is stored a first routine comprising a sequence of instructions, that when executed by the first processor, causes the first processor to;

store within the first personal portable device an indication of a first extent of interaction of the first personal portable device with the wireless network;

receive through the first wireless transceiver an indication of a second extent of interaction of the second personal portable device with the wireless network;

compare the first and second extents of interaction on a recurring basis; and

cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying one position within the topology of the wireless network to occupying a different position within the topology of the network in response to a result of a comparison between the first and second extents of interaction; and

wherein the cooperation of the first processor with the second processor to move the first personal portable device from occupying the one position to occupying the different position comprises the first processor being further caused to cooperate with the second to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange identities such that the first processor causes the first personal portable device to be presented on the wireless network as the second personal portable device and the second processor causes the second personal potable device to be presented on the wireless network as the first personal portable device.

29. The first personal portable device of claim 28, wherein the first and second extents of interaction are measured as one of a group consisting of:

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices are within the wireless network such that each of the first and second personal portable devices are each accessible to at least one other personal portable device through the network; and

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices exchange data with at least one other personal portable device through the network.

30. The first personal portable device of claim 28, wherein the first processor is further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device in comparing the first and second extents of interaction.

31. The first personal portable device of claim 28, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a star topology having a center position and an endpoint position; and

the cooperation of the first processor with at least one processor of at least one other personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying the one position to occupying the different position comprises the first processor being further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the center and endpoint positions.

32. The first personal portable device of claim 31, wherein the first processor is caused to cooperate with the second processor to move the first personal portable device from the endpoint position to the center position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.

33. The first personal portable device of claim 28, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a chain topology having an endpoint position and a midpoint position; and

the cooperation of the first processor with at least one processor of at least one other personal portable device within the wireless network to move the first personal portable device from occupying the one position to occupying the different position comprises the first processor being further caused to cooperate with a second processor of the second personal portable device to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the endpoint and midpoint positions.

34. The first personal portable device of claim 33, wherein:

the endpoint position is to be occupied by a personal portable device of the wireless network having the greatest extent of interaction with the network; and

the first processor is caused to cooperate with the second processor to move the first personal portable device from the midpoint position to the endpoint position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.

35. A method of increasing resiliency of a wireless network comprising a plurality of point-to-point links linking a plurality of personal portable devices occupying positions within the topology of the wireless network, the method comprising:

comparing a first extent of interaction with the wireless network of a first personal portable device of the plurality of personal portable devices with a second extent of interaction with the wireless network of a second personal portable device on a recurring basis;

causing at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device from one position in the topology of the wireless network to a different position in the topology of the wireless network in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction; and

wherein the causing of at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device comprises causing the first and second personal portable devices to exchange identities such that the first personal portable device is presented on the wireless network as the second personal portable device and the second personal potable device is presented on the wireless network as the first personal portable device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second extents of interaction are measured as one of a group consisting of:

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices are within the wireless network such that each of the first and second personal portable devices are each accessible to at least one other personal portable device through the network; and

relative portions of a time period during which each of the first and second personal portable devices exchange data with at least one other personal portable device through the network.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a star topology having a center position and an endpoint position; and

the causing of at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device comprises causing the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the center and endpoint positions.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first and second personal portable devices are caused to cooperate to move the first personal portable device from the endpoint position to the center position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.

39. The method claim 35, wherein:

the topology of the wireless network comprises a chain topology having an endpoint position and a midpoint position; and

the causing of at least the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to move the first personal portable device comprises causing the first and second personal portable devices to cooperate to cause the first and second personal portable devices to exchange occupying the endpoint and midpoint positions.

40. The method claim 39, wherein:

the endpoint position is meant to be occupied by a personal portable device of the wireless network having the greatest extent of interaction with the network; and

the first and second personal portable devices are caused to cooperate to move the first personal portable device from the midpoint position to the endpoint position in response to a result of comparing the first and second extents of interaction being that the first extent of interaction is greater than the second extent of interaction.