Methods and apparatus for reduced energy communication in an ad hoc network
First Claim
1. A method of reserving wireless communication bandwidth in an ad hoc network in which nodes are capable of routing data by forwarding data to other nodes in the network, the method comprising:
- transmitting, by a first node to a plurality of receiving nodes, first scheduling data sufficient for a receiving node in the plurality of receiving nodes to predict times at which the first node will be available to receive wireless communications from the plurality of receiving nodes (“
receiving times”
); and
transmitting, by the first node to the plurality of receiving nodes, second scheduling data including an identified set of nodes, wherein the second scheduling data is sufficient for the receiving node to predict times reserved for communications from the identified set of nodes to the first node (“
reserved times”
), during which times;
(1) the receiving node can transmit to the first node only if the receiving node is in the identified set of nodes, and(2) the receiving node can transmit to a node other than the first node only communications with a transmission range that is reduced in distance or limited in direction to reduce interference with wireless communications from the identified set of nodes to the first node;
thereby reserving times for nodes in the identified set of nodes to communicate with the first node, wherein the first node, the receiving node, and the nodes in the set of nodes share a common algorithm for predicting the receiving times and the reserved times based on the first and second scheduling data;
powering up a receiver of the first node during the receiving times, such that the first node can receive communications from one of the receiving nodes; and
fully powering down a receiver of the first node during times other than the receiving times, such that the first node does not receive communications via the receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to communications devices for reduced energy communications in an ad hoc network. The communication device includes a first low-powered transceiver for initiating communications with other communications devices and a second transceiver for transmitting data messages to the other communications devices once communication is initiated. The communication device also includes a communications control processor for determining times at which the other communications devices will be available to receive communications based on scheduling data received from those communication devices. The communications control processor can also take into account requests for reserved bandwidth.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of reserving wireless communication bandwidth in an ad hoc network in which nodes are capable of routing data by forwarding data to other nodes in the network, the method comprising:
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transmitting, by a first node to a plurality of receiving nodes, first scheduling data sufficient for a receiving node in the plurality of receiving nodes to predict times at which the first node will be available to receive wireless communications from the plurality of receiving nodes (“
receiving times”
); andtransmitting, by the first node to the plurality of receiving nodes, second scheduling data including an identified set of nodes, wherein the second scheduling data is sufficient for the receiving node to predict times reserved for communications from the identified set of nodes to the first node (“
reserved times”
), during which times;(1) the receiving node can transmit to the first node only if the receiving node is in the identified set of nodes, and (2) the receiving node can transmit to a node other than the first node only communications with a transmission range that is reduced in distance or limited in direction to reduce interference with wireless communications from the identified set of nodes to the first node; thereby reserving times for nodes in the identified set of nodes to communicate with the first node, wherein the first node, the receiving node, and the nodes in the set of nodes share a common algorithm for predicting the receiving times and the reserved times based on the first and second scheduling data; powering up a receiver of the first node during the receiving times, such that the first node can receive communications from one of the receiving nodes; and fully powering down a receiver of the first node during times other than the receiving times, such that the first node does not receive communications via the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communication over an ad hoc network in which nodes are capable of routing data by forwarding data to other nodes in the network, the method comprising:
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receiving at a first node first scheduling data from a second node sufficient for the first node to predict when the second node will be available to receive wireless communications from the first node (“
receiving times”
);receiving at the first node second scheduling data including an identified set of nodes from the second node, wherein the second scheduling data is sufficient for the first node to determine times reserved for communication from the identified set of nodes to the second node (“
reserved times”
), during which times;(1) the first node can transmit to the second node only if the first node is in the identified set of nodes, and (2) the first node can transmit to a node other than the second node only wireless communications with a transmission range that is reduced in distance or limited in direction to reduce interference with wireless communications from the identified set of nodes to the second node, thereby reserving bandwidth of the second node to receive wireless communication from the identified set of nodes; wherein the first node, the second node, and the nodes in the set of nodes share a common algorithm for predicting the times based on the first and second scheduling data; transmitting, from the first node to the second node, a data packet during a reserved time determined based on the common algorithm; and refraining from transmitting, from the first node to the second node, a data packet during times other than reserved times for the first node determined based on the common algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification