Channel access for cognitive networks

• US 8,315,220 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hottinen, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Phuc
• Application Number:
  US12/759,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 370329-330, 370431-437
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A system for managing wireless interaction based on communication performance. Source apparatuses may desire to establish wireless links to target apparatuses. Prior to initiating new wireless links, source apparatuses may evaluate whether the establishment of new wireless links will increase the cumulative performance of the wireless communication environment, wherein the wireless communication environment may comprise the apparatuses communicating wirelessly within transmission range of a source apparatus. The evaluation may determine, for example, whether predicted cumulative performance of the wireless communication environment after the new wireless link is initiated would be greater than cumulative performance prior to link initiation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting a probe signal from an apparatus via wireless communication;

receiving one or more signals in response to the probe signal;

evaluating link information contained in the one or more response signals; and

determining whether to initiate a new wireless link to a target apparatus based on the evaluation,

wherein the link information evaluation comprises computing a first cumulative performance measure for existing wireless links based on the link information and computing a second cumulative performance measure for the existing wireless links and the new wireless link based on the link information and the projected impact of the new wireless link on the existing wireless links.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether any of the one or more signals received in response to the probe signal corresponds to the target apparatus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the new wireless link is initiated if only one signal in response to the probe signal is received and the response signal corresponds to the target apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second cumulative performance measure comprises at least one performance component computed using the following equation:

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second cumulative performance measure comprises at least one performance component, computed using the following equation:

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the new wireless link determination comprises initiating the new wireless link if the second cumulative performance measure is greater than the first cumulative performance measure.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determination is performed using the equation:

C_target(J_new,U_other)+C_other(J_new,U_other)>

C_target(U_other)+C_other(U_other).

8. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer executable program code stored thereon, the computer executable program code comprising:

code configured to cause an apparatus to transmit a probe signal from an apparatus via wireless communication;

code configured to cause the apparatus to receive one or more signals in response to the probe signal;

code configured to cause the apparatus to evaluate link information contained in the one or more response signals; and

code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether to initiate a new wireless link to a target apparatus based on the evaluation,

wherein the link information evaluation comprises computing a first cumulative performance measure for existing wireless links based on the link information and computing a second cumulative performance measure for the existing wireless links and the new wireless link based on the link information and the projected impact of the new wireless link on the existing wireless links.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising code configured to cause the apparatus to determine whether any of the one or more signals received in response to the probe signal corresponds to the target apparatus.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the new wireless link is initiated if only one signal in response to the probe signal is received and the response signal corresponds to the target apparatus.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the second cumulative performance measure comprises at least one performance component computed using the following equation:

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the second cumulative performance measure comprises at least one performance component, computed using the following equation:

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the new wireless link determination comprises initiating the new wireless link if the second cumulative performance measure is greater than the first cumulative performance measure.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the determination is performed using the equation:

C_target(J_new,U_other)+C_other(J_new,U_other)>

C_target(U_other)+C_other(U_other).

15. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

transmit a probe signal via wireless communication;

receive one or more signals in response to the probe signal;

evaluate link information contained in the one or more response signals; and

determine whether to initiate a new wireless link to a target apparatus based on the evaluation,

wherein the link information evaluation comprises computing a first cumulative performance measure for existing wireless links based on the link information and computing a second cumulative performance measure for the existing wireless links and the new wireless link based on the link information and the projected impact of the new wireless link on the existing wireless links.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions are further configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether any of the one or more signals received in response to the probe signal corresponds to the target apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the new wireless link is initiated if only one signal in response to the probe signal is received and the response signal corresponds to the target apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second cumulative performance measure comprises at least one performance component computed using the following equation:

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second cumulative performance measure comprises at least one performance component, computed using the following equation:

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the new wireless link determination comprises initiating the new wireless link if the second cumulative performance measure is greater than the first cumulative performance measure.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the determination is performed using the equation:

C_target(J_new,U_other)+C_other(J_new,U_other)>

C_target(U_other)+C_other(U_other).