Network system and data transfer method

• US 8,331,239 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamada, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baig, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US11/874,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20080151759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 370/238, 370/252
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/124 using a combination of metrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/04 based on wireless node resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Upon communication nodes receiving data that is a transfer target, based on a link value corresponding to a communication quality of each communication node that has transferred the data and radio wave strength among the communication nodes, a network system calculates a total link value that indicates a quality of a communication path that is used to transfer the data. The network system determines whether the calculated total link value is greater than or equal to a threshold value and based on a determination result, transfers the data to a destination communication node.

Claims

1. A network system that includes a plurality of nodes that include a wireless communication function and that carries out data communication via the nodes, wherein each node comprises:

a receiving unit that receives data from another node;

a total link value-calculating unit that calculates, based on a local link value corresponding to a communication quality of own node, first total link values corresponding to a communication quality of the nodes that have transferred the received data and radio wave strength among the nodes, and a second total link value that indicates a quality of a communication path that is used to transfer the received data;

a determining unit that determines whether the received data is transferable data or not based on the second total link value calculated by the total link value-calculating unit; and

a transferring processor that transfers the received data to at least one of the plurality of nodes when the determining unit determines that the received data is transferable data, wherein

the total link value-calculating unit calculates the second total link value using an expression that the second total link value=(the local link value×

the first total link value)/(the local link value+the first total link value),

the determining unit compares a destination address of the received data and an address of the own node, and, when the destination address matches with the address of the own node, generates data including the second total link value calculated by the total link value-calculating unit and information about a communication path from a source node to the own node, and

the transferring processor transfers the data generated by the determining unit to the source node.

2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the first total link values are calculated based on a remaining of battery charge of the nodes, a processing load on the nodes, a processing capacity of the nodes, a role of the nodes, or the radio wave strength among the nodes that have transferred the received data.

3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit compares the threshold value set by the source node of the data being the transfer target with the second total link value and determines whether the second total link value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and the transferring processor transfers the data to an adjacent node when the determining unit determines that the second total link value is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

4. A data transfer method of a network system that includes a plurality of nodes that include a wireless communication function and that carries out data communication via the nodes, the data transfer method performed by each node, comprising:

receiving data from another node;

total link value-calculating including

storing in a storage device, first total link values corresponding to a communication quality of the nodes that have transferred the received data and radio wave strength among the nodes, and

calculating, based on a local link value corresponding to a communication quality of own node, the stored first total link value and the radio wave strength, and a second total link value that indicates a quality of a communication path that is used to transfer the received data;

determining whether the received data is transferable data or not based on the second total link value calculated at the calculating; and

transferring the received data to at least one of the plurality of nodes when the determining determines that the received data is transferable data, wherein

the calculating includes calculating the second total link value using an expression that the second total link value=(the local link value×

the first total link value)/(the local link value+the first total link value),

the determining includes comparing a destination address of the received data and an address of the own node, and, when the destination address matches with the address of the own node, generating data including the second total link value calculated at the calculating and information about a communication path from a source node to the own node, and

the transferring includes transferring the data generated to the source node.

5. The data transfer method according to claim 4, wherein the first total link values are calculated based on a remaining of battery charge of the nodes, a processing load on the nodes, a processing capacity of the nodes, a role of the nodes, or the radio wave strength among the nodes that have transferred the received data.

6. The data transfer method according to claim 4, wherein the determining includes:

comparing the threshold value set by the source node of the data being the transfer target with the second total link value; and

determining whether the second total link value is greater than or equal to the threshold value; and

the transferring includes

transferring the data to an adjacent node when the determining determines that the second total link value is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that stores therein a computer program for a network system that includes a plurality of nodes that include a wireless communication function and that carries out data communication via the nodes, the computer program causing a computer to execute:

receiving data from another node;

total link value-calculating including

storing in a storage device, first total link values corresponding to a communication quality of the nodes that have transferred the received data and radio wave strength among the nodes, and

calculating, based on a local link value corresponding to a communication quality of the computer, the stored first total link value and the radio wave strength, and a second total link value that indicates a quality of a communication path that is used to transfer the received data;

determining whether the received data is transferable data or not based on the second total link value calculated at the calculating; and

transferring the received data to at least one of the plurality of nodes when the determining determines that the received data is transferable data, wherein

the calculating includes calculating the second total link value using an expression that the second total link value=(the local link value×

the first total link value)/(the local link value+the first total link value),

the determining includes comparing a destination address of the received data and an address of the computer, and, when the destination address matches with the address of the computer, generating data including the second total link value calculated at the calculating and information about a communication path from a source node to the computer, and

the transferring includes transferring the data generated to the source node.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the first total link values are calculated based on a remaining of battery charge of the nodes, a processing load on the nodes, a processing capacity of the nodes, a role of the nodes, or the radio wave strength among the nodes that have transferred the received data.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the transferring includes:

comparing the threshold value set by the source node of the data being the transfer target with the second total link value; and

determining whether the second total link value is greater than or equal to the threshold value; and

the transferring includes

transferring the data to an adjacent node when the determining determines that the second total link value is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

10. A communicator that receives data from another communicator and transfers the data, comprising:

a receiving unit that receives data from another communicator;

a total link value-calculating unit that calculates, based on a local link value corresponding to a communication quality of the communicator, first total link value corresponding to a communication quality of other communicators that have transferred the received data and radio wave strength among nodes, and a second total link value that indicates a quality of a communication path that is used to transfer the received data;

a determining unit that determines whether the received data is transferable data or not based on the second total link value calculated by the total link value-calculating unit; and

a transferring processor that transfers the received data to at least one of the plurality of nodes when the determining unit determines that the received data is transferable data, wherein

the total link value-calculating unit calculates the second total link value using an expression that the second total link value=(the local link value×

the first total link value) /(the local link value+the first total link value),

the determining unit compares a destination address of the received data and an address of the communicator, and, when the destination address matches with the address of the communicator, generates data including the second total link value calculated by the total link value-calculating unit and information about a communication path from a source node to the communicator, and

the transferring processor transfers the data generated by the determining unit to the source node.