Mechanism for automatic network formation and medium access coordination
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- randomly selecting transmitting from a choice between transmitting and receiving;
determining a time for transmitting a link establishment request from a node based on a function shared with other nodes of a mesh network;
transmitting the link establishment request from the node in response to randomly selecting the choice of transmitting;
receiving a link establishment response at the node; and
updating a steady-state schedule of the node for communication in the mesh network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a set of mechanisms by which a wireless mobile mesh node equipped with a directional antenna may self form and self adapt its steady-state communications schedule. A link establishment handshake is carried out over an ongoing subtemplate-based discovery scan. During time not reserved for steady-state communications with previously discovered neighbors, nodes continue to search for an establish links with new neighbors. Initial and subsequent bandwidth allocation protocols may be utilized to allow peer nodes to coordinate communication opportunities between the peer nodes without impacting or having knowledge about reservations for communications with other peers. The link establishment and initial bandwidth allocation protocols may be piggy-backed for readily establishing an initial steady-state schedule with a peer upon link establishment without impact on previous steady state reservations by other nodes or on ongoing link establishment attempts elsewhere.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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randomly selecting transmitting from a choice between transmitting and receiving; determining a time for transmitting a link establishment request from a node based on a function shared with other nodes of a mesh network; transmitting the link establishment request from the node in response to randomly selecting the choice of transmitting; receiving a link establishment response at the node; and updating a steady-state schedule of the node for communication in the mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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pointing a directional antenna of a node to a bearing based on a function shared with one or more other nodes, wherein the bearing is based on a time of day; transmitting a link establishment request from the directional antenna; receiving a link establishment response; and updating a steady-state schedule of the node for communication in a mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method comprising;
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pointing a directional antenna of a node to a bearing based on a function shared with one or more other nodes of a mesh network; determining a time for transmitting a link establishment request based on the function shared with the one or more other nodes of the mesh network; transmitting the link establishment request from the directional antenna; receiving a link establishment response; and updating a steady-state schedule of the node for communication in the mesh network.
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9. A method comprising:
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determining a bearing; randomly selecting between transmitting from a node and receiving at the node a communication to establish a link in a mesh network with one or more other nodes; if transmitting the communication is randomly selected, then transmitting the communication from a directional antenna of the node in a direction of the bearing; and if receiving the communication is randomly selected, then listening by the node in an opposite direction of the bearing for the communication from the one or more other nodes.
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10. A method comprising;
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determining a bearing, wherein the bearing is based on a function shared between a node and one or more other nodes; randomly selecting between transmitting from the node and receiving at the node a communication to establish a link in a mesh network with the one or more other nodes; if transmitting the communication is randomly selected, then transmitting the communication from a directional antenna of the node in a direction of the bearing; and if receiving the communication is randomly selected, then listening by the node for the communication from the one or more other nodes. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method comprising:
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determining a bearing; randomly selecting between transmitting from a node and receiving at the node a communication to establish a link in a mesh network with one or more other nodes if transmitting the communication is randomly selected, then transmitting, the communication from a directional antenna of the node in a direction of the bearing; and if receiving the communication is randomly selected, then listening by the node for the communication from the one or more other nodes, wherein if transmitting the communication is randomly selected and a response is not received, or if receiving the communication is randomly selected and the communication is not received, updating the bearing to a new bearing according to a predetermined scan order. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus containing the processor to:
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randomly select transmitting from a choice between transmitting and receiving; determine a time for transmitting a link establishment request from the apparatus based on a function shared with nodes of a mesh network; transmit the link establishment request from the apparatus in response to randomly selecting the choice of transmitting; receive a link establishment response at the apparatus; and update a steady-state schedule of the apparatus for communication in a mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more antennae; a processor; and one or more memories having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to; randomly select transmitting from a choice between transmitting and receiving; determine a time for transmitting a link establishment request based on a function shared with nodes of a mesh network; transmit the link establishment request from the one or more antennae in response to randomly selecting the choice of transmitting; receive a link establishment response on the one or more antennae; and update a steady-state schedule of the apparatus for communication in the mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification