Network topology formation

• US 8,489,135 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Nanda, Sanjiv, Krishnan, Ranganathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Aminzay, Shaima Q
• Application Number:
  US12/419,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20090238101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 455/519, 455/456.1, 455/464, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/435.1, 455/517, 455/518, 455/522, 455/524, 455/7, 455/41.2, 455/3.05, 370/254
• US Class Current: 455/519
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to wireless communications. The systems and techniques involve wireless communications wherein a module or communications device is configured to listen for a period of time for an incoming pilot signal from a remote terminal that exceeds a threshold power level for the purpose of acquiring such incoming pilot signal and operating under control of the remote terminal, and operating independently of the remote terminal if such pilot signal is not detected within the period of time, such independent operation including transmitting a pilot signal.

Claims

1. A method of communications, comprising:

receiving, at a first wireless terminal, a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

registering with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

receiving a task, from the first master terminal, to listen for pilot signals from one or more other terminals, based on a determination that the first wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network;

listening for the pilot signals from the one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network; and

establishing a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

computing a carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio associated with the received first pilot signal;

forwarding the computed C/I ratio to the first master terminal; and

wherein receiving the task from the first master terminal is further based on the computed C/I ratio.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a schedule of at least one transmission time and at least one receiving time from the first master terminal, wherein the schedule includes a first period for intra-network communications within the first network and a second period for peer-to-peer communications, wherein the first period and the second period are at different times; and

wherein the establishing of the peer-to-peer communication with the other terminal occurs during the second period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the peer-to-peer communication with the other terminal further comprises establishing the peer-to-peer communication with an isolated terminal operating independently from the first master terminal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a third pilot signal from the isolated terminal after the isolated terminal has become a new master terminal of the first network by gaining control from the first master terminal; and

re-registering for membership in the first network with the new master terminal based on the third pilot signal from the isolated terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the peer-to-peer communication with the other terminal further comprises establishing the peer-to-peer communication with a second master terminal of a second network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining a connection with the second network through a connection with a member terminal of the second network, instead of the second master terminal, wherein the member terminal is assigned by the second master terminal.

8. A method of communications, comprising:

receiving, at a first wireless terminal, a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

registering with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

receiving a task from the first master terminal based on a determination that the first wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network;

listening for pilot signals from one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network;

establishing a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals;

dropping membership in the first network;

searching for an alternative network master terminal; and

operating as an isolated terminal independent of the first master terminal if the searching does not find the alternative network master terminal, wherein the operating further includes transmitting a third pilot signal that enables communication with at least one other terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein dropping the membership is based on lack of reception of the first pilot signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein dropping the membership is based on a failure of the first wireless terminal to maintain a connection having a minimum data rate required by the first master terminal.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising

obtaining a minimum data rate threshold associated with the first master terminal;

computing a carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio associated with the received first pilot signal; and

wherein dropping the membership is based on a failure of the first wireless terminal to maintain the minimum data rate threshold based on the computed C/I ratio.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a registration from a second wireless terminal, wherein the received registration is based on the third pilot signal, and accepting the registration of the second wireless terminal as a member of a second network of which the first wireless terminal is a master.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein accepting the registration is further based on a number of registered member terminals in the second network being less than a maximum threshold number.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the registration comprises a data rate supported by the second wireless terminal, and wherein accepting the registration is further based on the data rate meeting or exceeding a minimum data rate threshold.

15. A processor for communications, comprising:

a first module for receiving, at a first wireless terminal, a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

a second module for registering with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

a third module for receiving a task, from the first master terminal, to listen for pilot signals from one or more other terminals, based on a determination that the first wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network;

a fourth module for listening for the pilot signals from the one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network; and

a fifth module for establishing a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals.

16. The processor of claim 15, further comprising:

a sixth module for computing a carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio associated with the received first pilot signal;

a seventh module for forwarding the computed C/I ratio to the first master terminal; and

wherein the task from the first master terminal is further based on the computed C/I ratio.

17. A processor for communications, comprising:

a first module for receiving, at a first wireless terminal, a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

a second module for registering with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

a third module for receiving a task from the first master terminal based on a determination that the first wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network;

a fourth module for listening for pilot signals from one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network;

a fifth module for establishing a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals;

a sixth module for dropping membership in the first network;

a seventh module for searching for an alternative network master terminal; and

an eighth module for operating as an isolated terminal independent of the first master terminal if the searching does not find the alternative network master terminal, wherein the operating further includes transmitting a third pilot signal that enables communication with at least one other terminal.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to perform communications, comprising:

at least one instruction for receiving, at a first wireless terminal, a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

at least one instruction for registering with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

at least one instruction for receiving a task, from the first master terminal, to listen for pilot signals from one or more other terminals, based on a determination that the first wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network;

at least one instruction for listening for the pilot signals from the one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network; and

at least one instruction for establishing a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one instruction for computing a carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio associated with the received first pilot signal;

at least one instruction for forwarding the computed C/I ratio to the first master terminal; and

wherein the at least one instruction for receiving the task from the first master terminal is further based on the computed C/I ratio.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one instruction for dropping membership in the first network;

at least one instruction for searching for an alternative network master terminal; and

at least one instruction for operating as an isolated terminal independent of the first master terminal if the searching does not find the alternative network master terminal, wherein the operating further includes transmitting a third pilot signal that enables communication with at least one other terminal.

21. A wireless terminal, comprising:

means for receiving a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

means for registering with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

means for receiving a task, from the first master terminal, to listen for pilot signals from one or more other terminals, based on a determination that the wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network;

means for listening for the pilot signals from the one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network; and

means for establishing a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals.

22. The wireless terminal of claim 21, further comprising:

means for computing a carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio associated with the received first pilot signal;

means for forwarding the computed C/I ratio to the first master terminal; and

wherein the task from the first master terminal is further based on the computed C/I ratio.

23. A wireless terminal, comprising:

means for receiving a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

means for registering with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

means for receiving a task from the first master terminal based on a determination that the wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network;

means for listening for pilot signals from one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network;

means for establishing a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals;

means for dropping membership in the first network;

means for searching for an alternative network master terminal; and

means for operating as an isolated terminal independent of the first master terminal if the searching does not find the alternative network master terminal, wherein the operating further includes transmitting, a third pilot signal that enables communication with at least one other terminal.

24. A wireless terminal, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

a processor configured to register with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

wherein the receiver is further operable to receive a task, from the first master terminal, to listen for pilot signals from one or more other terminals, based on a determination that the first wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network and to listen for the pilot signals from the one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network; and

wherein the processor is further configured to establish a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals.

25. The wireless terminal of claim 24, further comprising:

wherein the processor is further configured to compute a carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio associated with the received first pilot signal and forward the computed C/I ratio to the first master terminal, and wherein receiving the task from the first master terminal is further based on the computed C/I ratio.

26. The wireless terminal of claim 24, further comprising:

wherein the processor is further configured to receive a schedule of at least one transmission time and at least one receiving time from the first master terminal, wherein the schedule includes a first period for intra-network communications within the first network and a second period for peer-to-peer communications, wherein the first period and the second period are at different times; and

wherein the establishing of the peer-to-peer communication with the other terminal occurs during the second period.

27. The wireless terminal of claim 24, wherein the other terminal further comprises an isolated terminal operating independently from the first master terminal.

28. The wireless terminal of claim 27, further comprising:

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a third pilot signal from the isolated terminal after the isolated terminal has become a new master terminal of the first network by gaining control from the first master terminal; and

wherein the processor is further configured to re-register for membership in the first network with the new master terminal based on the third pilot signal from the isolated terminal.

29. The wireless terminal of claim 24, wherein the other terminal further comprises a second master terminal of a second network.

30. The wireless terminal of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a connection with the second network through a connection with a member terminal of the second network, instead of with the second master terminal, wherein the member terminal is assigned by the second master terminal.

31. A wireless terminal, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first pilot signal from a first master terminal of a first network;

a processor configured to register with the first master terminal, based on the first pilot signal, to be a member of the first network;

wherein the receiver is further operable to receive a task from the first master terminal based on a determination that the first wireless terminal is located adjacent to an edge of the first network and to listen for pilot signals from one or more other terminals according to the task, wherein the one or more other terminals are not members of the first network;

wherein the processor is further configured to establish a peer-to-peer communication with an other terminal of the one or more other terminals based on detecting a second pilot signal of the other terminal during the listening for pilot signals

wherein the processor is further configured to drop membership in the first network;

wherein the processor is further configured to search for an alternative network master terminal; and

wherein the processor is further configured to operate the wireless terminal as an isolated terminal independent of the first master terminal if the searching does not find the alternative network master terminal, wherein the operating further includes transmitting a third pilot signal that enables communication with at least one other terminal.

32. The wireless terminal of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to drop the membership is based on lack of reception by the receiver of the first pilot signal.

33. The wireless terminal of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to drop the membership based on a failure of the wireless terminal to maintain a connection having a minimum data rate required by the first master terminal.

34. The wireless terminal of claim 31, further comprising

wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a minimum data rate threshold associated with the first master terminal;

wherein the processor is further configured to compute a carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio associated with the received first pilot signal; and

wherein the processor is further configured to drop the membership based on a failure of the wireless terminal to maintain the minimum data rate threshold based on the computed C/I ratio.

35. The wireless terminal of claim 31, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a registration from a second wireless terminal, wherein the received registration is based on the second pilot signal, and wherein the processor is further configured to accept the registration of the second wireless terminal as a member of a second network of which the wireless terminal is a master.

36. The wireless terminal of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to accept the registration based on a number of registered member terminals in the second network being less than a maximum threshold number.

37. The wireless terminal of claim 31, wherein the registration comprises a data rate supported by the second wireless terminal, and wherein the processor is further configured to accept the registration based on the data rate meeting or exceeding a minimum data rate threshold.