Methods for providing an ad hoc mobile communication network and systems thereof

• US 8,582,500 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rochester Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Rochester Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Shenoy, Nirmala, Al-Mousa, Yamin S., Fischer, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian D
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TOAN D
• Application Number:
  US12/435,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20100046426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 370/468, 370/395.2, 370/401, 709/224
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A method, computer readable medium, and system for providing a mobile communication network includes dynamically forming a plurality of mobile communication devices into one or more clusters based on one or more parameters, each of the one or more clusters having a tree structure. Each of the one or more clusters are at least partially meshed together. At least one virtual identifier is dynamically assigned to each of the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the tree structure of each of the one or more clusters. The virtual identifier provides address information for routing communications between two or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing a mobile communication network, the method comprising:

dynamically forming by at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices, the plurality of mobile communication devices into one or more clusters based on one or more parameters, each of the one or more clusters having one of the plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically designated a cluster head and a tree structure branching from the cluster head;

at least partially meshing by the at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices each of the one or more clusters together; and

dynamically assigning by the at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices one virtual identifier to each mobile communication device designated a cluster head and multiple virtual identifiers to each of the plurality of non-cluster head mobile communication devices based on the tree structure of each of the one or more clusters to provide address information containing all connections for each of the plurality of mobile communication devices for routing communications between two or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters for at least one of the one or more of the clusters comprise a maximum available bandwidth, a maximum cluster size, and a maximum number of permitted hops between the plurality of mobile communication devices in the at least one of the one or more of the clusters.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request from one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to join one of the one or more clusters;

determining whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join the one of the one or more clusters based on the one or more parameters; and

providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join one of the one or more clusters based on the determination.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the determining whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join further comprises determining if a list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full, wherein the providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join is further based on the determination of whether the list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 further comprises determining whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier based on at least one parameter, wherein the providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join is further based on the determination of whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the at least one parameter is a number of hops to a cluster head associated with each of the virtual identifiers on the list, wherein the determining determines at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with the new virtual identifier when the new virtual identifier has less hops to the cluster head than at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dynamically assigning a virtual identifier further comprises dynamically assigning a numerical identifier to each of the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein a first digit of the numerical identifier identifies the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in each of the one or more clusters which is the cluster head and each subsequent digit of the numerical identifier identifies one or more branches associated with a prior corresponding digit of the numerical identifier.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring with at least one of the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices for an occurrence of at least one event; and

providing configuration information to at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in response to the monitored occurrence of the at least one event.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one event comprises at least one of a failure of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, a security breach at one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, and an expiration of a set time period.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically assigning one or more additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on an addition of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to at least one of the one or more clusters.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically removing one or more of the virtual identifiers from one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a removal of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices from the at least one of the one or more clusters.

12. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically assigning one or more of additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a new designation of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices as a cluster head in the at least one of the one or more clusters.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for a method for providing a mobile communication network comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:

dynamically forming a plurality of mobile communication devices into one or more clusters based on one or more parameters, each of the one or more clusters having one of the plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically designated a cluster head and a tree structure branching from the cluster head;

at least partially meshing each of the one or more clusters together; and

dynamically assigning one virtual identifier to each mobile communication device designated a cluster head and multiple virtual identifiers to each of the plurality of non-cluster head mobile communication devices based on the tree structure of each of the one or more clusters to provide address information containing all connections for each of the plurality of mobile communication devices for routing communications between two or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

14. The medium as set forth in claim 13 wherein the one or more parameters for at least one of the one or more of the clusters comprise a maximum available bandwidth, a maximum cluster size, and a maximum number of permitted hops between the plurality of mobile communication devices in the at least one of the one or more of the clusters.

15. The medium as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a request from one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to join one of the one or more clusters;

determining whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join the one of the one or more clusters based on the one or more parameters; and

providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join one of the one or more clusters based on the determination.

16. The medium as set forth in claim 15 wherein the determining whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join further comprises determining if a list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full, wherein the providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join is further based on the determination of whether the list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full.

17. The medium as set forth in claim 16 further comprises determining whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier based on at least one parameter, wherein the providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join is further based on the determination of whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier.

18. The medium as set forth in claim 17 wherein the at least one parameter is a number of hops to a cluster head associated with each of the virtual identifiers on the list, wherein the determining determines at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with the new virtual identifier when the new virtual identifier has less hops to the cluster head than at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list.

19. The medium as set forth in claim 13 wherein the dynamically assigning a virtual identifier further comprises dynamically assigning a numerical identifier to each of the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein a first digit of the numerical identifier identifies the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in each of the one or more clusters which is the cluster head and each subsequent digit of the numerical identifier identifies one or more branches associated with a prior corresponding digit of the numerical identifier.

20. The medium as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

monitoring with at least one of the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices for an occurrence of at least one event; and

providing configuration information to at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in response to the monitored occurrence of the at least one event.

21. The medium as set forth in claim 20 wherein at least one event comprises at least one of a failure of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, a security breach at one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, and an expiration of a set time period.

22. The medium as set forth in claim 20 wherein the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically assigning one or more additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on an addition of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to at least one of the one or more clusters.

23. The medium as set forth in claim 20 wherein the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically removing one or more of the virtual identifiers from one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a removal of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices from the at least one of the one or more clusters.

24. The medium as set forth in claim 20 wherein the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically assigning one or more of additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a new designation of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices as a cluster head in the at least one of the one or more clusters.

25. A mobile communication network system comprising:

a tree structure clustering system in at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices that dynamically forms the plurality of mobile communication devices into one or more clusters based on one or more parameters, each of the one or more clusters having one of the plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically designated a cluster head and a tree structure branching from the cluster head;

a meshing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices that at least partially meshes each of the one or more clusters together; and

a virtual identification system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices that dynamically assigns one virtual identifier to each mobile communication device designated a cluster head and multiple virtual identifiers to each of the plurality of non-cluster head mobile communication devices based on the tree structure of each of the one or more clusters to provide address information containing all connections for each of the plurality of mobile communication devices for routing communications between two or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

26. The system as set forth in claim 25 wherein the one or more parameters for at least one of the one or more of the clusters comprise a maximum available bandwidth, a maximum cluster size, and a maximum number of permitted hops between the plurality of mobile communication devices in the at least one of the one or more of the clusters.

27. The system as set forth in claim 25 further comprising a cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices that receives a request from one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to join one of the one or more clusters, determines whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join the one of the one or more clusters based on the one or more parameters and provides an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join one of the one or more clusters based on the determination.

28. The system as set forth in claim 27 wherein the cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices determines if a list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full, wherein the cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices provides an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join further based on the determination of whether the list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full.

29. The system as set forth in claim 28 wherein the cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices further determines whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier based on at least one parameter, wherein the cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices provides an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join is further based on the determination of whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier.

30. The system as set forth in claim 29 wherein the at least one parameter is a number of hops to a cluster head associated with each of the virtual identifiers on the list, wherein the cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices determines at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with the new virtual identifier when the new virtual identifier has less hops to the cluster head than at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list.

31. The system as set forth in claim 25 wherein the virtual identification system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically assigns a numerical identifier to each of the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein a first digit of the numerical identifier identifies the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in each of the one or more clusters which is the cluster head and each subsequent digit of the numerical identifier identifies one or more branches associated with a prior corresponding digit of the numerical identifier.

32. The system as set forth in claim 25 further comprising a cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices that dynamically designates one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in each of the one or more clusters as a cluster head.

33. The system as set forth in claim 25 wherein the cluster processing system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices monitors for an occurrence of at least one event and providing configuration information to at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in response to the monitored occurrence of the at least one event.

34. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein at least one event comprises at least one of a failure of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, a security breach at one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, and an expiration of a set time period.

35. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the virtual identification system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically assigns one or more additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on an addition of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to at least one of the one or more clusters.

36. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the virtual identification system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically removes one or more of the virtual identifiers from one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a removal of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices from the at least one of the one or more clusters.

37. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the virtual identification system in the at least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically assigns one or more of additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a new designation of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices as a cluster head in the at least one of the one or more clusters.

38. At least one of a plurality of mobile communication devices comprising a memory coupled to one or more processors which are configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory comprising:

dynamically forming a plurality of mobile communication devices into one or more clusters based on one or more parameters, each of the one or more clusters having one of the plurality of mobile communication devices dynamically designated a cluster head and a tree structure branching from the cluster head;

at least partially meshing each of the one or more clusters together; and

dynamically assigning one virtual identifier to each mobile communication device designated a cluster head and multiple virtual identifiers to each of the plurality of non-cluster head mobile communication devices based on the tree structure of each of the one or more clusters to provide address information containing all connections for each of the plurality of mobile communication devices for routing communications between two or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

39. The device as set forth in claim 38 wherein the one or more parameters for at least one of the one or more of the clusters comprise a maximum available bandwidth, a maximum cluster size, and a maximum number of permitted hops between the plurality of mobile communication devices in the at least one of the one or more of the clusters.

40. The device as set forth in claim 38 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory further comprising:

receiving a request from one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to join one of the one or more clusters;

determining whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join the one of the one or more clusters based on the one or more parameters; and

providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join one of the one or more clusters based on the determination.

41. The device as set forth in claim 40 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the determining whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join further comprises determining if a list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full, wherein the providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join is further based on the determination of whether the list of virtual identifiers for the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices is full.

42. The device as set forth in claim 41 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory further comprising determining whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier based on at least one parameter, wherein the providing an indication on whether the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices can join is further based on the determination of whether at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with a new virtual identifier.

43. The device as set forth in claim 42 wherein the at least one parameter is a number of hops to a cluster head associated with each of the virtual identifiers on the list, wherein the determining determines at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list can be replaced with the new virtual identifier when the new virtual identifier has less hops to the cluster head than at least one of the virtual identifiers on the list.

44. The device as set forth in claim 38 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the dynamically assigning a virtual identifier further comprises dynamically assigning a numerical identifier to each of the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein a first digit of the numerical identifier identifies the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in each of the one or more clusters which is the cluster head and each subsequent digit of the numerical identifier identifies one or more branches associated with a prior corresponding digit of the numerical identifier.

45. The device as set forth in claim 38 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory further comprising dynamically designating one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in each of the one or more clusters as a cluster head.

46. The device as set forth in claim 38 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory further comprising:

monitoring with at least one of the one of the plurality of mobile communication devices for an occurrence of at least one event; and

providing configuration information to at least one of the plurality of mobile communication devices in response to the monitored occurrence of the at least one event.

47. The device as set forth in claim 46 wherein at least one event comprises at least one of a failure of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, a security breach at one of the plurality of mobile communication devices, and an expiration of a set time period.

48. The device as set forth in claim 46 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically assigning one or more additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on an addition of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices to at least one of the one or more clusters.

49. The device as set forth in claim 46 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically removing one or more of the virtual identifiers from one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a removal of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices from the at least one of the one or more clusters.

50. The device as set forth in claim 46 wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory for the providing configuration information further comprises dynamically assigning one or more of additional virtual identifiers to one or more of the plurality of mobile communication devices in at least one of the one or more clusters based on a new designation of one of the plurality of mobile communication devices as a cluster head in the at least one of the one or more clusters.