System and method for topology optimization of directional network

• US 8,665,756 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Hammons, A. Roger Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): La, Phong
• Application Number:
  US13/329,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20120155330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/255, 370/256, 370/338, 370/406, 370/251, 370/912, 370/431, 370/400, 370/235, 370/328
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams

Abstract

The present invention includes a system and method by which a network of directional, wireless nodes that are not fixed in space can be optimized by optimizing each node individually. The network does not have a central control node, so each node is responsible for optimizing its surrounding topology. This is accomplished by synthesizing incoming information from neighboring nodes and determining which nodes will provide the best connections based on specific utilities each node is attempting to optimize. Neighboring nodes then exchange messages to request, accept, or reject directional connections between them based on their preferred optimizations. The overall directional network topology is achieved by consensus driven by local preferences.

Claims

1. A directional communication node for use with a first communication node and a second communication node, the directional communication node comprising a directional, wireless node that broadcasts its signal with directionality, such that another node must be within a radius that is less than 360 degrees, and within the broadcast area, in order to receive the signal, the first communication node being located at a first position and being operable to transmit first topology information related to the first communication node, the second communication node being located at a second position and being operable to transmit second topology information related to the second communication node, said directional communication node comprising:

a directional transmitting portion operable to transmit a first output signal with directionality in a first direction toward the first communication node and to output a second output signal with directionality in a second direction toward the second communication node, the transmission of the first output signal with directionality being defined by a first transmission radius that is less than 360 degrees and includes at least the first position, the transmission of the second output signal with directionality being defined by a second transmission radius that is less than 360 degrees and includes at least the second position;

a receiving portion operable to receive the first topology information and the second topology information;

a parameter determining portion operable to determine a first communication channel value and a second communication channel value, the first communication channel value being based on the first topology information, the second communication channel value being based on the second topology information;

an optimization portion operable to determine an optimized communication path based on the first communication channel value and the second communication channel value;

a request processing portion, wherein said receiving portion is further operable to receive a connect request message from another of the second communication node or the first communication node, wherein said request processing portion is operable to generate an evaluation of an establishment of a second communication channel with the other of the second communication node or the first communication node, the evaluation being based on the first topology information and the second topology information, wherein said optimization portion is operable to generate a connection instruction based on the evaluation, and wherein said directional transmitting portion is further operable to establish the second communication channel based the connection instruction; and

a timing portion operable to establish a predetermined time period, wherein said directional transmitting portion is further operable to maintain the first communication channel for the predetermined period frame before establishing the second communication channel,

wherein said optimization portion is operable to generate a connection instruction based on the optimized communication path, and

wherein said directional transmitting portion is further operable to establish a first communication channel with one of the first communication node and the second communication node based on the connection instruction.

2. The directional communication node of claim 1, further comprising:

a request generating portion operable to generate a connect request message, wherein said directional transmitting portion is further operable to transmit the connect request message to the first communication node based on the connection instruction.

3. The directional communication node of claim 2, further comprising:

a timing portion operable to establish a predetermined time period, wherein said directional transmitting portion is further operable to maintain the first communication channel for the predetermined time period.

4. A method of communicating using a first communication node and a second communication node from a directional communication node comprising a directional, wireless node that broadcasts its signal with directionality, such that another node must be within a radius that is less than 360 degrees, and within the broadcast area, in order to receive the signal, the first communication node being located at a first position and being operable to transmit first topology information related to the first communication node, the second communication node being located at a second position and being operable to transmit second topology information related to the second communication node, said method comprising:

transmitting, via a directional transmitting portion, a first output signal with directionality in a first direction toward the first communication node, the transmission of the first output signal with directionality being defined by a first transmission radius that is less than 360 degrees and includes at least the first position;

transmitting, via the directional transmitting portion, a second output signal with directionality in a second direction toward the second communication node, the transmission of the second output signal with directionality being defined by a second transmission radius that is less than 360 degrees and includes at least the second position;

receiving, via a receiving portion, the first topology information and the second topology information;

determining, via a parameter determining portion, a first communication channel value and a second communication channel value, the first communication channel value being based on the first topology information, the second communication channel value being based on the second topology information;

determining, via an optimization portion, an optimized communication path based on the first communication channel value and the second communication channel value;

generating, via the optimization portion, a connection instruction based on the optimized communication path;

establishing, via the directional transmitting portion, a first communication channel with one of the first communication node and the second communication node based on the connection instruction;

receiving, via the receiving portion, a connect request message from another of the second communication node or the first communication node;

generating, via a request processing portion, an evaluation of an establishment of a second communication channel with the other of the second communication node or the first communication node, the evaluation being based on the first topology information and the second topology information;

generating, via the optimization portion, a connection instruction based on the evaluation; and

establishing, via the directional transmitting portion, the second communication channel based the connection instruction; and

establishing, via a timing portion, a predetermined time period; and

maintaining, via the directional transmitting portion, the first communication channel for the predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating, via a request generating portion, a connect request message; and

transmitting, via the directional transmitting portion, the connect request message to the first communication node based on the connection instruction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

establishing, via a timing portion, a predetermined time period; and

maintaining, via the directional transmitting portion, the first communication channel for the predetermined time period.

7. A non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions being capable of being read by a computer to be used with a first communication node and a second communication node from a directional communication node comprising a directional, wireless node that broadcasts its signal with directionality, such that another node must be within a radius that is less than 360 degrees, and within the broadcast area, in order to receive the signal, the first communication node being located at a first position and being operable to transmit first topology information related to the first communication node, the second communication node being located at a second position and being operable to transmit second topology information related to the second communication node, the computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to perform the method comprising:

transmitting, via a directional transmitting portion, a first output signal with directionality in a first direction toward the first communication node, the transmission of the first output signal with directionality being defined by a first transmission radius that is less than 360 degrees and includes at least the first position;

transmitting, via the directional transmitting portion, a second output signal with directionality in a second direction toward the second communication node, the transmission of the second output signal with directionality being defined by a second transmission radius that is less than 360 degrees and includes at least the second position;

receiving, via a receiving portion, the first topology information and the second topology information;

determining, via a parameter determining portion, a first communication channel value and a second communication channel value, the first communication channel value being based on the first topology information and a predetermined parameter, the second communication channel value being based on the second topology information and the predetermined parameter;

determining, via an optimization portion, an optimized communication path based on the first communication channel value and the second communication channel value;

generating, via the optimization portion, a connection instruction based on the optimized communication path;

establishing, via directional transmitting portion, the first communication channel based the connection instruction;

receiving, via the receiving portion, a connect request message from another of the second communication node or the first communication node;

generating, via a request processing portion, an evaluation of an establishment of a second communication channel with the other of the second communication node or the first communication node, the evaluation being based on the first topology information and the second topology information;

generating, via the optimization portion, a connection instruction based on the evaluation; and

establishing, via the directional transmitting portion, the second communication channel based the connection instruction; and

establishing, via a timing portion, a predetermined time period; and

maintaining, via the directional transmitting portion, the first communication channel for the predetermined time period.

8. The non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable media of claim 7, the computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to perform said method further comprising:

generating, via a request generating portion, a connect request message; and

transmitting, via the directional transmitting portion, the connect request message to the first communication node based on the connection instruction.

9. The non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable media of claim 8, the computer-readable instructions being capable of instructing the computer to perform said method further comprising:

establishing, via a timing portion, a predetermined time period; and

maintaining, via the directional transmitting portion, the first communication channel for the predetermined time period.