Multi-mode mobile networking device

• US 8,774,036 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Craine, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US13/300,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20120063365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Establishing a mobile ad-hoc network between mobile network devices may include transmitting a signal from a first mobile network device using a plurality of communications formats. One or more other mobile network devices may receive the broadcast signal, select a communications format from the plurality of communications formats and respond to the signal using the selected communications format.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a mobile ad hoc network between a plurality of mobile network devices, the method comprising:

broadcasting a control signal through a wireless communications interface from a first mobile network device, the control signal simultaneously broadcast in a plurality of communications formats, the control signal including requirements of a communications protocol;

wherein the first mobile network device receives a response signal in a format selected from the plurality of communications formats, and configures the wireless communications interface to communicate in the format selected from the plurality of communications formats.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response signal is received from a responding network device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting content from the first mobile network device to the responding network device in the format selected from the plurality of communications formats.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising associating the responding network device and the format selected from the plurality of communications formats in a look-up table residing in the first mobile network device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing content by the first mobile network device for transmission to at least one other network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the response signal is received in one of a primary and secondary communications mode of the first mobile network device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a first mobile network device comprising a processor and a wireless communications interface, causes the first mobile network device to perform operations comprising:

broadcasting a control signal, the control signal simultaneously broadcast in a plurality of communications formats, the control signal including requirements of a communications protocol;

receiving a response signal from a responding network device, the response signal broadcast in a format selected from the plurality of communications formats; and

configuring the wireless communications interface to communicate with the responding network device in the format selected from the plurality of communications formats.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise associating the responding network device and the format selected from the plurality of communications formats in a look-up table residing in the first mobile network device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise selecting at least one other network device to receive a message.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise searching in the lookup table for at least one communications format that corresponds to the at least one other network device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a message to a plurality of network devices in a plurality of communications formats, simultaneously, that correspond to the plurality of network devices.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein searching for at least one communications format includes searching for a primary and a secondary communication format.

13. A first mobile network device for establishing a mobile ad-hoc network, the first mobile network device comprising:

a processor and a wireless communications interface; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

transmitting a control signal in a plurality of communications modes, simultaneously, the control signal including requirements of a communications protocol,

receiving a response signal from a responding network device, the response signal broadcast in a format selected from the plurality of communications formats, and

configuring the wireless communications interface to communicate with the responding network device in the format selected from the plurality of communications formats.

14. The first mobile network device of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise storing a lookup table, the lookup table including at least one communications mode corresponding to at least one other network device.

15. The first mobile network device of claim 14, wherein the lookup table contains a primary and a secondary mode of communication that corresponds to the at least one other network device.

16. The first mobile network device of claim 14, wherein the wireless communications interface is further configured to associate the responding network device and the format selected from the plurality of communications formats in the look-up table.

17. The first mobile network device of claim 16, wherein the wireless communications interface is further configured to transmit a message to a plurality of network devices using a plurality of associated communications modes listed in the lookup table.

18. The first mobile network device of claim 13, further comprising a content capture device for capturing content for transmission to the responding network device.

19. The first mobile network device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of communications formats comprises at least one of WiFi, radio frequency, infrared, internet, or cellular communications formats.

20. The first mobile network device of claim 17, wherein the message is transmitted to the plurality of network devices via an access point.