Method of changing the operation of wireless network nodes

• US 9,148,800 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Domenico Garlisi, Fabrizio Giuliano, Francesco Gringoli, Giuseppe Bianchi, Ilenia Tinnirello, Pierluigi Gallo
• Original Assignee: Domenico Garlisi, Fabrizio Giuliano, Ilenia Tinnirello
• Inventors: Gringoli, Francesco, Tinnirello, Ilenia, Bianchi, Giuseppe, Gallo, Pierluigi, Garlisi, Domenico, Giuliano, Fabrizio
• Primary Examiner(s): ANWAR, MOHAMMAD S
• Application Number:
  US13/907,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols

Abstract

In a wireless network node, the MAC protocol is implemented through an extended finite state machine executed by the node. The operation of the wireless network node is changed by establishing a wireless connection between the present wireless network node and a remote wireless network node. One or more data packets containing a coded extended finite state machine corresponding to a specific MAC protocol are sent through the wireless connection from the remote wireless network node to the present wireless network node. An activation command from the remote wireless network node to the present wireless network node is sent through the wireless connection for activating the specific MAC protocol. This may be done during normal operation of the present wireless network node.

Claims

1. A method of changing a Media Access Control (MAC) protocol during operation of a first wireless network node, comprising the steps of:

A) programming said MAC protocol as an extended finite state machine;

B) coding said extended finite state machine resulting in a coded extended finite state machine;

C) loading said coded extended finite state machine into a second wireless network node;

D) establishing a wireless connection between said second wireless network node and said first wireless network node;

E) sending one or more data packets containing said coded extended finite state machine through said wireless connection from said second wireless network node to said first wireless network node; and

F) sending an activation command from said second wireless network node to said first wireless network node through said wireless connection for activating said MAC protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in step B a single data packet is used for sending said coded extended finite state machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step A and step B are performed via a computer external to said first wireless network node and said second wireless network node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said activation command is for one of an immediate activation and conditional activation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a first control entity operates in said first wireless network node and a second control entity operates in said second wireless network node in order to carry out step E and step F, and communication between said said first control entity and said second control entity is carried out through a control protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first control entity acts as a client and said second control entity acts a server.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said first control entity and said second control entity are implemented as software applications.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein a processor configured to execute extended finite state machines operates in said first wireless network node, and wherein said first control entity communicates with said processor, in response to the one or more data packets and the activation command, through an application programming interface of said processor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step A comprises programming at least two MAC protocols into a single extended finite state machine, and wherein said activation command is for one of said at least two MAC protocols.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

A1) programming a first MAC protocol as a first extended finite state machine;

A2) programming a second MAC protocol as a second extended finite state machine;

A3) programming a switching procedure between said first MAC protocol and said second MAC protocol as a meta extended finite state machine;

B1) coding said first extended finite state machine resulting in a coded first extended finite state machine;

B2) coding said second extended finite state machine resulting in a coded second extended finite state machine;

B3) coding said meta extended finite state machine resulting in a coded meta extended finite state machine;

C1) loading said coded first finite state machine into a second wireless network node;

C2) loading said coded second finite state machine into a second wireless network node;

C1) loading said coded meta finite state machine into a second wireless network node;

D) establishing a connection between said second wireless network node and said first wireless network node;

E1) sending one or more data packets containing said coded first extended finite state machine through said wireless connection from said second wireless network node to said first wireless network node;

E2) sending one or more data packets containing said coded second extended finite state machine through said wireless connection from said second wireless network node to said first wireless network node;

E3) sending one or more data packets containing said coded meta extended finite state machine through said wireless connection from said second wireless network node to said first wireless network node; and

F) sending an activation command from said second wireless network node to said first wireless network node through said wireless connection for executing said meta extended finite state machine.

11. The method of claim 10, steps A2, A3, B2, B3, D, E2, E3 and F are carried out at a later time than steps A1, B1, C1 and E1.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more data packets are directed to a plurality of wireless network nodes.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

coding said extended finite state machine comprises sending a control packet from said second wireless network node to said first wireless network node through said wireless connection;

said control packet contains said activation command; and

said control packet is directed to a plurality of wireless network nodes.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between a third wireless network node and said first wireless network node;

sending one or more data packets containing said coded extended finite state machine through said wireless connection from said third wireless network node to said first wireless network node; and

sending an activation command from said third wireless network node to said first wireless network node through said wireless connection for activating said MAC protocol;

wherein the use start of said MAC protocol in said first and third wireless network nodes takes place at the same time.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step E and step F are carried out using a default MAC protocol preset in said first and second wireless network nodes.

16. A wireless network node comprising:

a programs processor configured to execute software programs;

a machines processor configured to execute extended finite state machines; and

a wireless transceiver;

wherein said programs processor and said machines processor are connected together so that to be in communication;

wherein said programs processor is configured to receive by means of the wireless transceiver, through a wireless connection, data packets containing coded extended finite state machines corresponding to Media Access Control (MAC) protocols and activation commands of MAC protocols for changing MAC protocol; and

wherein said machines processor is configured to execute extended finite state machines received by said programs processor.

17. The wireless network node of claim 16, wherein:

said machines processor comprises a memory for storing extended finite state machines to be executed;

said programs processor is configured to store received extended finite state machines into the memory of said machines processor and to send execution commands to said machines processor.

18. The wireless network node of claim 17, wherein:

a wireless communication unit of the wireless network node houses said machines processor and said wireless transceiver; and

the memory of said machines processor stores a default extended finite state machine for a MAC protocol to be executed by said machines processor at power-on.

19. A wireless network node comprising:

a programs processor configured to execute software programs; and

a wireless transceiver;

wherein said programs processor and said wireless transceiver are connected together to be in communication;

wherein said programs processor is configured to transmit by means of said wireless transceiver, through a wireless connection, data packets containing coded extended finite state machines corresponding to Media Access Control (MAC) protocols and activation commands of MAC protocols for changing MAC protocol.

20. The wireless network node of claim 19, wherein a wireless communication unit of the wireless network node houses said wireless transceiver and a machines processor configured to execute extended finite state machines.