System for wireless connectivity continuity and quality

• US 9,344,935 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Ocean Robotics ApS
• Original Assignee: Suitable Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hassan, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jain, Raj
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/858,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 370/336, 370/328, 370/252
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/14 Monitoring arrangements for SDH/SONET rings H04J3/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0236 radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Configurations are described for maintaining a continuity and quality of wireless signal connection between a mobile device and systems accessible through the internet. In particular, configurations are disclosed to address the challenge of a mobile device that moves through a physical environment wherein the best wireless connectivity performance is achieved by switching between available connection sources and constantly evaluating a primary connection with other available connections that may be switched in to become a new primary connection. The mobile device may be self-propelled or carried by some other mobilizing means.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining wireless connectivity between a mobile controller and a remote controller, comprising:

a wireless adaptor operatively coupled between the mobile controller and two wireless access points that are operatively coupled to the remote controller, the wireless adaptor configured to have a timing-multiplexed operational mode wherein connectivity may be maintained between the mobile controller and the remote controller on both a first channel to a first wireless access point of the two wireless access points, and a second wireless access point of the two wireless access points, such that data transmission between the mobile controller and remote controller is switched between the first channel and the second channel based at least in part upon data transmission timing gaps associated with a protocol that is operated by wireless adaptor and the two wireless access points;

wherein the mobile controller is configured to operate the wireless adaptor to automatically;

a. scan to find available wireless access points and check the signal strength thereof;

b. connect with the available wireless access point that has the strongest signal strength using the first channel;

c. while retaining connectivity with the remote controller through the first channel, continue scanning using the second channel to try to find an alternative access point and check the signal strength thereof;

d. compare the signal strength of the access point connected through the first channel with the signal strength of the alternative access point available through the second channel; and

e. maintain connectivity between the mobile controller and remote controller through the channel associated with the access point that has the highest signal strength.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor has a single wireless transmitter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the single wireless transmitter is an RF antenna.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein in the background scanning mode, data is alternated through the single wireless transmitter from both the first channel and the second channel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the data is alternated in bit packets based upon a bit packet size.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the data is alternated based upon a time interval.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the bit packet size is predetermined.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the bit packet size is adjustable using the mobile controller.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the time interval is predetermined.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the time interval is adjustable using the mobile controller.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard selected from the group consisting of:

802.11A, 802.11B, 802.11G, and 802.11N.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor is a cellular telephone adaptor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor is an IEEE 802.16 compatible adaptor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor is a free-space optical adaptor.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile controller is configured to operate the wireless adaptor to scan using a discrete frequency band.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the discrete frequency band is selected based upon a determined prevalence of active wireless access points.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile controller is configured to scan again to find available wireless access points after disconnecting connectivity between the mobile controller and remote controller through the channel which has the lowest compared signal strength.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile controller is configured to repeatedly cycle between scanning to find available wireless access points and disconnecting connectivity between the mobile controller and remote controller through the channel which has the lowest compared signal strength.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile controller is configured to repeatedly cycle at a frequency between about 100 cycles/second and about 1/2 cycles/second.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile controller is coupled to a motorized vehicle.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the motorized vehicle comprises a robot.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile controller further is configured to evaluate the connectivity of the connection with the first or second channel based at least in part upon a factor selected from the group consisting of:

latency, packet loss, and financial cost of connectivity.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the mobile controller further is configured to operate the wireless adaptor to automatically disconnect connectivity between the mobile controller and remote controller through the lowest evaluated channel.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data transmission timing gaps is based upon an IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function timing protocol.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the timing gaps represents a protocol element selected from the group consisting of:

a random backoff period, a DCF interframe spacing period, a request to send period, a short interframe spacing period, a clear to send period, and an acknowledgement period.