Communication network of moving things

• US 9,641,391 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nexar Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Veniam Inc.
• Inventors: Barros, Joao, Ameixiera, Carlos, Lopes, Diogo, Cardote, Andre, Costa, Rui, Matos, Ricardo
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, CLEMENCE S
• Application Number:
  US15/133,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Communication network architectures, systems and methods for supporting a network of mobile nodes. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide communication network architectures, systems, and methods for supporting a dynamically configurable communication network comprising a complex array of both static and moving communication nodes (e.g., the Internet of moving things).

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a first node and a second node, each of the first node and the second node operable in a communication network comprising;

a first network comprising at least one of a backbone provider network and/or a local infrastructure network;

a second network comprising a fixed hotspot access network (FHAN) comprising a plurality of FHAN access points, different from cellular network base stations, that are at fixed locations; and

a third network comprising a mobile hotspot access network (MHAN) comprising a plurality of MHAN access points that are mobile and operable to selectively communicate directly with each other, directly with the second network, and directly with the first network,

wherein the communication system is configurable to operate in a plurality of modes comprising;

a first mode in which the first node and the second node communicate through at least each of the first, second, and third networks; and

a second mode in which the first node and the second node communicate through at most two of the first, second, and third networks.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a server, and the second node comprises an end-user device.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is automatically self-configurable, without direct user interaction, to operate in one of the plurality of modes.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the communication system is operable to automatically self-configure to operate in one of the plurality of modes in response to availability of one or more of the first, second, and third networks.

5. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the communication system is operable to automatically self-configure to operate in one of the plurality of modes based, at least in part, on communication latency.

6. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the communication system is operable to automatically self-configure to operate in one of the plurality of modes based, at least in part, on priority of a communication.

7. A communication system comprising:

a first node, a second node, and a third node operable in a communication network comprising;

a first network comprising at least one of a backbone provider network and/or a local infrastructure network; and

a second network comprising a mobile hotspot access network (MHAN) comprising a plurality of MHAN access points that are mobile and operable to selectively communicate directly with each other, and directly with the first network,

wherein the communication network is configurable to operate in a plurality of modes comprising;

a first mode in which the communication system communicates data from the second node and the third node to the first node through at least each of the first and second networks; and

a second mode in which the communication system communicates data from the second node and the third node to the first node through at most one of the first and second networks.

8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the first node comprises a server, the second node comprises a user device, and the third node comprises a stationary sensor device independent of the user device.

9. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the communication system is automatically self-configurable, without direct user interaction, to operate in one of the plurality of modes.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the communication system is operable to automatically self-configure to operate in one of the plurality of modes in response to availability of one or more of the first and second networks.

11. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the communication network comprises a third network comprising a fixed hotspot access network (FHAN) comprising a plurality of FHAN access points, different from cellular base stations, that are at fixed locations, and wherein, in the first mode, the communication system communicates data from the second node and the third node to the first node through at least each of the first, second, and third networks.

12. The communication system of claim 7, wherein:

the mobile hotspot access network (MHAN) comprises a first plurality of mobile access points corresponding to a first vehicle fleet and a second plurality of mobile access points corresponding to a second vehicle fleet distinct from to the first vehicle fleet; and

the communication system is operable to identify a mode of the plurality of modes in which to operate based, at least in part, on which of the first and second pluralities of mobile access points comprises a mobile access point that is available.

13. A communication system comprising:

a first node and a second node, each of the first node and the second node operable in a communication network comprising;

a first network comprising a backbone provider network;

a second network comprising a local infrastructure network;

a third network comprising a fixed hotspot access network (FHAN) comprising a plurality of FHAN access points, different from cellular network base stations, that are at fixed locations; and

a fourth network comprising a mobile hotspot access network (MHAN) comprising a plurality of MHAN access points that are mobile and operable to selectively communicate directly with each other, directly with the third network, directly with the second network, and directly with the first network,

wherein the communication system is configurable to operate in a plurality of modes comprising;

a first mode in which the first node and the second node communicate through at least each of the first, second, third, and fourth networks; and

a second mode in which the first node and the second node communicate through at most three of the first, second, third, and fourth networks.

14. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the first node comprises a server, and the second node comprises an end-user device.

15. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the communication system is automatically self-configurable, without direct user interaction, to operate in one of the plurality of modes.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the communication system is operable to automatically self-configure to operate in one of the plurality of modes in response to availability of one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth networks.

17. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the communication system is operable to automatically self-configure to operate in one of the plurality of modes based, at least in part, on communication latency and/or on priority of a communication.

18. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the communication system is manually configurable to operate in one of the plurality of modes.

19. The communication system of claim 13, wherein:

the fixed hotspot access network comprises a first plurality of private fixed access points that are not directly available to the public, and a second plurality of public fixed access points that are directly available to the public; and

the communication system is operable to identify a mode of the plurality of modes in which to operate based, at least in part, on which of the first and second pluralities of fixed access points comprises a fixed access point that is available.

20. The communication system of claim 13, wherein:

the mobile hotspot access network (MHAN) comprises a first plurality of mobile access points corresponding to a first vehicle fleet and a second plurality of mobile access points corresponding to a second vehicle fleet distinct from the first vehicle fleet; and

the communication system is operable to identify a mode of the plurality of modes in which to operate based, at least in part, on which of the first and second pluralities of mobile access points comprises a mobile access point that is available.