Facilitating mesh networks of connected movable objects

• US 9,681,272 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Corp.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Christopher, Marathe, Nikhil S
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): NG, CHRISTINE Y
• Application Number:
  US14/259,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 370230, 3702301, 370231, 370235, 370237, 370252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0226 based on location or mobility handoff or reselection H04W36/00; mobile application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/026 Route selection considering the moving speed of individual devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Wireless communication via a mesh network of connected movable objects is described. A method includes determining, by a device including a processor, a value of a characteristic of a first movable object of movable objects communicatively coupled to a wireless network, wherein the movable objects are automated vehicles, and wherein the determining the value is based on a likelihood of receipt of a message transmitted from the first movable object to a second movable object of the movable objects. The method also includes generating information usable to move the first movable object in a manner that satisfies a defined condition associated with the value. The information can be strength of a wireless communication channel between the first movable object and a second movable object of the movable objects.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a device comprising a processor, a value of a characteristic of a first movable object of movable objects communicatively coupled to a wireless network, wherein the movable objects are automated vehicles, wherein the determining the value is based on a likelihood of receipt, by a second movable object of the movable objects, of a message transmitted from the first movable object to the second movable object, wherein the first movable object received the message from a stationary wireless access point device, wherein the stationary wireless access point device is located outside of and distinct from the first movable object, and wherein the message is transmitted to the second movable object in response to the message being received from the stationary wireless access point device, and wherein the determining the value further comprises;

determining a distance between the stationary wireless access point device and the first movable object, and

determining the value based on the distance between the first movable object and the stationary wireless access point device; and

generating, by the device, information usable to move the first movable object in a manner that satisfies a defined condition associated with the value, and wherein the value comprises a speed of the first movable object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is first information, wherein the stationary wireless access point device transmits content to the first movable object, and wherein the message comprises second information indicative of the content.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by the device, a communication path, via wireless network devices associated with respective ones of the movable objects, wherein the communication path is from the first movable object to the second movable object of the movable objects, and wherein the determining the communication path is based on a determination of a measured power of a signal comprising the message.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by the device, a communication path, via wireless network devices associated with respective ones of the movable objects, wherein the communication path is from the first movable object to the second movable object of the movable objects, and wherein the determining the communication path is based on a determination of a first defined factor associated with the movable objects.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information usable to move the first movable object comprises strength information indicative of strength of a wireless communication channel between the first movable object and the second movable object.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first defined factor is a physical arrangement of the movable objects within the wireless network.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first defined factor is a velocity of the first movable object.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the first defined factor is a specified future velocity of the first movable object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining the communication path is further based on a determination of a second defined factor associated with the movable objects, and wherein the second defined factor comprises a future anticipated environmental constraint for the first movable object.

10. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

determining a first value of a first characteristic of a first movable object of movable objects communicatively coupled to a wireless network, wherein the determining is based on a likelihood of transmission of content from the first movable object to a second movable object of the movable objects satisfying a defined condition, and wherein the determining the first value further comprises;

determining a distance between a wireless access device and the first movable object, wherein the wireless access device is not part of the first movable object; and

determining the first value based on the distance between the first movable object and the wireless access device; and

generating information usable to cause the first movable object to have a defined mobility, wherein the information is based on the first value, wherein the first value comprises a speed, wherein the first movable object receives content directed to the second movable object from a stationary wireless access point device, wherein the stationary wireless access point device is located external to and distinct from the first movable object, and wherein the first movable object directs the content to the second movable object upon receipt of the content from the stationary wireless access point device.

11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a second value of a second characteristic of the first movable object of movable objects.

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a first communication path, via wireless network devices associated with first respective ones of the movable objects, wherein the first communication path is from the first movable object to the second movable object of the movable objects, wherein the determining the first communication path is based on a determination that an estimated level of congestion of a second communication path between second respective ones of the movable objects satisfies a defined condition, and wherein the second communication path is in operation prior to operation of the first communication path.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a first communication path, via wireless network devices associated with first respective ones of the movable objects, wherein the first communication path is from the first movable object to a selected other movable object of the movable objects, and wherein the determining the first communication path is based on a characteristic of a level of security of data to be transmitted over the communication path.

14. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

determining a value of a characteristic of a first movable object of movable objects communicatively coupled to a wireless network, wherein the movable objects are automated drone vehicles, wherein the determining the value is based on a likelihood of receipt by a second movable object of a message transmitted from the first movable object to the second movable object of the movable objects, and wherein the determining the value further comprises;

determining a distance between a wireless access point device and the first movable object, wherein the wireless access point device is located outside of and is different from the first movable object; and

determining the value based on the distance between the first movable object and the wireless access point device; and

generating information usable to move the first movable object to satisfy a condition associated with the value, and wherein the value comprises a three-dimensional trajectory of the first movable object.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the information is first information, wherein the wireless access point device is configured to transmit content to the first movable object, and wherein the message comprises second information indicative of the content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a communication path, via wireless network devices associated with respective ones of the movable objects, wherein the communication path is from the first movable object to the second movable object of the movable objects, and wherein the determining the communication path is based on a determination of a measured power of a signal comprising the message.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a communication path, via wireless network devices associated with respective ones of the movable objects, wherein the communication path is from the first movable object to the second movable object of the movable objects.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the information usable to move the first movable object comprises strength information indicative of strength of a wireless communication channel between the first movable object and the second movable object.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the determining the communication path is based on a determination of a first defined factor associated with the movable objects.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first defined factor is a physical arrangement of the movable objects within the wireless network.