Integrated communication network for a network of moving things

• US 9,743,451 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veniam Inc.
• Original Assignee: Veniam Inc.
• Inventors: Lopes, Diogo, Neves, Filipe, Cardote, Andre, de Matos, Ricardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Charles C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, ROSENE S
• Application Number:
  US15/132,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

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 integrating and/or integrating with a 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 plurality of nodes operable in a communication network, the plurality of nodes comprising;

a first node operable in a first network and a second network, the first node configured to;

receive, via the first network, a set of configuration information comprising one or more configuration parameters for corresponding nodes of the plurality of nodes of the communication network,

propagate the set of configuration information from the first node to a second node via the second network, wherein to propagate the set of configuration information, the first node is configured to;

advertise the availability of the set of configuration information from the first node to one or more neighboring nodes of the first node, via the second network;

receive a request for the set of configuration information from the one or more neighboring nodes, via the second network; and

responsive to the request, send the set of configuration information from the first node to the one or more neighboring nodes via the second network, and

apply, to the first node, those configuration parameters of the set of configuration information corresponding to the first node, to establish operation of the first node according to the configuration parameters corresponding to the first node; and

a second node operable in at least the second network, the second node configured to;

receive, from the first node via the second network, the set of configuration information, and

apply, to the second node, those configuration parameters of the set of configuration information corresponding to the second node, to establish operation of the second node according to the configuration parameters corresponding to the second node.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the set of configuration information comprises one or more configuration parameters for operating respective nodes of the plurality of nodes of a configuration of the communication system corresponding to a particular user of the communication system.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one of a virtual private network identifier, a wireless network service set identifier, a radio frequency channel, or an indicator of a type of authentication.

4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise an indicator of a communication methodology to be used to propagate information between nodes of the plurality of nodes.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second node is operable in a third network different from the first network and the second network; and

the second node is configured to propagate the set of configuration information from the second node to a third node via the third network.

6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the location of operation of the first node and the location of operation of the second node change over time.

7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein communication via the first network and the second network uses different communications protocols.

8. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each particular node of the plurality of nodes operable on one or more communication networks of the communication system and configured to;

receive a set of configuration information for the plurality of nodes at a particular node of the plurality of nodes via the one or more communication networks;

propagate the set of configuration information to available nodes of the plurality of nodes that are neighbors of the particular node, via the one or more networks, wherein to propagate the set of configuration information, the particular node is configured to;

advertise the availability of the set of configuration information from the particular node to one or more neighboring nodes of the particular node, via the one or more communication networks,

receive a request for the set of configuration information from the one or more neighboring nodes, and

responsive to the request, send the set of configuration information from the particular node to the one or more neighboring nodes via the one or more communication networks; and

process configuration parameters for the particular node by applying configuration parameters corresponding to the particular node in the set of configuration information, to configure operation of the particular node with regard to use of the one or more communication networks.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the set of configuration information comprises one or more configuration parameters for operating respective nodes of the plurality of nodes of a configuration of the communication system corresponding to a particular user of the communication system.

10. The communication system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one of a virtual private network identifier, a wireless network service set identifier, a radio frequency channel, or an indicator of a type of authentication.

11. The communication system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise an indicator of a communication methodology to be used to propagate information between nodes of the plurality of nodes using the one or more communication networks.

12. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the location of operation of the particular node changes over time.

13. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the one or more communications networks comprise two communications networks and communication via the two communication networks uses different communications protocols.

14. A method of operating a node of a plurality of nodes operable on one or more communication networks of a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a set of configuration information for the plurality of nodes at a particular node of the plurality of nodes via the one or more communication networks;

propagating the set of configuration information to available nodes of the plurality of nodes that are neighbors of the particular node, via the one or more communication networks, wherein propagating the set of configuration information comprises;

advertising the availability of the set of configuration information from the particular node to one or more neighboring nodes of the particular node, via the one or more communication networks,

receiving a request for the set of configuration information from the one or more neighboring nodes, and

responsive to the request, sending the set of configuration information from the particular node to the one or more neighboring nodes via the one or more communication networks; and

processing configuration parameters for the particular node by applying configuration parameters corresponding to the particular node in the set of configuration information, to configure operation of the particular node with regard to use of the one or more communication networks.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the set of configuration information comprises one or more configuration parameters for operating respective nodes of the plurality of nodes of a configuration of the communication system corresponding to a particular user of the communication system.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise one of a virtual private network identifier, a wireless network service set identifier, a radio frequency channel, or an indicator of a type of authentication.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise an indicator of a communication methodology to be used to propagate information between nodes of the plurality of nodes using the one or more communication networks.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the location of operation of the particular node changes over time.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the one or more communications networks comprise two communications networks and communication via the two communication networks uses different communications protocols.