Method of connecting a new device to existing network
First Claim
1. A method of connecting a new device to be added to an existing centralized radio network (piconet) the network comprising a master device and at least one further device in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) at least one new device not being in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC), the method comprising the steps of:
- a) the new device to be added to the network, not being in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC), becoming a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) which broadcasts a beacon with an initiation request in the beacon indicating that it intends to associate to an existing network (piconet);
b) a device belonging to an existing network (piconet) that receives the beacon with the initiation request of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) optionally asks its own network coordinator (PNC) whether to become a child network coordinator (CPNC) and in case of positive answer or in case the optional request at the own PNC is not needed;
transmitting a corresponding response signal indicating that it is an available child piconet coordinator (CPNC) to associate to;
c) those devices that became a child network coordinator (CPNC) signalling a response to the initiation beacon in form of one or several broadcast or unicast frames indicating that they are available child piconet coordinators (CPNCs);
d) the new device to be added to the network acting as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) scanning the channels or frequencies, receiving the response signals and choosing at least one of the available child network coordinators (CPNCs) as master;
e) the new device to be added to the network acknowledging at least one of the selected child network coordinators'"'"' response signals andf) the new device to be added to the network terminating its role of acting as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and becoming a slave with regard to the chosen child network coordinator (CPNC) that works as a coordinator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a centralized radio network consisting of several devices one device acts as master or network coordinator and has a transmission range. Basically, other devices of the network are able to adopt the role of a coordinator. This ability is used to enlarge the area of the network to a size larger than the transmission range of the master. A device asks its parent PNC to become a child PNC when a newly turned on device acts as a temporary PNC and broadcasts an initiation beacon indicating that it looks for a child PNC. The child PNC reports that it is available. The new device determines one of the available child PNCs to be its new master. The acknowledgment for the selected child PNC may be broadcasted to inform all the devices in the transmission range of the new device. The new device quits the role of the temporary PNC and associates to the existing network.
6 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of connecting a new device to be added to an existing centralized radio network (piconet) the network comprising a master device and at least one further device in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) at least one new device not being in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC), the method comprising the steps of:
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a) the new device to be added to the network, not being in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC), becoming a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) which broadcasts a beacon with an initiation request in the beacon indicating that it intends to associate to an existing network (piconet); b) a device belonging to an existing network (piconet) that receives the beacon with the initiation request of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) optionally asks its own network coordinator (PNC) whether to become a child network coordinator (CPNC) and in case of positive answer or in case the optional request at the own PNC is not needed;
transmitting a corresponding response signal indicating that it is an available child piconet coordinator (CPNC) to associate to;c) those devices that became a child network coordinator (CPNC) signalling a response to the initiation beacon in form of one or several broadcast or unicast frames indicating that they are available child piconet coordinators (CPNCs); d) the new device to be added to the network acting as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) scanning the channels or frequencies, receiving the response signals and choosing at least one of the available child network coordinators (CPNCs) as master; e) the new device to be added to the network acknowledging at least one of the selected child network coordinators'"'"' response signals and f) the new device to be added to the network terminating its role of acting as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and becoming a slave with regard to the chosen child network coordinator (CPNC) that works as a coordinator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
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6. A centralized radio network (piconet) consisting of at least two devices wherein one of the at least two devices is a network coordinator (PNC) having a transmission range (Tx) for its beacons and wherein at least one further device is in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) and wherein:
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a new device desiring to connect to an existing centralized radio network scans channels or frequencies for discovering a network coordinator'"'"'s beacon of an existing network in order to associate to it, wherein the new device becomes a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) if it did not receive a beacon signalled by a network coordinator'"'"'s (PNC) beacon within a certain time and sends out an initiation beacon indicating that it intends to associate to an existing network (piconet); a device belonging to an existing network (piconet) that receives the initiation beacon signal of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) optionally asks its own network coordinator (PNC) whether to become a child network coordinator (CPNC) and in case of positive answer or in case the optional request at the own PNC is not needed;
transmitting a corresponding response signal indicating that it is an available child piconet coordinator (CPNC) to associate to;the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) receives the response signals, compares them and determines at least one of the available devices which will become the child network coordinator (CPNC) it associates itself to; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) acknowledges at least one of the availability signals and changes its state into being a slave with regard to the selected child network coordinator(s) (CPNCs) and the new device thus is connected to the existing network (piconet).
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9. A device to be connected to an existing centralized radio network (piconet), the network comprising a master device, at least one further device in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) and said device to be connected to the existing centralized radio network (piconet), wherein said device to be connected is not in the transmission range (Tx) of the master device, the device to be connected to the existing network including at least a processor configured for:
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a) enabling the device to become a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) by broadcasting a beacon with an initiation request, indicating that the device to be connected intends to associate to an existing network (piconet); b) enabling the device to scan channels (frequencies) as temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) to receive response signals to the initiation beacon from those devices that became a child network coordinator (CNPC), the response signals indicating that the devices that became child network coordinators (CNPCs) are available as child piconet coordinators (CPNCs); c) enabling the device to choose at least one of the available child network coordinators (CPNCs) as master by acknowledging a corresponding response signal of the at least one of the available child network coordinator (CPNC); and d) enabling the device to cease acting in the capacity of temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and instead become a slave to the chosen child network coordinator (CPNC). - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of connecting to add a new radio device to an existing centralized radio network (piconet) which existing network comprises:
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at least one master device having a transmission range (Tx) for its beacons and including a network coordinator (PNC); and at least one further device within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) with which it is associated, the at least one further device being a slave of the network coordinator (PNC);
the method comprising the acts of;the new radio device becoming a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC); broadcasting a beacon as temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), the beacon having an initiation request in the beacon indicating that it requests to associate with the existing centralized radio network (piconet); the at least one further device of the existing centralized radio network (piconet) that receives the initiation beacon signal of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), when asking is needed, asks its associated network coordinator (PNC) whether the at least one further device is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) device to be associated with the new radio device, when associated the new radio device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and in case of receiving a positive answer from the associated network coordinator (PNC) or otherwise in the case that asking its associated network coordinator (PNC) is not needed;
each of the one or more further devices that are available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new radio device slave, become one or more available devices and transmit a corresponding availability signal in response to the initiation beacon in the form of one or several broadcast or unicast frames indicating that the one or more available devices are available to become new respective child network coordinator (CPNC) masters associated with the new radio device slave;the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), scanning the channels or frequencies, receiving the availability signals from the one or more available devices, comparing the availability signals and choosing at least one of the available devices that are available to become child network coordinator (CPNC) masters associated with the new radio device slave; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) acknowledging the availability signals of the at least one chosen available devices; upon acknowledgment, the new radio device ceasing to be a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and becoming a slave associated with the at least one chosen available device, the at least one chosen available device becoming a child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new radio device slave, the child network coordinator (CPNC) being a master device to the new device and a network coordinator to the network, and the new radio device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet) as a slave device to the at least one chosen child network coordinator (CPNC). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program that when loaded on a network device implements a method of connecting a new radio device to an existing centralized radio network (piconet), the existing network comprising:
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at least one master device having a transmission range (Tx) for its beacons and including a network coordinator (PNC); and at least one further devices each within the transmission range (Tx) of the at least one network coordinator (PNC) to which it is associated, the further devices being slaves to the network coordinator (PNC) master and wherein; the new radio device, determines if it needs to become a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) in order to connect to the existing network (piconet) and if so, then it becomes a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and sends out a beacon containing an initiation request indicating that it requests to associate to an existing network (piconet) such as the existing centralized radio network (piconet); the at least one further device belonging to the existing network (piconet) that receives the initiation beacon signal of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), and when asking is needed, asks its associated network coordinator (PNC) whether it is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) device associated with the new radio device, when associated the new radio device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and in case of receiving a positive answer from its associated network coordinator (PNC) or otherwise in the case where asking its associated network coordinator (PNC) is not needed, the at least one further device becoming an available device and transmitting a corresponding availability signal indicating that the at least one further device is available to become a new child piconet coordinator (CPNC) master to be associated with the new radio device as a slave device; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) scans the channels or frequencies, receives the availability signals, compares them, and chooses at least one of the available at least one further devices to become the at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master to be associated with the new radio device slave; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) acknowledges the availability signals of the at least one chosen available devices; the new radio device ceasing to be a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and becoming a slave device associated with the selected one or more available at least one further devices that have become child network coordinator(s) (CPNCs); and the at least one chosen available devices becoming child network coordinator (CPNC) masters associated with the new radio device slave, the child network coordinator(s) (CPNCs) being both master devices and network coordinators; and the new radio device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet) as a slave device to the at least one chosen child network coordinator (CPNC).
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18. A method of connecting a new device to be added to an existing centralized radio network (piconet) the existing network comprising:
- at least one master device having a transmission range (Tx) and including a network coordinator (PNC); and
at least one further device in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC), the method comprising the steps of;the new device to be added to the existing network becoming a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) which broadcasts a beacon with an initiation request in the beacon indicating that it requests to associate to the existing network (piconet); the at least one further device belonging to the existing network (piconet) that receives the beacon with the initiation request of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), when asking is needed, asks its own network coordinator (PNC) whether its available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) associated with the new network device, when associated the new network device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and in case of receiving a positive answer or otherwise in case asking its own network coordinator (PNC) is not needed;
transmitting a corresponding response signal in the form of one or several broadcast or unicast frames indicating that it is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) to associate to;the new device to be added to the network acting as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) scanning the channels or frequencies, receiving the response signals, comparing the response signals, and choosing at least one of the further devices that are available to become child network coordinators (CPNCs) as master; the new device to be added to the network acknowledging the response signal of at least one of the selected further devices that are available to become child network coordinators'"'"'; and the new device to be added to the network terminating its role of acting as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and becoming a slave associated with the at least one chosen further device; the at least one chosen further device becoming a child network coordinator (CPNC) master that works as a network coordinator; and the new device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet).
- at least one master device having a transmission range (Tx) and including a network coordinator (PNC); and
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19. A method of connecting a new device to be added to an existing centralized radio network (piconet) the existing network comprising:
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at least one master device having a transmission range (Tx) for its beacons, and the at least one master device including a network coordinator (PNC); and
at least one further device within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) with which it is associated, the method comprising the steps of;the new device to be connected to the existing network (piconet) determining whether it needs to become a temporary network coordinator to connect with the existing network (piconet) and if so, then becoming a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), broadcasting a beacon as temporary network coordinator including an initiation request in the beacon indicating that it requests to associate with the existing network (piconet); the at least one further device belonging to the existing network (piconet) that receives the beacon with the initiation request of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), when asking is needed, the at least one further device asks its associated network coordinator (PNC) whether it is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) associated with the new network device, when associated the new network device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and in the case of receiving a positive answer from the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) or otherwise in the case where asking its own network coordinator (PNC) is not needed, the at least one further device becoming an available device and in response to receiving the initiation request of the temporary network coordinator, transmitting a corresponding availability signal in the form of one or several broadcast or unicast frames indicating that it is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) master to be associated with the new radio device slave; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) scanning the channels or frequencies, receiving the availability signals, and selecting at least one of the available devices to become child network coordinator (CPNC) master to be associated with the new radio device as said slave device; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) acknowledging the at least one of the availability signals of the selected available devices; the at least one selected available device becoming a child network coordinator (CPNC) master that works as a network coordinator; the new device to be added to the network terminating its role of acting as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and becoming a slave device associated with the at least one selected available device; and the new device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet) as a slave device to the at least one selected child network coordinator (CPNC).
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20. A centralized radio network (piconet) for connecting to add a new device to an existing network, the existing network comprising of at least one master device having a transmission range (Tx) for its beacons and the at least one master device including a network coordinator (PNC);
- and at least one further device within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) with which it is associated, and wherein;
the new device for connecting to the existing network (piconet), determines if it needs to become a temporary network coordinator to connect to the existing network (piconet) and if so, the new device becomes a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and sends out an initiation beacon indicating that it intends to associate to the existing network (piconet); the at least one further device belonging to the existing network (piconet) that receives the initiation beacon signal of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), when asking is needed, asks its own network coordinator (PNC) whether its available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) associated with the new device, when associated the new device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC), and in case of receiving a positive answer or in case asking its own network coordinator (PNC) is not needed, the at least one further device becoming an available device, and transmitting a corresponding response signal indicating that it is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) master to be associated with the new device as slave of the child network coordinator (CPNC); the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) receives the response signals, compares them and selects at least one of the available devices which will become the child network coordinator (CPNC) master it associates itself to; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) acknowledges at least one of the availability signals and ceases being a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and becomes a slave of the selected child network coordinator(s) (CPNCs) as master; and the new device thus is connected to the existing network (piconet) as a slave device to the at least one selected child network coordinator (CPNC). - View Dependent Claims (35)
- and at least one further device within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) with which it is associated, and wherein;
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21. A new device to be connected to an existing centralized radio network (piconet), the existing network comprising at least one master device having a transmission range for its beacons, and the at least one master device including at least one network coordinator (PNC), and at least one further device in the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC), when the at least one further device receives a beacon containing an initiation request from the new device, the at least one further device determines whether it is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) associated with the new device, when associated the new device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and if the determination is positive then the at least one further device becomes an available device and transmits a response signal indicating that it is available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new device slave, the new device including at least a processor configured for:
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enabling the new device to determine if it needs to become a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) to connect to the existing network (piconet) and if so, the new device becomes a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and it broadcasts a beacon containing an initiation request, indicating that the new device to be connected intends to associate with the existing network (piconet); enabling the new device to scan channels (frequencies) as temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) to receive response signals indicating that those available devices that sent the respective response signal are available to become child network coordinator (CNPC) master associated with the new device as slave of the child network coordinator (CPNC); enabling the new device to compare the response signals received from the available devices and to choose at least one of the available devices to become a child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new device as slave of the child network coordinator (CPNC) by acknowledging a corresponding response signal of the at least one of the available child network coordinator (CPNC); and enabling the new device to cease being a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and instead becoming a slave device to the chosen at least one available device which has become a child network coordinator (CPNC) master; the new radio device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet).
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22. A method of connecting to add a new radio device to an existing centralized radio network (piconet), the existing network comprising:
- one or more master devices having transmission ranges (Tx) for their beacons and including a network coordinator (PNC), and one or more further devices each further device being within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) to which it is mutually associated, each further device being a slave of its associated network coordinator (PNC) master, the method comprising the steps of;
providing at least one new radio device for connection to the existing network to add the new radio device to any existing network; the new radio device, determining if it needs to become a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) to connect to any existing network and if so, then becoming a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) which broadcasts a beacon containing an initiation request indicating that it requests to associate to any existing network (piconet); in response to the initiation request, the one or more further devices that receive the initiation request of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) each determine whether they are available to become new child network coordinators (CPNC) associated with the new radio device, when associated the new radio device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, child network coordinators (CPNC) being master devices and network coordinators; in case of a positive determination of availability, the one or more further devices that determined that they are available, become one or more available devices; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) determining the available devices and choosing at least one of the available devices to become child network coordinator (CPNC) masters associated with the new radio device as a slave; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) notifying the at least one chosen available devices; the new radio device to be added to the network ceasing to be a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and instead becoming a slave associated with the chosen available devices; the chosen available devices become child network coordinator (CPNC) masters associated with the new radio device slave; and the new radio device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet). - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- one or more master devices having transmission ranges (Tx) for their beacons and including a network coordinator (PNC), and one or more further devices each further device being within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) to which it is mutually associated, each further device being a slave of its associated network coordinator (PNC) master, the method comprising the steps of;
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31. A centralized radio network (piconet) which network comprises:
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a new radio device; an existing network, comprising; one or more master devices having transmission ranges (Tx) for their beacons, including at least one network coordinator (PNCs); and one or more further devices, each within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) with which it is mutually associated, each being a slave of its associated network coordinator (PNC) master; and wherein; the new radio device is configured to determine if it needs to become a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) to connect to any existing network and if so, then it becomes a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and broadcasts a beacon containing an initiation request indicating that it requests to associate with any existing network (piconet); one or more of the further devices belonging to the existing network (piconet) are configured to receive the initiation beacon of the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC), and determine whether they are available to become new child network coordinators (CPNC) associated with the new radio device, when associated the new radio device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, the child network coordinators (CPNC) being master devices and network coordinators; in case of positive determination of availability, the one or more further devices that determine that they are available are configured to become one or more available devices; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) is configured for determining the available devices, and choosing one or more of the available devices to become child network coordinator (CPNC) as masters associated with the new radio device as a slave; the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) is configured for notifying the chosen available devices; the new radio device is configured to cease being a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and instead to become a slave associated with the one or more chosen available devices; the one or more chosen available devices become child network coordinator (CPNC) masters associated with the new radio device slave; and the new radio device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet). - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 36, 37)
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38. A new radio device for connection to an existing centralized radio network (piconet), the existing network comprising:
- one or more master devices each having a transmission range (Tx) for its beacons and including a network coordinator (PNCs), and one or more further devices, each within the transmission range (Tx) of an network coordinator (PNC) with which it is mutually associated, each further device being a slave of its associated network coordinator (PNC) master, and when the further device receives an initiation request in a beacon of a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) it determines whether it is available to become a child network coordinator (CPNC) associated with the new radio device, when associated the new radio device becoming a slave of the child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and if the further device is available to become a new respective child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new radio device slave to become a new respective child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new radio device slave then then it becomes an available device, the new radio device comprising;
a processor, and wherein; the new radio device is configured to determine whether to become a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and if so, the new radio device becomes a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and it broadcasts a beacon containing an initiation request indicating that the new radio device requests to associate with the existing network (piconet); the new radio device as a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) is configured to determine the available devices and to choose at least one of the available devices and to notify the chosen available devices; and the new radio device is configured to cease being a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and instead become a slave associated with the at least one chosen available device that has become a child network coordinator (CPNC) the new radio device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet). - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
- one or more master devices each having a transmission range (Tx) for its beacons and including a network coordinator (PNCs), and one or more further devices, each within the transmission range (Tx) of an network coordinator (PNC) with which it is mutually associated, each further device being a slave of its associated network coordinator (PNC) master, and when the further device receives an initiation request in a beacon of a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) it determines whether it is available to become a child network coordinator (CPNC) associated with the new radio device, when associated the new radio device becoming a slave of the child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and if the further device is available to become a new respective child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new radio device slave to become a new respective child network coordinator (CPNC) master associated with the new radio device slave then then it becomes an available device, the new radio device comprising;
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43. A non-transitory media comprising a computer program that when communicating with a new radio device implements a method for connecting to add the new radio device to an existing centralized radio network (piconet) which existing network comprises:
- one or more master devices having transmission ranges (Tx) for their beacons and including a network coordinator (PNC); and
one or more further devices, each within the transmission range (Tx) of the network coordinator (PNC) with which it is associated, each further device being a slave of its associated network coordinator (PNC) master, and when a further device receives an initiation request in a beacon of a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) it determines if its available to become a new child network coordinator (CPNC) associated with the new radio device, when associated the new radio device becoming a slave of at least one child network coordinator (CPNC) master, and if the further device is available it becomes an available device, the method comprising the acts of;the new radio device determines whether to become a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and if so, it becomes a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) which broadcasts a beacon containing an initiation request indicating that the new radio device requests to associate with the existing network (piconet); the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) determining the available devices and choosing one or more of the available devices to become new child network coordinators (CPNCs); the temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) notifying the available devices that were chosen to become child network coordinators (CPNCs); and the new radio device ceasing to be a temporary network coordinator (tempPNC) and instead becoming a slave associated with the one or more chosen available devices that have become respective child network coordinators (CPNC) masters; and the new radio device is thus connected to the existing network (piconet). - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
- one or more master devices having transmission ranges (Tx) for their beacons and including a network coordinator (PNC); and
Specification