Method for identifying a station with specific functions in a wireless-based ad-hoc network, and a substation for carrying out the method

• US 20040171386A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enric Mitjana
• Original Assignee: Enric Mitjana
• Inventors: Mitjana, Enric
• Application Number:
  US10/793,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20040171386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method for identifying sub-stations with specific functions in an ad hoc network having at least two sub-stations, at least one of which offers the specific functions to other sub-stations, has the capacity to execute a specific function and/or a corresponding retransmission option is/are respectively communicated to the other substations by signaling. Access to another communications system, e.g. an UMTS network can, in particular, be offered as a specific function.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and/or using substations with specific functions in an ad-hoc network, the ad-hoc network having at least two substations, at least one of the substations offering the specific functions to other ones of the substations, the method which comprises the steps of:

communicating at least one of a capacity to execute a specific function to other ones of the substations and a corresponding retransmission option from a substation with such a function to the other substations by signaling; and

communicating additional information about a quality of service offered with the signaling.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises executing the signaling through at least one of a message channel and a communication channel.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises communicating further additional information about the specific function offered and/or number of hops required with the signaling.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the specific function consists in enabling access to at least one of a foreign communication network and a data store.

5. The method according to claim 3, which further comprises executing a request for the specific function by a requesting substation depending on possible qualities of service, the number of hops required and/or special specific functions.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises:

performing the signaling from the substation having the specific function with a relay station to a further substation; and

changing the additional information about the quality of service offered.

7. An ad-hoc substation, comprising:

a transceiver for establishing a radio link to at least one other substation;

a functional module for providing a specific function; and

a signaling device for generating signaling with which the specific function being signaled to other substations, the signaling containing additional information about a quality of service offered.

8. The ad-hoc substation according to claim 7, wherein said functional module has as a specific function access to another communications system.

9. The ad-hoc substation according to claim 8, wherein the communications system is an UMTS network.