Piconet spanning tree network

• US 20050135275A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Yan, Ramadas, Padmaja, Hester, Lance E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,002,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/256
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a spanning tree network. A communication device can connect to a piconet network and the communication device can transmit at least one available piconet identifier prior to receiving a request for the available piconet identifier from a dependent communication device, the available piconet identifier providing a parent piconet coordinator identification for the dependent communication device. A dependent communication device can connect to the piconet network, determine if the communication device can support a dependent piconet, and receive at least one available piconet identifier prior to requesting information regarding establishing a dependent piconet, the available piconet identifier providing parent piconet identification for the communication device for the dependent piconet.

Claims

1. A method in a communication device of communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the method comprising:

connecting to the piconet network; and

transmitting at least one available piconet identifier prior to receiving a request for the available piconet identifier, the available piconet identifier providing parent piconet coordinator identification.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the available piconet identifier is transmitted in a beacon of a superframe.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to become a dependent piconet coordinator capable of establishing a dependent piconet, the request including the available piconet identifier.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the piconet network comprises a collection of a plurality of logically associated devices that share a single identifier with a common coordinator.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting information for the calculation of a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the size of the block of available piconet identifiers is based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators and a maximum number of levels of piconet coordinators.

7. A communication device for communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver configured to connect to the piconet network; and

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the controller configured to transmit, via the transceiver, at least one available piconet identifier prior to receiving a request for the available piconet identifier, the available piconet identifier providing a parent piconet coordinator identification for the communication device.

8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the available piconet identifier is transmitted in a beacon of a superframe.

9. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to receive, via the transceiver, a request to become a dependent piconet coordinator capable of establishing a dependent piconet, the request including the available piconet identifier.

10. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the piconet network comprises a collection of a plurality of logically associated devices that share a single identifier with a common coordinator.

11. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit, via the transceiver, information for the calculation of a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the size of the block of available piconet identifiers is based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators and a maximum number of levels of piconet coordinators.

13. A method in a communication device of communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the method comprising:

connecting to the piconet network;

determining if the communication device can support a dependent piconet; and

receiving at least one available piconet identifier prior to transmitting information regarding requesting establishing a dependent piconet, the available piconet identifier providing parent piconet identification for the communication device for the dependent piconet.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the information regarding requesting establishing a dependent piconet includes an indicator indicating a desire to become a dependent piconet coordinator capable of establishing a dependent piconet.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the available piconet identifier is received in a beacon of a superframe.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising transmitting a request to become a dependent piconet coordinator capable of establishing a dependent piconet, the request including the available piconet identifier.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the piconet network comprises a collection of a plurality of logically associated devices that share a single identifier with a common coordinator.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising calculating a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the size of the block of available piconet identifiers is based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators and a maximum number of levels of piconet coordinators.

20. A communication device for communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the communication device comprising:

a transceiver configured to connect to the piconet network; and

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the controller configured to determine if the communication device can support a dependent piconet, the controller further configured to receive, via the transceiver, at least one available piconet identifier prior to requesting information regarding establishing a dependent piconet, the available piconet identifier providing parent piconet identification for the communication device for the dependent piconet.

21. The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the information regarding establishing a dependent piconet includes an indicator indicating a desire to become a dependent piconet coordinator capable of establishing a dependent piconet.

22. The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the available piconet identifier is received in a beacon of a superframe.

23. The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit, via the transceiver, a request to become a dependent piconet coordinator capable of establishing a dependent piconet, the request including the available piconet identifier.

24. The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the piconet network comprises a collection of a plurality of logically associated devices that share a single identifier with a common coordinator.

25. The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the coordinator is further configured to calculate a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators.

26. The communication device according to claim 25, wherein the size of the block of available piconet identifiers is based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators and a maximum number of levels of piconet coordinators.

27. A method in a communication device of communicating between other devices in a piconet network, the method comprising:

connecting to the piconet network;

determining if the communication device can support a dependent piconet;

receiving a available parent piconet identification from a piconet coordinator; and

calculating a block of available piconet identifiers, the size of the block of available piconet identifiers being based on a maximum number of desired piconet coordinators