Systems and methods for providing adaptive wireless connectivity
First Claim
1. A method of reliably communicating between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a wireless connection between the first node and the second node at a state of communication;
monitoring a quality of the wireless connection;
adjusting the state of communication if the quality of the wireless connection crosses a threshold; and
repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless communication.
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Abstract
A new approach to adaptive wireless communications suitable for use in military environments and for other purposes is provided. One technique for reliably communicating between a first node and a second node includes the broad steps of establishing a wireless connection between the first node and the second node at a level of communication, monitoring a quality of the wireless connection, adjusting the level of communication if the quality of the wireless connection crosses a threshold, and repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless communication cooperatively using the in-band or out-of-band signaling schemes and negotiating the appropriate level of communication link avoiding excessive link outages and signaling overheads. By communicating at a level appropriate for the quality of signals received and adjusting the level as the quality changes, the overall reliability of the wireless communication is improved.
72 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of reliably communicating between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a wireless connection between the first node and the second node at a state of communication;
monitoring a quality of the wireless connection;
adjusting the state of communication if the quality of the wireless connection crosses a threshold; and
repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of communicating between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a wireless connection from the first node to the second node at a state corresponding to a pre-determined first level of communication;
monitoring a signal strength of the wireless connection at the first node;
adjusting the state of the wireless connection if the signal strength crosses any of a plurality of quality thresholds, wherein the plurality of quality thresholds defines a plurality of distinct levels of communication, and wherein each of the plurality of levels corresponds to a distinct state of communication; and
repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps at predetermined temporal intervals throughout the duration of the wireless communication.
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11. A method of communicating between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a wireless connection from the first node to the second node at a level of communication;
monitoring a signal quality of the wireless connection at the first node;
adjusting the level of the wireless connection in response to the monitoring step, wherein the adjusting step comprises adaptively modifying a link parameter; and
repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless communication. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of negotiating communications parameters between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a wireless connection from the first node to the second node at a level of communication;
monitoring a signal quality of the wireless connection;
adjusting the level of the wireless connection in response to changes in the signal quality, wherein the adjusting step comprises adaptively modifying a link parameter to match the monitored signal quality; and
repeating the monitoring and adjusting steps throughout the duration of the wireless communication. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for communicating with a remote node across a wireless communication link having a signal quality, the device comprising:
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means for establishing the wireless connection with the remote node at a state of communication;
means for monitoring the signal quality of the wireless connection throughout the duration of the wireless communication;
means for determining if the signal quality crosses any of a plurality of thresholds, wherein the plurality of thresholds define a plurality of distinct levels of communication, each level having a distinct communication state associated therewith; and
means for adjusting the state of communication when the signal quality crosses any of the plurality of thresholds to thereby maintain the wireless connection at an optimal distinct communication state for the determined level of communication. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A device for communicating with a remote node via a wireless communication link, the device comprising:
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means for establishing a wireless connection from the first node to the second node at a level of communication;
means for monitoring the wireless connection at the first node; and
means for adjusting the level of the wireless connection in response to the monitoring step, wherein the adjusting means comprises mans for adaptively modifying a link parameter.
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23. A device for communicating between with a remote node, the device comprising:
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means for establishing a wireless connection with the remote node at a level of communication;
means for monitoring a signal quality of the wireless connection; and
means for adjusting the level of the wireless connection in response to changes in the signal quality, wherein the adjusting means comprises means for adaptively modifying a link parameter to match the monitored signal quality.
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24. A device for communicating with a remote node via a wireless communication link, the device comprising:
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an antenna tuned to a frequency corresponding to the wireless communication link;
a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to thereby transmit and receive signals via the wireless communications link at a level of communication; and
a processor configured to monitor the quality of signals received from the remote node via the wireless transceiver and to determine if the signal quality crosses any of a plurality of quality thresholds, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the level of communication at the wireless transceiver when the signal quality crosses any of the plurality of thresholds to thereby maintain the level of communication at an optimal level for the quality of signals received.
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25. A device for communicating with a remote node via a wireless communication link, the device comprising:
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an antenna tuned to a frequency corresponding to the wireless communication link;
a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to thereby transmit and receive signals via the wireless communications link at a level of communication; and
a processor configured to monitor communications with the remote node via the wireless transceiver and to adaptively modify the level of communication to thereby maintain the level of communication at an optimal level for the quality of signals received.
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26. A device for communicating with a remote node via a wireless communication link, the device comprising:
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an antenna tuned to a frequency corresponding to the wireless communication link;
a wireless transceiver coupled to the antenna to thereby transmit and receive signals via the wireless communications link at a level of communication; and
a processor configured to monitor the quality of signals received from the remote node via the wireless transceiver and to negotiate an appropriate level of communication for the wireless communication link as a function of the quality of signals received.
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Specification