System and method for creating a spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network

• US 20060077938A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alapuranen, Pertti O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

A system and method for creating a spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network, such as a wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer multi-hopping network. The spectrum agile multi-hopping network that can respond to conditions affecting spectrum, such as FCC rulings or business related agreements on spectrum licensing related to a location or other measurable parameters of the network.

Claims

1. A method for creating a spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network including a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

storing information pertaining to respective spectrum availability based on respective conditions; and

providing the spectrum availability information to the nodes so that the nodes can communicate over one of the frequency spectrums indicated by the spectrum availability information when a respective condition exists, and so that the nodes can communicate over another one of the frequency spectrums indicated by the spectrum availability information when another respective condition exists.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the providing step provides the spectrum availability information to the nodes via a beacon signal received by the nodes within the broadcast range of the source transmitting the beacon signal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the providing step is performed by one of the nodes operating as an access point to enable the nodes to access a portion of the spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network or another different network.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the spectrum availability information includes at least one of the following;

available spectrum bands;

power levels for the bands;

location where bands are available;

cost of using the frequency bands;

the traffic for which the bands can be used;

time interval for license update time limits for using the bands; and

transmission power.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

controlling some of the nodes to store a portion of the spectrum availability information.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

each of said some of the nodes is an access point node which operates to enable the nodes to access a portion of the spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network or another different network.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the respective conditions include at least one of the following;

location of a node;

time of day;

power limit;

spectrum;

cost; and

bandwidth.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the network is a wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer communication network.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

some of the nodes are mobile.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the providing step provides the spectrum availability information to the nodes via a broadcast flood received by the nodes.

18. A network as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the network is a wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer communication network, and the nodes communicate in the wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer communication network.

11. A spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, adapted to communicate in the network, at least one of the nodes being adapted to store information pertaining to respective spectrum availability based on respective conditions; and

said at least one of the nodes being further adapted to provide the spectrum availability information to the nodes so that the nodes can communicate over one of the frequency spectrums indicated by the spectrum availability information when a respective condition exists, and so that the nodes can communicate over another one of the frequency spectrums indicated by the spectrum availability information when another respective condition exists.

12. A network as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said at least one of the nodes is adapted to provide the spectrum availability information to the nodes via a beacon signal received by the nodes within the broadcast range of the source transmitting the beacon signal.

13. A network as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said at least one of the nodes further is adapted to operate as an access point to enable the nodes to access a portion of the spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network or another different network.

14. A network as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the spectrum availability information includes at least one of the following;

available spectrum bands;

power levels for the bands;

location where bands are available;

cost of using the frequency bands;

the traffic for which the bands can be used;

time interval for license update time limits for using the bands; and

transmission power.

15. A network as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

each of a plurality of the nodes is adapted to store a portion of the spectrum availability information.

16. A network as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said each of the nodes are access point nodes which enable the nodes to access a portion of the spectrum agile wireless multi-hopping network or another different network.

17. A network as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the respective conditions include at least one of the following;

location of a node;

time of day;

power limit;

spectrum;

cost; and

bandwidth.

19. A network as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

some of the nodes are mobile.

20. A network as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said at least one of the nodes provides the spectrum availability information to the nodes via a broadcast flood received by the nodes.