Ad hoc communications system
First Claim
1. A mobile data wireless relay device, the device having:
- receiving means for receiving payload data from a data source, a buffer for storing payload data for subsequent transmission, means for receiving status data from similar devices status data generation means for generating status data, the status data being derived from the quantity of data in the buffer store and the status data received from other devices, and comprising data relating to the position of the device, the quantity of data in the buffer store a scalar forwarding value and a forwarding direction, status transmitter means for transmitting status data to other devices selection means for identifying from the status data a receiving device to which the payload data is to be forwarded, the receiving device being located in a position indicated by the forwarding direction, payload transmission means for transmitting the payload data to the receiving device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A number of data collection devices (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80), are free to move relative to each other through their environment, collecting data from their environment. They form an ad hoc wireless network (19, 29, 39, 49), etc in which data collected by a device (20) either by its own sensors (23), or relayed from another device (10) is transmitted to a destination (90 either directly or by means of one or more other devices (30). The destination (90) collects data collected by the mobile terminals (10, 20, 30) etc for subsequent processing. The wireless links (19, 29, 39) etc between them have to re-arranged in order to provide the optimum network. When two devices (20, 30) come into proximity to each other, a forwarding direction (200) is determined to identify to which device (30) data should be forwarded. The devices co-operate to define their forwarding directions by exchanging data relating to their physical locations, and factors such as the spare capacity of their buffer stores, and battery condition. Thus a network (19, 29, 39) etc will be defined dynamically, each device having its forwarding direction (200) aimed in the direction of the next device until they reach a sink.
62 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A mobile data wireless relay device, the device having:
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receiving means for receiving payload data from a data source, a buffer for storing payload data for subsequent transmission, means for receiving status data from similar devices status data generation means for generating status data, the status data being derived from the quantity of data in the buffer store and the status data received from other devices, and comprising data relating to the position of the device, the quantity of data in the buffer store a scalar forwarding value and a forwarding direction, status transmitter means for transmitting status data to other devices selection means for identifying from the status data a receiving device to which the payload data is to be forwarded, the receiving device being located in a position indicated by the forwarding direction, payload transmission means for transmitting the payload data to the receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A network of wireless relay devices comprising a plurality of mobile wireless relay devices capable of receiving payload data, and each having means for identifying a forwarding direction relative to itself, and means for transmitting data to another of the devices whose current position is in the said forwarding direction and within a predetermined distance, wherein the devices co-operate to define their forwarding directions such that payload data is transmitted to a target sink device by means of one or more of the wireless relay devices.
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10. A method of operating a plurality of mobile data wireless relay devices, comprising:
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collecting data in buffer stores in one or more such devices, exchanging status data between the devices, the status data comprising data relating to the positions of the devices, the quantity of data in their buffer stores each device defining, from the status data, a forwarding direction towards which the payload data in its buffer store is to be forwarded, transmitting the stored payload data to a device located in the forwarding direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification