Communication nodes for use with a wireless ad-hoc communication network

• US 20070013548A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olsonet Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Sendrowicz, Gerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/566 Routing instructions carried by the data packet, e.g. active networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Communication nodes for use with a wireless ad-hoc communication network are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication node comprises a transducer, which generates a signal in response to an external signal. The ad-hoc network communication is supported in part by static communication nodes, which defined an organized infrastructure network in order to achieve the various functions of the transducers. In another embodiment, the communication node for use with a wireless ad-hoc network does not include a transducer. Such communication nodes are preferred for use with a less structured network with virtually no infrastructure and allow for being used with expanding and contracting networks. Mobile communication nodes mostly support the propagation of signals. However, pseudo-static or static communication nodes are also used in wireless communication ad-hoc networks.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a plurality of communication nodes including at least one communication node in wireless transmission range of another communication node, the at least one communication node comprising;

a processor;

a transducer, in communication with the processor for sensing a first physical parameter and for providing a first signal including data relating to the first physical parameter;

a receiver, in communication with the processor for receiving a second signal from a communication node in wireless transmission range;

a transmitter in communication with the processor for transmitting a third signal to another communication node in wireless transmission range and for re-transmitting some received second signals from a communication node in wireless transmission range to another communication node in wireless transmission range;

wherein

the processor for identifying a received second signal as one of destined for the communication node and other than destined for the communication node and for, when the identification is indicative of the second signal being destined for other than the communication, relaying the received second signal via the transmitter and, when the identification is indicative of the second signal being destined for the communication node, providing an indication to a receiving party of the received second signal, and

the processor for generating the third signal for transmission, wherein the third signal includes at least the first signal.

2. A network according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is a consumption meter and wherein the first signal includes data relating to a metering performed by the transducer.

3. A network according to claim 2, wherein the transducer is a consumption meter relating to household consumption.

4. A network according to claim 3, wherein the transducer is a water consumption meter.

5. A network according to claim 3, wherein the transducer is a gas consumption meter.

6. A network according to claim 3, wherein the transducer is an electricity consumption meter.

7. A network according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the network is an ad-hoc network.

8. A network according to claim 2, wherein the processor is for processing data content of the first signal in accordance with an ad-hoc network protocol.

9. A network according to claim 2, wherein the at least a communication node further comprises a memory having stored therein protocol data for, when executed, causing the received data to be transmitted only when it is both other than previously received and other than destined for the at least a communication node.

10. A network according to claim 2, wherein the at least a communication node further comprises a memory having stored therein protocol data, the protocol data for execution by the processor for inserting within the first signal an indication that the at least a communication node is a source generating the first signal.

11. A network according to claim 2, wherein the at least a communication node further comprises a memory having stored therein protocol data, the protocol data for execution by the processor for identifying a received signal as relating to previously received data or relating to other than previously received data.

12. A network according to claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a security sensor for sensing a household security parameter and for providing a sensor signal including data relating to the household security parameter.

13. A vehicle network comprising:

a plurality of communication nodes including at least one communication node installed in a vehicle in wireless transmission range of another communication node, the at least one communication node comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal having protocol data attached therein, the signal received from a communication node in wireless transmission range;

a protocol processor for identifying the attached protocol data and for in accordance with an ad-hoc network protocol performing one of re-transmitting the received signals received from a communication node in wireless transmission range to another communication node in wireless transmission range and other than re-transmitting the received signal; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting the signal to another communication node in wireless transmission range;

wherein the ad-hoc network protocol is in accordance with a use of a wireless vehicle ad-hoc network.

14. A vehicle network according to claim 13, wherein a communication node from the plurality of communication nodes further comprises a processor, the processor for generating an advertisement signal for transmission and wherein the protocol processor determines the number of communication nodes the advertisement signal is propagating to.

15. A parknet comprising:

a plurality of communication devices for being carried by a park'"'"'s visitors, the plurality of communication devices including at least one communication device in wireless transmission range of another communication device, the at least one communication device comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal having protocol data attached therein, the signal received from a communication device in wireless transmission range;

a protocol processor for identifying the attached protocol data and for in accordance with an ad-hoc protocol performing one of re-transmitting the received signals received from a communication device in wireless transmission range to another communication device in wireless transmission range and other than re-transmitting the received signal; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting the signal to another communication device in wireless transmission range;

wherein the ad-hoc network protocol is in accordance with a use of a wireless ad-hoc parknet.

16. A parknet according to claim 15, comprising:

a second plurality of communication devices, each communication device from the second plurality of communication devices comprising;

a second receiver for receiving a signal having protocol data attached therein, the signal received from a communication device in wireless transmission range;

a second protocol processor for identifying the attached protocol data and for in accordance with a parknet ad-hoc protocol performing one of re-transmitting the received signals received from a communication device in wireless transmission range to another communication device in wireless transmission range and other than re-transmitting the received signal; and

,

a second transmitter for transmitting the signal to another communication device in wireless transmission range;

wherein the transmission range of each communication device from the first plurality of communication devices is shorter than the transmission range of each communication device from the second plurality of communication devices.

17. A cruisenet comprising:

a plurality of communication devices for being carried by users disembarking from a cruise ship, the plurality of communication devices including at least one communication device in wireless transmission range of another communication device, the at least one communication device comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal having protocol data attached therein, the signal received from a communication node in wireless transmission range;

a protocol processor for identifying the attached protocol data and for in accordance with an ad-hoc protocol performing one of re-transmitting the received signals received from a communication device in wireless transmission range to another communication device in wireless transmission range and other than re-transmitting the received signal; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting the signal to another communication device in wireless transmission range;

wherein the ad-hoc network protocol is in accordance with a use of a wireless ad-hoc cruisenet.

18. A cruisenet according to claim 17, wherein a communication device from the plurality of communication devices comprises a processor, the processor for generating an advertisement signal for transmission and wherein the protocol processor determines the number of communication devices the advertisement signal is propagating to.

19. A boatnet comprising:

a plurality of communication devices including at least one communication device in wireless transmission range of another communication device, the at least one communication device comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal having protocol data attached therein, the signal received from a communication node in wireless transmission range;

a protocol processor for identifying the attached protocol data and for in accordance with an ad-hoc protocol performing one of re-transmitting the received signals received from a communication device in wireless transmission range to another communication device in wireless transmission range and other than re-transmitting the received signal; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting the signal to another communication device in wireless transmission range;

wherein the ad-hoc network protocol is in accordance with a use of a wireless ad-hoc boatnet.

20. A boatnet according to claim 19, wherein a communication device from the plurality of communication devices comprises a processor, the processor for generating an advertisement signal for transmission and wherein the protocol processor determines the number of communication devices the advertisement signal is propagating to.

21. A skinet comprising:

a plurality of communication devices for being carried by users in ski resorts, the plurality of communication devices including at least one communication device in wireless transmission range of another communication device, the at least one communication device comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal having protocol data attached therein, the signal received from a communication device in wireless transmission range;

a protocol processor for identifying the attached protocol data and for in accordance with an ad-hoc protocol performing one of re-transmitting the received signals received from a communication device in wireless transmission range to another communication device in wireless transmission range and other than re-transmitting the received signal; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting the signal to another communication device in wireless transmission range;

wherein the ad-hoc network protocol is in accordance with a use of a wireless ad-hoc skinet.

22. A skinet according to claim 21, wherein a communication device from the plurality of communication devices comprises a processor, the processor for generating an advertisement signal for transmission and wherein the protocol processor determines the number of communication devices the advertisement signal is propagating to.

23. An ad-hoc network comprising:

a first plurality of transceivers and a second plurality of transceivers, each transceiver from the first plurality of transceivers and from the second plurality of transceivers comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal having protocol data attached therein the signal received from a transceiver in wireless transmission range,

a protocol processor for identifying the attached protocol data and for in accordance with an ad-hoc protocol performing one of re-transmitting the received signals and other than re-transmitting the received signal; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting the signal;

wherein the transmission range of each transceiver from the first plurality of transceivers is shorter than the transmission range of each transceiver from the second plurality of transceivers.