METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A NODE IN A BEACON BASED AD HOC NETWORK

• US 20070171843A1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Jian, Shi, Qicai, Niu, Feng, Allen, Vernon
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

During operation a node (500) that has associated with a network (100) will periodically broadcast a beacon (303) during a beacon interval as part of a superframe. The beacon will be periodically broadcast for a first period of time, based on a time it takes for nodes to associate with the network. After the first period of time has passed, the beacon will be switched off for a second period of time, after which, the beacon will again be periodically broadcast.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a beaconing node within communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

associating with a network;

determining a first period of time to broadcast a beacon, wherein the first period of time is based upon a time it takes for a node to associate with the network;

broadcasting the beacon for the first period of time;

ceasing beacon broadcasts for a second period of time after the first period of time has passed; and

periodically broadcasting the beacon after the second period of time has passed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of associating with the network comprises the step of associating with an ad-hoc network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first period of time (Δ

T) is based upon a transmission range (R) for the node and a coverage area (A) for the node.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second period of time (Δ

T_off) is based on Δ

T.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein

Δ

T_off=α

Δ

T,

where 0<

α

<

1.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second period of time (Δ

T_off) is based upon a transmission range (R) for the node and a coverage area (A) for the node.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of periodically broadcasting the beacon comprises the step of periodically broadcasting the beacon during a beacon interval of a superframe.

9. A method comprising the steps of:

associating with a network;

broadcasting a beacon for a first period of time, wherein the first period of time is based on a time it takes for a node to associate with the network;

ceasing broadcasting the beacon after the first period of time has passed; and

again broadcasting the beacon after a second period of time has passed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of associating with the network comprises the step of associating with an ad-hoc network.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first period of time (Δ

T) is based upon a transmission range (R) for a node and a coverage area (A) for the node.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the second period of time (Δ

T_off) is based on Δ

T.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein

Δ

T_off=α

Δ

T,

where 0<

α

<

1.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the second period of time (Δ

T_off) is based upon a transmission range (R) for a node and a coverage area (A) for the node.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of again broadcasting the beacon comprises the step of periodically broadcasting the beacon during a beacon interval of a superframe.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter broadcasting a beacon for a first period of time, wherein the first period of time is based on a time it takes for a node to associate with the network, the transmitter ceasing broadcasting the beacon after the first period of time has passed and again broadcasting the beacon after a second period of time has passed.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first period of time (Δ

T) is based upon a transmission range (R) for the node and a coverage area (A) for the node.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second period of time is based on the first period of time.

20. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the transmitter broadcasts the beacon during a beacon interval of a superframe.