Dynamic selection of communication links in a mixed network

• US 20070171936A1
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hazra, Mousumi, Logan, Rik, Mane, Pravin
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/125 based on throughput or bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/30 Routing of multiclass traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

Dynamic selection of communication links in a mixed network having wired and wireless links. An access point is coupled between at least two stations, with the access point coupled to a first station by a wired link and a wireless link. The access point is coupled to the second station by a wireless link. The first and second stations are coupled by a direct wireless link, and also at least two indirect links passing through the access point. A link selection component on the first station is operative to estimate the capacities of the various links, and to select one of the links for transmitting a bitstream. The link selection component can also dynamically re-select a link for continuing an on-going transmission of a given bitstream.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first station;

at least a second station;

wherein the first station and the second station are coupled to communicate via;

a first link to provide a direct wireless link between the first station and the second station;

a second link to provide an indirect wireless link between the first station and the second station; and

at least a third link to provide an indirect mixed link between the first station and the second station; and

wherein the first station includes a link selection component that is adapted to estimate the respective capacities of the first, second, and third links, and to dynamically select one of the links for transmission of a bitstream based on the estimation of the capacities of the first, second, and third links.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an access point intermediate the first station and the second station, and wherein the second link includes a first wireless link to couple the first station to the access point, and includes at least a second wireless link to couple the access point to the second station.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an access point intermediate the first station and the second station, and wherein the third link includes a wired link to couple the first station to the access point, and includes at least a wireless link to couple the access point to the second station.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first station includes a wired network adapter to interface the first station indirectly to the second station.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first station includes a wireless network adapter to interface the first station at least directly to the second station.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the link estimate component is adapted to select one of the first, second, and third links for beginning transmission of the bitstream.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the link estimate component is adapted to select one of the first, second, and third links for taking over transmission of the bitstream.

8. A station comprising:

a wired network adapter to interface the station indirectly to at least a second station via a first link, wherein the first link is a mixed link that includes at least one wired link and at least one wireless link;

a wireless network adapter to interface the station indirectly to the second station via a second link, wherein the second link includes a plurality of wireless links, wherein the wireless network adapter is adapted to interface the station directly to the second station via a third link; and

a link selection component that is adapted to estimate the respective capacities of the first, second, and third links, and to dynamically select one of the links for transmission of a bitstream based on the estimation of the capacities of the first, second, and third links.

9. The station of claim 8, wherein the link estimate component is adapted to select one of the first, second, and third links for beginning transmission of the bitstream.

10. The station of claim 8, wherein the link estimate component is adapted to select one of the first, second, and third links for taking over transmission of the bitstream.

11. A method comprising:

obtaining information representing transmission bit rate capacities of a plurality of links, wherein;

at least a first one of the links is a wireless link to couple a first station directly to at least a second station;

at least a second one of the links is a wireless link to couple the first station indirectly to the second station;

at least a third one of the links is a mixed wired-wireless link to couple the first station indirectly to the second station;

comparing the respective bit rate capacities of the links;

selecting one of the links to transmit a bitstream from the first station to the second station.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting one of a wireless and a wired adapter associated with the first station for transmitting the bitstream.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting one of the links includes selecting one of the links for beginning transmission of the bitstream.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting one of the links includes selecting one of the links for taking over transmission of the bitstream.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising obtaining information representing a bit rate capacity of a plurality of wireless sub-links associated with the second one of the links.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising obtaining information representing a bit rate capacity of a plurality of wired and wireless sub-links associated with the third one of the links.

17. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for dynamically selecting communication links in a mixed network, said method comprising:

obtaining information representing transmission bit rate capacities of a plurality of links, wherein;

at least a first one of the links is a wireless link to couple a first station directly to at least a second station;

at least a second one of the links is a wireless link to couple the first station indirectly to the second station;

at least a third one of the links is a mixed wired-wireless link to couple the first station indirectly to the second station;

comparing the respective bit rate capacities of the links;

selecting one of the links to transmit a bitstream from the first station to the second station.

18. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable by the machine to select one of a wireless and a wired adapter associated with the first station for transmitting the bitstream.

19. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable by the machine to select one of the links selecting one of the links for beginning transmission of the bitstream.

20. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable by the machine to select one of the links for taking over transmission of the bitstream.

21. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable by the machine to obtain information representing a bit rate capacity of a plurality of wireless sub-links associated with the second one of the links.

22. The program storage device of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable by the machine to obtain information representing a bit rate capacity of a plurality of wired and wireless sub-links associated with the third one of the links.