Distributed management of an extended network containing short-range wireless links

• US 6,691,173 B2
• Filed: 07/06/1999
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.), Kadant Black Clawson LLC (Kadant Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WIDCOMM, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Martin, Kumar, Rajiv, Pham, Hiep, Nguyen, Lyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US09/347,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 709/249, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for internetworked communication between first and second wireless networks containing first and second pluralities of wireless nodes, respectively, is disclosed herein. In a preferred implementation an internetworking node participates in both the first and second wireless networks, and receives a first set of network information identifying each of the first plurality of wireless nodes and the services offered thereby. The internetworking node is configured to transmit the first set of network information to a master node of the second wireless network. The internetworking node also receives, from the second wireless network, a second set of network information identifying each of the second plurality of wireless nodes and the services offered thereby. In addition, the internetworking node may also transmit the second set of network information to a master node of the first wireless network. The first master node may be configured to broadcast information relating to the services offered by each of the first plurality of wireless nodes and the second wireless network. Likewise, the second master node may be configured to broadcast information relating to the services offered by each of the second plurality of wireless nodes and the second wireless network. In a preferred embodiment each of the first plurality of wireless nodes transmits an advertisement to the first master node specifying its address and services offered thereby. Similarly, each of the second plurality of wireless nodes transmits an advertisement to the second master node specifying its address and services offered thereby.

Claims

1. An internetworked communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received;

a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; and

an internetworking node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node including;

means for receiving a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network from said first plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes; and

means for transmitting, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

2. The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said internetworking node further includes:

means for receiving a second set of network information relating to said second wireless network, said second set of network information identifying said second plurality of wireless nodes and services offered thereby; and

means for transmitting, to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes, said second set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

3. The internetworked communication system of claim 2 wherein said interconnection node includes means for forwarding message information received from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to a first of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

4. The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes is operative as a first master node, said first master node broadcasting information describing services offered by each of said first plurality of wireless nodes and services offered by said second wireless network.

5. The internetworked communication system of claim 4 wherein each of said first plurality of wireless nodes includes means for transmitting, to said first master node, an advertisement specifying its address and services offered thereby, said first master node storing information from each said advertisement within a first network resources table.

6. The internetworked communication system of claim 5 wherein a withdrawing node of said first plurality of wireless nodes includes means for transmitting, to said first master node, a revocation of its advertisement, said revocation causing said first master node to delete the advertisement associated with said withdrawing node from said first network resources table.

7. The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes is operative as a second master node, said second master node broadcasting information describing services offered by each of said second plurality of wireless nodes and services offered by said first wireless network.

8. The internetworked communication system of claim 7 wherein each of said second plurality of wireless nodes includes means for transmitting, to said second master node, an advertisement specifying its address and services offered thereby, said first master node storing information from each said advertisement within a second network resources table.

9. The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said internetworking node includes means for forwarding message information received from said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to a first of said first plurality of wireless nodes.

10. The internetworked communication system of claim 9 wherein said internetworking node includes means for forwarding message information received from said first of said first plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

11. An internetworking node included within a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes and within a second wireless network having a second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node comprising:

means for receiving a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received;

means for transmitting, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node;

means for forwarding message information received from said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes; and

means for forwarding message information received from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

12. The internetworking node of claim 11 further including:

means for receiving a second set of network information relating to said second wireless network, said second set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services offered thereby;

means for transmitting, to said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes, said second set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node;

means for forwarding message information received from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes; and

means for forwarding message information received from said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes.

13. The internetworking node of claim 11 further including means for transmitting, to a master node of said first wireless network, an advertisement specifying a network address and services associated with said internetworking node, said master node storing information from said advertisement within a network resources table.

14. The internetworking node of claim 13 further including means for transmitting, to said master node, a revocation of said advertisement causing said master node to delete said advertisement from said network resources table.

15. A method for establishing a first wireless network capable of internetworking with a second wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:

broadcasting, from a first device, a first network management message specifying an identity and an operating mode of said first node;

receiving, at a second device, said network management message;

transmitting, from said second device, a response message specifying an identity of said second device and characteristics of said second wireless network;

receiving, at said first device, said response message; and

broadcasting, from said first device, a second network management message containing information relating to said characteristics of said second wireless network wherein said first device is included within a wireless network having a plurality of wireless nodes, each of said plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of forwarding, via said second device, message information originating within said first wireless network to said second wireless network.

17. The method of claim 15 further including the step of determining, based upon capabilities of said second device described in said response message, whether subsequent network management messages should be broadcast by said first device or by said second device.

18. An internetworked communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received;

a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes;

an interconnection network operatively coupled to at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and to at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes issuing a first of said advertisements within said first wireless network, said first of said advertisements including information relating to characteristics of said second wireless network.

19. The internetworked communication system of claim 18 wherein said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes is disposed to issue an advertisement within said second wireless network relating to characteristics of said first wireless network.

20. The internetworked communication system of claim 18 wherein said interconnection network includes a gateway unit in over-the-air communication with said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes.

21. An internetworked communication system comprising:

a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received;

a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; and

an internetworking node in wireless communication with at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and in wireless communication with at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node including;

a receiver configured to receive a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network from said first plurality of wireless nodes over a wireless communication path, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes; and

a transmitter operatively connected to said receiver.

22. The internetworked communication system of claim 21 wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes over a wireless communications path, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

23. The internetworked communication system of claim 21 wherein said receiver is further configured to receive a second set of network information relating to said second wireless network, said second set of network information identifying said second plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said first plurality of wireless nodes.

24. The internetworked communication system of claim 23 wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit, to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes over a wireless communication path, said second set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.