Propagating ad hoc wireless networks based on common designation and routine

• US 7,522,568 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/161,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/422.1, 370/328, 370/338, 370/401, 370/402, 370/404, 370/405
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10108 interrogating only those RFIDs that fulfill a predetermined requirement, e.g. selecting all RFIDs having the same speed and moving in a cloud like fashion, e.g. on the same train; interrogating only RFIDs having a certain predetermined temperature, e.g. in the same fridge, another possibility being the active ignoring of a group of tags that fulfill a predetermined requirement, equivalent to the Boolean NOT operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• 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: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of forming an ad hoc hierarchical communication network among a plurality of wireless transceiver includes assigning to each of the transceivers one or more common designations. A network organization routine of the transceivers operates to establish hierarchical networks based on the transceivers'"'"' common designations, resulting in a logical network organization that provides efficiencies for acquiring information from particular transceivers that share a common designation. Each transceiver'"'"'s common designation is used by a digital processor of the transceiver to selectively receive data packets that are intended for receipt by transceivers sharing the particular common designation. Such a “common designation” network reduces power consumption and signal interference, which increases battery life in the transceivers. The transceivers may include a query handling routine in communication with a memory of the transceiver for serving as a dynamic distributed hierarchical database system of information such as, for example, sensor-derived information and time-sensitive information.

Claims

1. A method of forming wireless data communication networks among a population of wireless data communication devices, wherein each of the wireless data communication devices includes a transceiver;

a digital processor;

a machine-readable memory; and

machine-executable instructions stored in the machine-readable memory and executable by the digital processor for performing a network routine, the method comprising the steps of;

(a) storing (i) a first common designation in the memory of each of a first plurality of data communication devices and (ii) a second common designation in the memory of each of a second plurality of data communication devices, the population including the first plurality of data communication devices and the second plurality of data communication devices; and

(b) initiating, in each of the first plurality of data communication devices and in each of the second plurality of data communication devices, performance of the network routine to automatically propagate (i) a first ad hoc network among the first plurality of data communication devices and (ii) a second ad hoc network among the second plurality of data communication devices;

(c) wherein performance of the network routine by each respective one of the data communication devices includes the steps of,

(i) screening communications from the population of data communication devices for a common designation that corresponds to the common designation of the respective data communication device, and

(ii) processing only those communications that include a common designation that corresponds to the common designation of the respective data communication device,

whereby the first and second ad hoc networks formed by the first and second pluralities of data communication devices are distinct and separate from each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable medium of one or more of the data communication devices further includes, stored therein, sensor-acquired information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one or more of the data communication devices each includes an interface for electronic communication with a sensor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises one of the group of a motion detector;

sound detector;

camera;

microphone;

thermometer;

altimeter;

pressure sensor;

humidity sensor;

global positioning system receiver;

light detector, broad-band RF signal scanner;

optical sensor;

an accelerometer; and

chemical sensor.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the interface comprises an interface for wireless electronic communication with an external sensor.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the interface comprises an interface for wired electronic communication with an external sensor.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more of the data communication devices each includes an interface for electronic communication with an internal sensor.

8. A method of forming wireless data communication networks among a population of wireless data communication devices, wherein each of the wireless data communication devices includes a transceiver;

a digital processor;

a machine-readable memory; and

machine-executable instructions stored in the machine-readable memory and executable by the digital processor for performing a network routine, the method comprising the steps of;

(a) storing (i) a first class in the memory of each of a first plurality of data communication devices and (ii) a second class in the memory of each of a second plurality of data communication devices, the population including the first plurality of data communication devices and the second plurality of data communication devices; and

(b) initiating, in each of the first plurality of data communication devices and in each of the second plurality of data communication devices, performance of the network routine to automatically propagate (i) a first ad hoc network among the first plurality of data communication devices and (ii) a second ad hoc network among the second plurality of data communication devices;

(c) wherein performance of the network routine by each respective one of the data communication devices includes the steps of,

(i) screening communications from the population of data communication devices for a class matching the class of the respective data communication device, and

(ii) processing only those communications that are found to include a class matching the class of the respective data communication device,

whereby the first and second ad hoc networks formed by the first and second pluralities of data communication devices are distinct and separate from each other.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the machine-readable medium of one or more of the data communication devices further includes, stored therein, sensor-acquired information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein one or more of the data communication devices each includes an interface for electronic communication with a sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises one of the group of a motion detector;

sound detector;

camera;

microphone;

thermometer;

altimeter;

pressure sensor;

humidity sensor;

global positioning system receiver;

light detector, broad-band RF signal scanner;

optical sensor;

an accelerometer; and

chemical sensor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the interface comprises an interface for wireless electronic communication with an external sensor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the interface comprises an interface for wired electronic communication with an external sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein one or more of the data communication devices each includes an interface for electronic communication with an internal sensor.

15. A method of forming wireless data communication networks among a population of wireless data communication devices, wherein each of the wireless data communication devices includes a transceiver;

a digital processor;

a machine-readable memory; and

machine-executable instructions stored in the machine-readable memory and executable by the digital processor for performing a network routine, the method comprising the steps of;

(a) storing (i) a first class in the memory of each of a first plurality of data communication devices and (ii) a second class in the memory of each of a second plurality of data communication devices, the population including the first plurality of data communication devices and the second plurality of data communication devices; and

(b) initiating, in each of the first plurality of data communication devices and in each of the second plurality of data communication devices, performance of the network routine to automatically propagate (i) a first ad hoc network among the first plurality of data communication devices and (ii) a second ad hoc network among the second plurality of data communication devices;

(c) wherein performance of the network routine by each respective one of the data communication devices includes the steps of,

(i) screening communications from the population of data communication devices for a class, subclass, or an abstracted class corresponding to the class of the respective data communication device, and

(ii) processing only those communications that are found to include a class, subclass, or abstracted class corresponding to the class of the respective data communication device,

whereby the first and second ad hoc networks formed by the first and second pluralities of data communication devices are distinct and separate from each other.