Reconfigurable protocols and architectures for wireless networks

• US 7,602,792 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Arabshahi, Payman, Okino, Clayton M., Gray, Andrew A., Yan, Tsun-Yee
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, IV; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shand; Roberta A
• Application Number:
  US10/318,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,496 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.5, 370465-469, 709/203, 709/221, 709/228, 709/230, 713/151, 715/733
• US Class Current: 370/395.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A reconfigurable architecture for wireless digital data and voice communications is provided for ad hoc and/or an ad hoc collection of organized networks. At least some user wireless communication units serve as relay stations for other users units, enabling any user within the range of another, participating user to gain access to the local- and wider-area networks in a multihop process. Reconfigurable hardware enables dynamic protocol “preferencing”, and easy upgrades to potential future wireless protocol standards. Power-efficient communication takes place by using multihop radio communication at the local level and high-speed point-to-point links (e.g. fiber, satellite) at the global level. Microcells within a network community are aggregated into cells by use of a local-area-network (LAN) backbone of higher speed wireless and/or wired connections. Every time a microcell connects to the wireless backbone, microcells or individual users in surrounding blocks can also connect to the network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reconfiguring a plurality of networks, each having a different network protocol into an intercommunicated network and a physical layer communicated to the plurality of networks comprising:

a protocol stack; and

a reconfigurable protocol chip coupled the protocol stack wherein the reconfigurable protocol chip is comprised of;

a dynamically reconfigurable protocol realization module communicated to the physical layer;

an autonomously functioning protocol sensing module communicated to the physical layer having and controlled by autonomous protocol sensing/detection algorithms;

a reconfiguration control engine communicated to the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module and to the dynamically reconfigurable protocol realization module;

a protocol selection module communicated to the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module and to the reconfiguration control engine; and

a memory for storing a plurality of different network protocols coupled to the protocol selection module,

wherein the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module is comprised of a course acquisition loop for generation of multiple confidence states of valid protocol detection, and a fine tracking loop for allowance of some degradation of information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module identifies network protocols by analyzing periodic frame headers and preambles.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 where the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module autonomously generates a command on detection of a network protocol and where the reconfiguration control engine reconfigures the dynamic protocol realization in response to the command from the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 where the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module autonomously generates a command on detection of a network protocol and where protocol selection module fetches a stored network protocol from the memory in response to the command from the autonomously functioning protocol sensing module.

5. A method for reconfiguring a plurality of networks, each having a different network protocol into an intercommunicated network comprising:

communicating a dynamically reconfigurable protocol realization module to a physical layer coupled to the plurality of networks;

autonomously operating a protocol sensing module coupled to the physical layer to detect a valid network protocol from the plurality of networks communicated through the physical layer to the sensing module having and controlled by autonomous protocol sensing/detection algorithms;

generating multiple confidence states of valid protocol detection in a course acquisition loon included in the protocol sensing module and allowing some degradation of information in a fine tracking loon included in the protocol sensing module;

commanding a reconfiguration control engine to dynamically reconfigure a protocol realization module by autonomous detection of a valid network protocol by the protocol sensing module;

selectively controlling a selection module coupled to the protocol sensing module and to the reconfiguration control engine; and

communicating with a memory for storing a plurality of different network protocols to the protocol sensing module through the selection module.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising identifying network protocols in the protocol sensing module by analyzing periodic frame headers and preambles.

7. A protocol stack in a reconfigurable protocol chip for reconfiguring a plurality of wireless networks into an intercommunicated wireless network without user intervention, each network having a different network protocol, comprising:

a physical layer communicated to the plurality of wireless networks;

an autonomously operating protocol sensing module communicated to the physical layer and controlled by autonomous protocol sensing/detection algorithms for processing periodic frame headers and preambles from the wireless networks to identify an appropriate network protocol corresponding to the wireless network communicated to the physical layer, the sensing modules having a course acquisition loop and a fine tracking loop, where course acquisition loop generates multiple confidence states of valid protocol detection and fine tracking loop allows for a level of degradation due to physical and topological interferences with communication with the wireless network; and

means for reconfiguring the protocol chip to communicate with the communicated network with an appropriate network protocol, each wireless network in the plurality of wireless networks being provided with a corresponding protocol stack in a corresponding reconfigurable protocol chip so that the plurality of networks are autonomously configured into an intercommunicated wireless network without user intervention regardless of differences in the network protocols used by the plurality of networks.