Dynamic selection of communication links in a mixed network

• US 7,733,772 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Logan, Rik, Mane, Pravin, Hazra, Mousumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Tri H
• Application Number:
  US11/339,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20070171936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-238, 370315-348, 370/395.21, 370/396, 370351-356, 4554221-4262, 455445-453, 709/223, 709225-226, 709/229, 709230-235, 709238-244, 709249-250
• US Class Current: 370/230
• 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 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 interfaces the station directly to the second station via a third link; and

a link selection component that;

estimates the respective capacities of the first, second, and third links;

dynamically selects one of the links for transmission of a bitstream based on the estimation of the capacities of the first, second, and third links;

monitors the respective capacity of the first, second, and third link after selecting the one link for transmission of the bitstream as the bitstream is transmitted; and

should the respective capacity of one of the links not dynamically selected exceed the capacity of the selected link, selects a different link of the first, second and third links to transmit the remainder of the bitstream.

2. The station of claim 1, wherein the link estimate component selects one of the first, second, and third links for beginning transmission of the bitstream.

3. A system comprising:

a first station, wherein the first station is configured to communicate with a second station via;

a first link, wherein the first link comprises a direct wireless link between the first station and the second station;

a second link, wherein the second link comprises an indirect wireless link between the first station and the second station; and

a third link, wherein the third link comprises an indirect mixed link between the first station and the second station; and

wherein the first station includes a link selection component that;

estimates the respective capacities of the first, second, and third links;

dynamically selects one of the links for transmission of a bitstream based on the estimation of the capacities of the first, second, and third links;

monitors the respective capacity of the first, second, and third link after selecting the one link for transmission of the bitstream as the bitstream is transmitted; and

should the respective capacity of one of the links not dynamically selected exceed the capacity of the selected link, selects a different link of the first, second and third links to transmit the remainder of the bitstream.

4. The system of claim 3, 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.

5. The system of claim 3, 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.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the first station includes a wired network adapter to interface the first station indirectly to the second station.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the first station includes a wireless network adapter to interface the first station at least directly to the second station.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the link estimate component selects one of the first, second, and third links for beginning transmission of the bitstream.

9. A method comprising:

configuring a first station to communicate with a second station, wherein the first station communicates with the second station through a plurality of links comprising;

a first link, wherein the first link comprises a direct wireless link between the first station and the second station;

a second link, wherein the second link comprises an indirect wireless link between the first station and the second station; and

a third link, wherein the third link comprises an indirect mixed link between the first station and the second station;

estimating the respective capacities of the first, second, and third links, wherein a link selection component of the first station performs the estimation;

dynamically selecting one of the links for transmission of d bitstream based on the estimation of the capacities of the first, second, and third links, wherein the first station dynamically selects the link for transmission of the bitstream;

monitoring the respective capacity of the first, second, and third link after selecting the one link for transmission of the bitstream as the bitstream is transmitted, wherein the first station monitors the respective capacity; and

should the respective capacity of one of the links not dynamically selected exceed the capacity of the selected link, selecting a different link of the first, second and third links to transmit the remainder of the bitstream, wherein the first station selects the different link.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein dynamically selecting one of the links for transmission of a bitstream comprises selecting one of the links for beginning transmission of the bitstream.