Communicating over a wireless network

• US 8,271,058 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 3, LLC
• Original Assignee: MILLENNIAL NET, INC. (PHC Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Rhee, Sokwoo, Liu, Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/909,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 455/571, 455/572, 455/574, 455/41.2, 455/127.5, 455/343.2, 455/343.4, 455/343.5, 375/132
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7156 Arrangements for sequence synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• 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 first device communicates with a wireless network that includes nodes that are active for predefined activation times and that are at least partially dormant when not active. The communication method includes identifying a start of communication via a message that exceeds a maximum activation time of nodes on the wireless network by a factor N, where N is equal to at least a maximum number of frequencies on the wireless network, and exchanging information with a second device comprising a node on the wireless network that is within a transmission range of the first device, where the information is exchanged following the message and includes frequency hopping data for the second device.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a wireless network comprised of nodes that are active for predefined activation times and that are at least partially dormant when not active, the method comprising:

generating, by a second device, first information based on a first time base of the second device, the first information indicates when to communicate with the second device;

generating, by a third device, second information based on a second time base of the third device, the second information indicates when to communicate with the third device;

identifying, by a first device, a start of communication via a first message that exceeds a maximum activation time of nodes on the wireless network by a factor N, where N is equal to at least a maximum number of frequencies configured for the wireless network, and the first message transmitted from the first device;

transmitting, by the second device, the first information to the first device;

receiving, by the first device, the first information transmitted from the second device, wherein the second device comprising a node on the wireless network that is within a transmission range of the first device, and the first information is received following the first message and is generated by the second device;

transmitting, by the first device, a first communication to the second device based on the first information which indicates when to communicate with the second device;

transmitting, by the third device, the second information to the first device or the second device;

receiving, by the first device or the second device, the second information transmitted from the third device, and the second information is generated by the third device; and

transmitting, by the first device or the second device, a second communication to the third device based on the second information which indicates when to communicate with the third device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information exchanged following the first message includes sequence data, wake-up data, and duty cycle data for the first device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information is received over multiple frequencies through which the first device hops following the first message, the multiple frequencies being following the first message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information includes first sequence data, first wake-up data, and first duty cycle data for the second device and the first sequence data, the first wake-up data, and the first duty cycle data is generated by the second device and the second information includes second sequence data, second wake-up data, and second duty cycle data for the third device, the second sequence data, the second wake-up data, and the second duty cycle data generated by the third device.

5. A method for use in conjunction with a wireless network, the method comprising:

generating, by a second device, first information based on a first time base of the second device, the first information indicates when to communicate with the second device;

generating, by a third device, second information based on a second time base of the third device, the second information indicates when to communicate with the third device;

outputting, by a first device, a preamble to the wireless network, the preamble containing time data corresponding to a duration of the preamble;

identifying, by the first device, one or more listening frequencies of the first device that follow the preamble, the one or more listening frequencies comprising one or more frequency bands at which the first device activates;

transmitting, by the second device, the first information to the first device in the one or more listening frequencies;

receiving, by the first device, the first information from the second device in the wireless network and in the one or more listening frequencies, the first information generated by the second device, the first information corresponding to times at which the second device activates;

storing, by the first device, the first information;

transmitting, by the first device, a first communication to the second device based on the first information which indicates when to communicate with the second device;

transmitting, by the third device, the second information to the first device or the second device;

receiving, by the first device or the second device, the second information from the third device in the wireless network, the second information generated by the third device, the second information corresponding to times at which the third device activates; and

transmitting, by the first device or the second device, a second communication to the third device based on the second information which indicates when to communicate with the third device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising outputting, to the second device by the first device, a search packet, the search packet being output following the preamble and before receiving the first information from the second device, the search packet identifying the first device and containing third information for the first device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless network comprises N (N>

2) devices including the second device, each of the N devices being configured to activate at a frequency in a sequence of M (M>

1) frequencies, the N devices activating for time intervals, one of the N devices having a maximum activation time interval of T, the preamble having a time duration that is at least a product of M*T.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more listening frequencies comprise a single listening frequency, the single listening frequency being a same frequency at which the preamble is output.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more listening frequencies comprise multiple listening frequencies, the search packet identifying sequence data and duty cycle data for the multiple listening frequencies.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the first information comprises a single number, the first device generating the sequence of frequencies at which the second device activates by processing the single number using a predefined algorithm.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the first device, third information, for the third device in the wireless network from the second device, the third information generated by the third device, and in the one or more listening frequencies, wherein the third device is not within a wireless transmission range of the first device.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending, by the first device, a third communication to the second device using the first information;

wherein sending the third communication comprises;

sending, by the first device, a second preamble, the second preamble being sent at about a time specified in the first information;

receiving, by the first device, an acknowledgement signal from the second device in response to the second preamble; and

sending, by the first device, information for the third communication following the second preamble and in response to the acknowledgement signal, the information being sent in a same frequency as the second preamble.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the preamble comprises a series of data packets transmitted in sequence, the data packets containing the time data from which the duration of the preamble can be determined.

14. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending, by the first device, a fourth communication to the second device using the first information;

wherein sending the fourth communication comprises;

sending, by the first device, a second preamble, the second preamble being sent at about a time specified in the first information;

sending, by the first device, information for the fourth communication following the second preamble, the information being sent in a same frequency as the second preamble; and

receiving, by the first device, an acknowledgement signal from the second device in response to the information for the fourth communication.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the first information includes first sequence data, first wake-up data, and first duty cycle data and the second information includes second sequence data, second wake-up data, and second duty cycle data.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the first information being usable to obtain a sequence of frequencies at which the second device activates and being based on durations of time for which the second device sleeps and the second information being usable to obtain a sequence of frequencies at which the third device activates and being based on durations of time for which the third device sleeps.

17. A device comprising:

memory configured to store instructions that are executable; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to;

enter an activation mode to communicate over a wireless network; and

enter a dormant mode periodically, the at least one processor performing fewer tasks in the dormant mode than in the activation mode;

wherein to configure the device for communication or broadcast over the wireless network, the at least one processor executes instructions to;

output, by the device, a preamble to the wireless network, the preamble containing time data corresponding to a duration of the preamble;

identify, by the device, one or more listening frequencies of the device that follow the preamble, the one or more listening frequencies comprising one or more frequency bands at which the device enters the activation mode following the preamble;

receive, by the device, first information from a node in the wireless network and in the one or more listening frequencies, the first information generated by the node based on a first time base of the node, the first information corresponding to times at which the node activates and indicates when to communicate with the node;

store, by the device, the first information;

transmit, by the device, a first communication to the node based on the first information which indicates when to communicate with the node;

receive, by the device, second information from a second node in the wireless network and in the one or more listening frequencies, the second information generated by the second node based on a second time base of the second node, the second information corresponding to times at which the second node activates and indicates when to communicate with the node;

store, by the device, the second information; and

transmit, by the device, a second communication to the second node based on the second information which indicates when to communicate with the second node.

18. One or more non-transitory machine-readable media for storing instructions that are executable by a first device for use with a wireless network, the instructions to:

output, by the first device, a preamble to the wireless network, the preamble containing time data corresponding to a duration of the preamble;

identify, by the first device, one or more listening frequencies of the first device that follow the preamble, the one or more listening frequencies comprising one or more frequency bands at which the first device activates;

receive, by the first device, first information from a second device in the wireless network and in the one or more listening frequencies, the first information generated by the second device based on a first time base of the second device, the first information corresponding to times at which the second device activates and indicates when to communicate with the second device;

store, by the first device, the first information;

transmit, by the first device, a first communication to the second device based on the first information which indicates when to communicate with the second device;

receive, by the first device, second information from a third device in the wireless network and in the one or more listening frequencies, the second information generated by the third device based on a second time base of the third device, the second information corresponding to times at which the third device activates and indicates when to communicate with the third device;

store, by the first device, the second information; and

transmit, by the first device, a second communication to the third device based on the second information which indicates when to communicate with the third device.

19. A method, performed by a node in a wireless network, comprising:

generating, by the node, first information based on a first time base of the node, the first information indicates when to communicate with the node;

receiving, by the node, a preamble from a device, the preamble containing time data corresponding to a duration of the preamble;

identifying, by the node, one or more listening frequencies of the device that follow the preamble, the one or more listening frequencies comprising one or more frequency bands at which the device activates;

sending, by the node, the first information to the device and in the one or more listening frequencies, the first information for the device generated by the node, the first information corresponding to times at which the node activates;

receiving, by the node, a first communication from the device based on the first information which indicates when to communicate with the node;

receiving, by the node, second information from a second node and in the one or more listening frequencies, the second information for the second node generated by the second node based on a second time base of the second node, the second information corresponding to times at which the second node activates and indicates when to communicate with the second node; and

transmitting, by the node, a second communication to the second node based on the second information which indicates when to communicate with the second node.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first information are sent at a time that is obtained to reduce conflict with other nodes sending data to the device following the preamble.

21. A system comprising:

a wireless network comprised of plural nodes, at least some of the nodes having an activation time during which the at least some nodes are active;

a first device configured to;

transmit a message that exceeds a maximum activation time of nodes on the wireless network by a factor N, where N is equal to at least a maximum number of frequencies configured for the wireless network and the message identifies a start of communication,

receive first information from a second device and second information from a third device in response to the message,

transmit a first communication to the second device based on the first information which indicates when to communicate with the second device, and

transmit a second communication to the third device based on the second information which indicates when to communicate with the third device;

a second device comprising a node on the wireless network, the second device being configured to;

generate the first information based on a first time base of the second device, the first information indicates when to communicate with the second device,

transmit the first information in response to the message, the first information identifying how the second device performs frequency hopping to receive data, and the first information generated by the second device, and

receive the first communication from the first device based on the first information; and

a third device comprising a second node on the wireless network, the third device being configured to;

generate the second information based on a second time base of the third device, the second information indicates when to communicate with the third device,

transmit the second information in response to the message, the second information identifying how the third device performs frequency hopping to receive data, and the second information generated by the third device, and

receive the second communication from the first device based on the second information.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first devices identifies one or more frequencies that follow the message, the second device being configured to transmit a response to the message in the one or more frequencies, wherein a response to the message by the second device is timed to reduce conflict with possible messages from other devices on the wireless network.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the message comprises a preamble containing time data corresponding to a duration of the preamble, and one or more listening frequencies of the first device follow the preamble, the one or more listening frequencies comprising one or more frequency bands at which the first device activates;

wherein the second device is configured to transmit the response to the message in the one or more listening frequencies; and

wherein the first information corresponding to times at which the second device activates.

24. A system for communicating via a wireless network, the system comprising:

a first device configured to;

transmit a preamble to the wireless network, the preamble containing time data corresponding to a duration of the preamble,

receive first information from a second device and in one or more listening frequencies, the first information corresponding to times at which the second device activates,

receive second information from a third device and in one or more listening frequencies, the second information corresponding to times at which the third device activates,

store the first information,

store the second information,

transmit a first communication to the second device based on the first information which indicates when to communicate with the second device, and

transmit a second communication to the third device based on the second information which indicates when to communicate with the third device;

the second device configured to;

receive the preamble from the first device,

identify the one or more listening frequencies of the first device that follow the preamble, the one or more listening frequencies comprising one or more frequency bands at which the first device activates,

generate, by the second device, the first information for being received by the first device based on a first time base of the third device, the first information indicates when to communicate with the second device, and

transmit the first information to the first device and in the one or more listening frequencies, and

the third device configured to;

receive the preamble from the first device,

identify the one or more listening frequencies of the first device that follow the preamble, the one or more listening frequencies comprising one or more frequency bands at which the first device activates,

generate, by the third device, the second information for being received by the first device based on a second time base of the third device, the second information indicates when to communicate with the third device, and

transmit the second information to the first device.

25. The system of claim 24, the system further comprising:

the second device further configured to activate and receive the first communication based on the first information.