Wireless network system and method for providing same

• US 8,625,496 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IP Co., LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IP Co., LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brownrigg, Edwin B., Wilson, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhou, Yong
• Application Number:
  US13/478,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20120236792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/20 Hop count for routing purposes, e.g. TTL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A wireless network, which includes a wireless router client operable to broadcast data packets to at least one wireless server and one additional wireless client. Each client and server includes programs for determining optimum routes between them. The client also includes a program for determining if a received data packet is not addressed to it and if the packet has been sent via a new optimal route unknown to the client, and for notifying the respective server of such a new optimal route.

Claims

1. A wireless network system comprising:

a server including a server controller and a server radio modem, said server controller implementing a server process that includes the control of said server radio modem, said server process including the receipt and transmission of data packets via said server radio modem;

a plurality of clients each including a client controller and a client radio modem, said client controller implementing a client process that includes the control of said client radio modem, said client process including the receipt and transmission of data packets via said client radio modem,

wherein said client process of each of said clients initiates and selects a radio transmission path to said server that is one of a direct link to said server and an indirect link to said server through at least one the remainder of said plurality of clients; and

wherein the server process is configured to;

receive information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients;

determine a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients;

send information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients; and

maintain a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients.

2. A wireless network system comprising:

a server including a server controller and a server radio modem, said server controller implementing a server process that includes the control of said server radio modem, said server process including the receipt and transmission of data packets via said server radio modem; and

a plurality of clients each including a client controller and a client radio modem, said client controller implementing a client process that includes the control of said client radio modem, said client process including the receipt and transmission of data packets via said client radio modem, wherein said client process of each of said clients initiates and selects a radio transmission path to said server that is one of a direct link to said server and an indirect link to said server through at least one the remainder of said plurality of clients, wherein said server process further includes logic that maintains a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients, and wherein the server process is configured to;

receive information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients,

determine a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients, and

send information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients.

3. A wireless network system as recited in claim 2, wherein said server process is further configured to:

compare a selected link from said client to said server to a current client link entry in said client link tree; and

update said client link tree when said comparison meets predetermined conditions.

4. A wireless network system as recited in claim 2, wherein said server process is further configured to:

determine if said client is authentic;

determine if said client is already in said client link tree if said client is determined to be authentic;

delete said client from said client link tree if said client is authentic and is already in said client link tree; and

insert said client in said client link tree if said client is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

5. The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the client link entries correspond to the server selected transmission path between the server and the respective client.

6. A wireless network system comprising:

a server providing a server process including receiving data packets via a server wireless communication means, sending data packets via said wireless communication means, communicating with a network, and performing housekeeping functions;

a plurality of clients, each client providing a client process including sending and receiving data packet via a client wireless communication means, maintaining a send/receive data buffer in digital memory, and selecting a transmission path to said server that is one of a direct link to said server and an indirect link to said server through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of clients; and

wherein said selected transmission path to said server is a path utilizing the least number of other clients, and wherein the server process is configured to;

receive information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients,

determine a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients,

send information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients; and

maintain a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients.

7. A wireless network system comprising:

a server providing a server process including receiving data packets via a server wireless communication, sending data packets via said wireless communication, communicating with a network, and performing housekeeping functions; and

a plurality of clients, each client providing a client process including sending and receiving data packet via a client wireless communication, maintaining a send/receive data buffer in digital memory, and selecting a transmission path to said server that is one of a direct link to said server and an indirect link to said server through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of clients,

wherein said server process further comprises maintaining a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients, and

wherein the server process is configured to;

receive information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients,

determine a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients,

update the client link entries to provide the server selected transmission path, and

send information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients.

8. A wireless network system as recited in claim 7, wherein said server process is further configured to:

compare a selected link from said client to said server to a current client link entry in said client link tree; and

update said client link tree when said comparison meets predetermined conditions.

9. A wireless network system as recited in claim 7, wherein said server process is further configured to:

determine if said client is authentic;

determine if said client is already in said client link tree if client is determined to be authentic;

delete said client from said client link tree if said client is authentic and is already in said client link tree; and

insert said client in said client link tree if said client is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

10. The wireless network system of claim 7, wherein the client link entries correspond to the server selected transmission path between the server and the respective client.

11. A method for providing wireless network communication comprising:

utilizing a server implementing a server process including receiving data packets via RF transmission, sending data packets via RF transmission, communicating with a network, and performing housekeeping functions; and

utilizing a plurality of clients, each client providing a client process including sending and receiving data packet via RF transmission, maintaining a send/receive data buffer in digital memory, and selecting a transmission path to said server that is one of a direct link to said server and an indirect link to said server through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of clients,

wherein the server process;

receives information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients,

determines a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients,

sends information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients; and

maintains a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients.

12. A method for providing wireless network communication comprising:

utilizing a server implementing a server process including receiving data packets via RF transmission, sending data packets via RF transmission, communicating with a network, and performing housekeeping functions; and

utilizing a plurality of clients, each client providing a client process including sending and receiving data packet via RF transmission, maintaining a send/receive data buffer in digital memory, and selecting a transmission path to said server that is one of a direct link to said server and an indirect link to said server through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of clients,

wherein said server process further includes maintaining a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients, and

wherein the server process;

receives information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients,

determines a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients,

updates the client link entries to provide the server selected transmission path, and

sends information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said server process further includes:

comparing a selected link from said client to said server to a current client link entry in said client link tree; and

updating said client link tree when said comparison meets predetermined conditions.

14. A method as recited m claim 12, wherein said server process further includes:

determining is said client is authentic;

determining if said client is already in said client link tree if client is determined to be authentic;

deleting said client from said client link tree if said client is authentic and is already in said client link tree; and

inserting said client in said client link tree if said client is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the client link entries correspond to the server selected transmission path between the server and the respective client.

16. A method for providing wireless network communication comprising the steps of:

a server process including a data packet reception step, a data packet transmission step, a network communication step, and a housekeeping step; and

a plurality of clients each providing a client process including a data sending and receiving step, a send and receive data buffer maintenance step, and a transmission path selection step wherein the transmission path is one of a direct link to a server and an indirect link to said server through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of clients,

wherein the server process;

receives information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients,

determines a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients,

sends information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients; and

maintains a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients.

17. A method for providing wireless network communication comprising the steps of:

a server process including a data packet reception step, a data packet transmission step, a network communication step, and a housekeeping step; and

a plurality of clients each providing a client process including a data sending and receiving step, a send and receive data buffer maintenance step, and a link selection step wherein the transmission path is one of a direct link to a server and an indirect link to said server through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of clients,

wherein said server process further comprises the step of maintaining a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients, and

wherein the server process;

receives information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients,

determines a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients,

updates the client link entries to provide the server selected transmission path, and

sends information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients.

18. A method as recited m claim 17, wherein said server process further comprises the steps of:

comparing a selected link from said client to said server to a current client link entry in said client link tree; and

updating said client link tree when said comparison meets predetermined conditions.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said server process further comprises steps of:

determining if said client is authentic;

determining if said client is already in said client link tree if client is determined to be authentic;

deleting said client from said client link tree if said client is authentic and is already in said client link tree; and

inserting said client into said client link tree if said client is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the client link entries correspond to the server selected transmission path between the server and the respective client.

21. A wireless network system comprising:

a first node including a first node controller and a first node radio modem, said first node controller implementing a first node process that includes controlling of said first node radio modem, said first node process including receiving and transmitting data packets via said first node radio modem;

a plurality of second nodes each including a second node controller implementing a second node process that includes controlling a second node radio modem, said second node process including receiving and transmitting data packets via said second node radio modem, wherein said second node process of each of said second nodes includes initiating a radio transmission path to said first node that is a link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes,

wherein said first node process dynamically updates a second node link tree comprising second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes and dynamically modifies the second node link tree so that the data packet transmission path to the first node is optimized.

22. A wireless network system as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one of the second nodes is a mobile device and said first node process further comprises:

logic comparing a selected link from one of the plurality of said second nodes to said first node to a current second node link entry in said second node link tree; and

logic dynamically updating said second node link tree when said comparison meets predetermined conditions.

23. A wireless network system as recited in claim 21, wherein said first node process further comprises:

logic determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic;

logic determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is already in said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is determined to be authentic; and

logic inserting one of the plurality of said second nodes in said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic and is not already in said second node link tree.

24. In a wireless system comprising a plurality of second nodes, each second node implementing a second node process including sending and receiving data packet via a second node wireless radio, maintaining a send/receive data buffer in a digital memory, and selecting a link to a first node that is one of a direct link to said first node and an indirect link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes, a first node configured to implement a first node process, the first node process including:

receiving data packets via a first node wireless radio;

sending data packets via said wireless radio;

communicating with a network;

performing node link tree housekeeping functions;

maintaining a second node link tree having second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes;

dynamically updating the tree to reflect the current operational status of the second nodes; and

rerouting data packets around inactive or malfunctioning second nodes.

25. The first node of claim 24, wherein the first node process further includes:

comparing a selected link from one of the plurality of said second nodes to said first node to a current second node link entry in said second node link tree; and

dynamically updating said second node link tree when said comparison meets predetermined conditions.

26. The first node of claim 24, wherein the first node process further includes:

determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic;

determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is already in said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is determined to be authentic;

deleting one of the plurality of said second nodes from said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic and is already in said second node link tree; and

inserting one of the plurality of said second nodes in said second node link tree if said second node is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

27. In a wireless system comprising a plurality of second nodes and a first node configured to implement a first node process, the first node process including receiving data packets via a first node wireless radio, sending data packets via said wireless radio, communicating with a network, performing node link tree housekeeping functions, maintaining a second node link tree having second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes, dynamically updating the tree to reflect the current operational status of the second nodes, and rerouting data packets around inactive or malfunctioning second nodes, a second node in the plurality of second nodes, the second node configured to implement a second node process including:

sending and receiving data packet via a second node wireless radio;

maintaining a send/receive data buffer in a digital memory; and

selecting a link to the first node that is one of a direct link to the first node and an indirect link to the first node through at least one of the remainder of the plurality of second nodes.

28. A method for providing wireless network communication comprising:

utilizing a first node process including a data packet reception step, a data packet transmission step, a network communication step, and a housekeeping step; and

utilizing a plurality of second nodes, each providing a second node process including a data sending and receiving step, a send and receive data buffer maintenance step, and a link selection step that selects one of a direct link to said first node and an indirect link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes; and

utilizing the least number of other second nodes to provide the selected link so that the transmission path from one of the plurality of said second nodes to said first node is optimized,

wherein the first node process further includes maintaining a second node link tree having second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes.

29. A method of providing wireless network communication in a wireless network comprising a first node and a plurality of second nodes, the first node in communication with at least one of the plurality of second nodes, the second nodes implementing a second node process including a data sending and receiving step, a send and receive data buffer maintenance step, and a link selection step that selects one of a direct link to said first node and an indirect link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes by analyzing the link between neighboring second nodes and the first node, the method comprising:

implementing a first node process with a first node, the first node process comprising;

receiving a data packet;

transmitting a data packet;

performing housekeeping functions; and

dynamically updating a second node link tree having a second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein said first node process further comprises:

comparing a selected link tree from one of the plurality of said second nodes to said first node to a current second node link entry in said second node link tree; and

dynamically updating said second node link tree when said comparison meets predetermined conditions.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein said first node process further comprises:

determining if said one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic;

determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is already in said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is determined to be authentic;

deleting one of the plurality of said second nodes from said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic and is already in said second node link tree; and

inserting one of the plurality of said second nodes in said second node tree if said second node is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

32. A method of providing wireless network communication in a wireless network comprising a first node and a plurality of second nodes, the first node in communication with at least one of the plurality of second nodes, the first node implementing a first node process comprising receiving a data packet, transmitting a data packet, performing housekeeping functions, and dynamically updating a second node link tree having a second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes, the method comprising:

implementing a second node process with at least one of the second nodes, the second node process comprising;

transmitting a data packet;

receiving a data packet;

selecting a link to the first node that is one of a direct link to the first node and an indirect link to the first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes by analyzing the link between neighboring second nodes and the first.

33. In a wireless network system comprising a plurality of second nodes each including a second node controller configured to implement a second node process that includes controlling a second node radio modem, receiving and transmitting data packets via said second node radio modem, and initiating a radio transmission path to a first node that is a direct link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes, the first node comprising:

a first node controller; and

a first node radio modem,

wherein said first node controller is configured to implement a first node process comprising;

controlling said first node radio modem;

receiving and transmitting data packets via said first node radio modem; and

maintaining a second node link tree comprising second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes.

34. A wireless network system as recited in claim 33, wherein said first node process further comprises:

comparing a selected link from one of the plurality of said second nodes to said first node to a current second node link entry in said second node link tree; and

updating said second node link tree when said comparison meet predetermined conditions.

35. A wireless network system as recited in claim 33, wherein said first node process further comprises:

determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic;

determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is already in said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is determined to be authentic; and

inserting one of the plurality of said second nodes in said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

36. In a wireless network system comprising a plurality of second nodes and a first node, the first node comprising a first node controller and a first node radio modem, wherein said first node controller is configured to implement a first node process that includes controlling said first node radio modem, receiving and transmitting data packets via said first node radio modem, and maintaining a second node link tree comprising second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes, at least one second node in the plurality of second nodes comprising:

a second node controller configured to implement a second node process that includes controlling a second node radio modem, receiving and transmitting data packets via said second node radio modem, initiating a radio transmission path to a first node that is a direct link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes.

37. A method for providing wireless network communication comprising:

implementing in a first node a first node process including receiving data packets via R.F. transmission and sending data packets via R.F. transmission;

implementing in each of a plurality of second nodes a second node process including sending and receiving data packet via R.F. transmission, maintaining a send/receive data buffer in digital memory, and selecting a transmission path to said first node that is one of a direct link to said first node and an indirect link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes; and

maintaining a second node link tree having second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes at the first node.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said first node process further includes:

comparing a selected link from one of the plurality of said second nodes to said first node to a second node link entry in said second node link tree; and

updating said second node link tree when said comparison meets at least one of several predetermined conditions.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said first node process further includes:

determining if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic;

deleting one of the plurality of said second nodes from said second node link tree if one of the plurality of said second nodes is authentic and is already in said second node link tree; and

inserting one of the plurality of said second nodes in said second node tree if said second node is authentic and is not already in said client link tree.

40. In a network including a plurality of client nodes having a client radio modem and a client controller which implements a client process including receiving and transmitting data packets via said client node to other nodes in the network, a server node comprising:

a server node radio modem; and

a server node controller implementing a server process, said server process configured to;

receive information identifying selected transmission paths from each of the plurality of client nodes, wherein said transmission path is one of a direct link to the server node and an indirect link to said server node through at least one other client node;

determine a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of client nodes based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of client nodes;

send information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of client nodes to the respective client node; and

maintain a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of client nodes.

41. The server node of claim 40, wherein the server process is further configured to perform gateway functions.

42. A server for use in a wireless network system including a plurality of clients each including a client controller and a client radio modem, said client controller implementing a client process that includes controlling said client radio modem, receiving and transmitting data packets via said client radio modem, wherein said client process of each of said clients initiates and selects a radio transmission path to said server that is one of a direct link to said server and an indirect link to said server through at least one the remainder of said plurality of clients, said server comprising:

a server controller and a server radio modem, said server controller implementing a server process that includes the controlling of said server radio modem, receiving and transmitting of data packets via said server radio modem, maintaining a client link tree having client link entries representing each of the plurality of clients, and receiving information identifying the selected transmission path from each of the plurality of clients, determining a server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients based on the selected transmission paths received from the plurality of clients, and sending information identifying the server selected transmission path for each of the clients to the respective clients.

43. The server of claim 42, wherein said server selected transmission path for each of the plurality of clients is the transmission path utilizing the least number of client nodes.

44. The server of claim 42, wherein the client link entries correspond to the server selected transmission path between the server and the respective client.

45. A first node for use in wireless network system including a plurality of second nodes each including a second node controller implementing a second node process that includes controlling a second node radio modem, receiving and transmitting data packets via said second node radio modem, wherein said second node process of each of said second nodes includes initiating a radio transmission path to said first node that is a link to said first node through at least one of the remainder of said plurality of second nodes, said first node comprising:

a first node controller and a first node radio modem, said first node controller implementing a first node process that includes controlling said first node radio modem, receiving and transmitting data packets via said first node radio modem, and dynamically updating a second node link tree comprising second node link entries representing each of the plurality of second nodes so that the data packet transmission path to the first node is optimized.