U.S. patent application number 12/419231 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for network using encoded transmissions and forwarding.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Ranganathan Krishnan, Sanjiv Nanda.
Application Number | 20090191859 12/419231 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34739344 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090191859 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nanda; Sanjiv ; et
al. |
July 30, 2009 |
NETWORK USING ENCODED TRANSMISSIONS AND FORWARDING
Abstract
A first network node may include a wireless transmitter, a
wireless receiver, a user interface and a controller. The
controller may be configured to cause information that is received
by the receiver to be delivered to the user interface, if that
information is encoded to be delivered to the user interface of the
network node. The controller may also be configured to cause
information to be transmitted in a format encoded for a first
target node by the transmitter, if that information is encoded to
be forwarded by the network node. The controller may also be
configured to cause information from the user interface to be
transmitted in a format encoded for a second target node by the
transmitter. Related processes are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Nanda; Sanjiv; (Ramona,
CA) ; Krishnan; Ranganathan; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
5775 MOREHOUSE DR.
SAN DIEGO
CA
92121
US
|
Assignee: |
QUALCOMM Incorporated
San Diego
CA
|
Family ID: |
34739344 |
Appl. No.: |
12/419231 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10754246 |
Jan 9, 2004 |
7515595 |
|
|
12419231 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/422.1 ;
370/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 45/22 20130101;
H04L 45/00 20130101; H04B 1/7163 20130101; H04W 40/02 20130101;
H04L 45/28 20130101; H04B 1/707 20130101; H04W 88/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/422.1 ;
370/328 |
International
Class: |
H04W 84/00 20090101
H04W084/00; H04W 88/02 20090101 H04W088/02 |
Claims
1. A network node comprising: a wireless transmitter; a wireless
receiver; a user interface; a controller configured to cause:
information that is received by the receiver: to be delivered to
the user interface, if that information is encoded to be delivered
to the user interface of the network node; to be transmitted in a
format encoded for a first target node by the transmitter, if that
information is encoded to be forwarded by the network node; and
information from the user interface to be transmitted in a format
encoded for a second target node by the transmitter.
2. A process of operating a network node comprising: receiving
information at the network node; delivering the received
information to a user interface in the network node when the
information is encoded to be delivered to the user interface of the
network node; transmitting the received information in a format
encoded for a first target node when the received information is
encoded to be forwarded by the network node; and transmitting
information from the user interface in a format encoded for a
second
3. A network node comprising: a wireless transmitter a wireless
receiver; a user interface means for delivering information
received by the receiver to the user interface when the received
information is encoded to be delivered to the user interface; means
for delivering the received information to the transmitter in a
format encoded for a first target node when the received
information is encoded to be forwarded by the network node; and
means for delivering information from the user interface to the
transmitter in a format encoded for a second target node.
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/754,246, filed on Jan. 9, 2004 and titled
NETWORK USING ENCODED TRANSMISSIONS AND FORWARDING, and this
application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
FIELD
[0002] This disclosure generally relates to communication systems,
including network communication systems, wireless communication
systems, cellular communication systems and ultra wide band
communication systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A wide variety of communications takes place over a network.
Many of these take place without connecting wires, such as in
cellular communication systems.
[0004] It is often desirable to operate the transmitters in a
wireless communication system at very low power. This may reduce
the drain on the power supply, which may be a battery with a
limited life. Lowering the transmission power level may also help
reduce interference between multiple transmitters operating at the
same time in nearby locations.
[0005] Unfortunately, transmitting at low power can often times
have a drawback--it may be difficult to receive the transmitted
signal over great distances.
[0006] Cellular networks often address this issue by installing
base stations at numerous, strategic locations. These base stations
may receive transmissions from local cell phones or other nodes and
forward these transmissions to more distant locations.
[0007] Unfortunately, it can be costly to install and maintain base
stations at all of the strategic locations at which they may be
needed. The locations at which base stations are needed, moreover,
may not always be known, due to the mobile nature of a cell phone.
This can make full coverage even more difficult.
[0008] Ultra Wide Band (UWB) is a new technology that may allow
numerous transmitters to operate at the same time and in the same
band, without interfering with one another or with existing
communications systems also operating within the same band. Many
radio frequency ("RF") technologies use a carrier modulated only
within a relatively narrow band to transmit information. UWB, on
the other hand, sends pulses of energy across a broad spectrum of
frequencies. Using this wideband technique, a UWB signal can be
successfully transmitted at such a low power level that it can
often exist in the same band as more narrow band RF technologies
without significantly interfering with those narrow band
transmissions.
[0009] Unfortunately, the transmission distance of UWB is also
limited, particularly when the power level of the signal is
low.
SUMMARY
[0010] A network node may include a wireless transmitter, a
wireless receiver, a user interface and a controller. The
controller may be configured to cause information that is received
by the receiver to be delivered to the user interface, if that
information is encoded to be delivered to the user interface of the
network node. The controller may also be configured to cause
information that is received by the receiver to be transmitted in a
format encoded for a first target node by the transmitter, if that
information is encoded to be forwarded by the network node. The
controller may be configured to cause information from the user
interface to be transmitted in a format encoded for a second target
node by the transmitter.
[0011] A process of operating a network node may include receiving
information at the network node. The received information may be
delivered to a user interface in the network node when the
information is encoded to be delivered to the user interface of the
network node. The received information may be transmitted in a
format encoded for a first target node when the information is
encoded to be forwarded by the network node. Information from the
user interface may be transmitted in a format encoded for a second
target node.
[0012] It is understood that other embodiments will become readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description, wherein various embodiments are shown and described by
way of illustration only. As will be realized, the concepts are
capable of other and different embodiments and their several
details are capable of modification in various other respects, all
without departing from the spirit and scope of what is claimed as
the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description
are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] Aspects are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of
limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a communication taking place over a
portion of a network using encoded transmissions and
forwarding.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a communication taking place over a
portion of a network using encoded transmissions and forwarding,
including at least one redundant transmission.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates primary and secondary links that have
been established in a portion of a network.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates how a node may create and maintain
primary and secondary links in a network.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a process that a node in a network may
follow to process received information.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates randomized time division duplexing of two
nodes in a network.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates components of a transmission that may be
made by a node in a network.
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates components of a broadcast control message
that may be transmitted by a node in a network.
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a node that may be used in a network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The detailed description set forth below in connection with
the appended drawings is intended as a description of various
embodiments of the concepts that are presented and is not intended
to represent the only embodiments in which these concepts may be
practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided
merely as an example or illustration, and should not necessarily be
construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The
detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of
providing a thorough understanding of the concepts that are
presented. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that these concepts may be practiced without these specific
details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are
shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the
concepts. Acronyms and other descriptive terminology may be used
merely for convenience and clarity and are not intended to limit
the scope of the concepts that are disclosed.
[0024] In the following detailed description, various aspects may
be described in the context of a UWB and/or spread spectrum
wireless communications system. While these aspects may be well
suited for use with this application, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that these inventive aspects are likewise
applicable for use in various other communication environments.
Accordingly, any reference to a UWB and/or spread spectrum
communications system is intended only to illustrate the inventive
aspects, with the understanding that such inventive aspects have a
wide range of applications.
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a communication taking place over a
portion of a network using encoded transmissions and
forwarding.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of nodes, illustrated by way
of example as cell phones, form a network.
[0027] The network may be an ad hoc network. This is a network
whose nodes are not all the subject of careful planning and
organization. Rather, the existence and location of each node may
be unplanned and, indeed, even unforeseeable. One or more of the
nodes may also be in motion at the time of communication, such as a
node that is being carried by an operator on foot or in a vehicle,
aircraft or ship. The node might even be carried by a vehicle,
aircraft or ship without a human operator even being present.
[0028] Each node in the network may be of any type. It may be a
cell phone, PDA, laptop, a military communication device or any
other type of communication device. Cell phones are illustrated in
FIG. 1 by merely as examples.
[0029] Each node may have a user interface that communicates
information to its user and receives information from its user.
Each user interface may include one or more input devices to
receive information from the user, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch
screen, microphone or camera. Each user interface may also include
one or more output devices to communicate information to the user,
such as a display, loud speaker, or headset. The user may be a
person, animal, system or device.
[0030] Each node may be wireless, meaning that it may transmit and
receive information from other nodes without interconnecting
wires.
[0031] Each node may communicate with other nodes in the network
without any type of centralized base station.
[0032] To communicate with a node that might be beyond the reach of
the signal that is transmitted, the communication from the
initiating node may be forwarded by one or more of the other nodes
in the network to the destination node.
[0033] This forwarding concept is illustrated in FIG. 1.
Specifically, initiating node 101 is shown as being in
communication with destination node 103 by having the information
that node 101 seeks to communicate to node 103 being forwarded,
first by a node 105, then by a node 107, and finally by a node 109.
The communication from the node 103 back to the node 101 may be
forwarded along the same route, except in reverse order. The
routing of this particular communication is illustrated in FIG. 1
as a solid line between the linked nodes.
[0034] Simultaneously, a node 111 may be in communication with a
node 113 that again are too far apart for the communication to take
place directly. Instead, the information from the node 111 may be
forwarded by the node 105 to a node 115, by the node 115 to a node
117, by the node 117 to a node 119, and finally by the node 119 to
the node 113. Communications from the node 113 to the node 111 may
be forwarded along the same route, except in reverse order. The
routing of this particular communication is illustrated in FIG. 1
as a dashed line between the linked nodes.
[0035] To accomplish this routing, each node in the network may be
configured to receive information from other nodes. Each receiving
node may be further configured to deliver the received information
to either the user interface of the receiving node or to forward
the information to a still further node by retransmitting it. In
this way, one node is able to communicate with a distant node by
having its communication go through a series of "hops" through one
more intervening nodes.
[0036] As should be apparent in connection with the multiple links
shown to the node 105, a single node can function as a forwarding
node for messages from several communications taking place at the
same time.
[0037] As should also be apparent, this typology can extend the
reach of each node in the network beyond its individual limit,
without requiring any type of centralized based station.
[0038] To minimize the traffic in the network and the associated
problems that such traffic can create, the information that is
transmitted by each node may be in a format that is encoded for
only one other node in the network. The format of the encoding
would insure that the transmitted information is only processed by
the one other node in the network.
[0039] For example, the information transmitted by the node 101 may
be encoded for the node 105, which, in turn, may then process that
information. Although the transmission from the node 101 might be
strong enough to reach the nodes 111, 115 and 121, it would not
processed by these other nodes because it is not transmitted in a
format that is encoded for these other nodes.
[0040] To facilitate this process, each node in the network may be
configured to process information that is encoded in a format that
is different from the format that each of the other nodes will
process.
[0041] In FIG. 1, each node is illustrated as transmitting
information in connection with a communication to only a single
node. Thus, the communication between nodes 101 and 103 is
illustrated as being sent by node 101 to only node 105, by node 105
to only node 107, by node 107 to only node 109, and by node 109 to
only node 103. Similarly, the communication between nodes 111 and
113 is illustrated as being sent by node 111 to only node 105, by
node 105 to only node 115, by node 115 to only node 117, by node
117 to only node 119, and by node 119 to only node 113.
[0042] Forwarding communications through only single nodes can make
each node in the communication link critical to the success of the
communication. Unfortunately, a link in the chain can be broken.
For example, a mobile node that is function as a link may move
beyond the range of a node that is linked to it.
[0043] The system shown in FIG. 2 helps address this potential
problem. FIG. 2 Illustrates a communication taking place over a
portion of a network using encoded transmissions and forwarding,
including at least one redundant transmission. A communication is
taking place between a node 201 and a node 203. In this case,
however, the node 201 encodes the communication for two separate
neighbors, a node 205 and a node 207. In turn, the node 205 encodes
the information for forwarding to a node 209 which forwards it to a
node 211. Simultaneously, the node 207 encodes the information for
forwarding to the node 211. If a link with the node 205, 207, 209
or 211 develops a problem, the communication will still reach the
node 211 because it is sent over two independent paths, that is
through the nodes 205 and 209 and separately through the node
207.
[0044] On the other hand, if the communications from both the nodes
207 and 209 arrive at the node 211, the node 211 may be configured
to understand that it is receiving duplicates of the same
communication, in which case it may be configured to discard one of
the communications and to forward only the other communication to
the node 203. The same process may work in reverse in connection
with information that is being communicated from the node 203 to
the node 201. In this case, however, it would be the node 201 that
may discard a redundant transmission.
[0045] The exact number of nodes to which a single communication
may be directed may be set as a fixed parameter in the network or
may be allowed to vary based on the particular circumstances. When
a multi-path communication is desired, the transmitting node may
encode and transmit the information once in a format appropriate
for the first receiving node and again in a format appropriate for
each of the other receiving nodes.
[0046] There are a broad variety of techniques that may be applied
to effectuate the encoding that has been discussed.
[0047] One technique is to assign the receiver in each node a
specify frequency that is different from the frequencies that are
received by all other nodes. To transmit information encoded for a
particular node in this embodiment, the transmitting node would
effectuate encoding by adjusting the frequency of its transmitter
to match the receiving frequency of the other particular node.
[0048] The receiver in each particular node may instead be
configured to only process received information having a particular
phase or to only process received information appearing within a
particular time frame. In these embodiments, the transmitting node
would again encode the signal that it transmits to match.
[0049] A still further encoding approach may be assign each node a
unique address and to package each communication with the address
of the target receiving node.
[0050] A still further encoding approach is to use spread spectrum
technology. In this embodiment, all of the nodes may transmit their
information at the same time and within the same frequency band,
such as in approximately a 650 MHz band that is being dedicated in
the 6-7 GHz frequency range in connection with a UWB system. Each
transmission may be encoded with the spreading sequence that
corresponds to the dispreading sequence use by the target node.
[0051] Other encoding techniques may also be used, including a
combination of techniques.
[0052] Before communication takes place, it may be advantageous to
establish links between neighboring nodes. It may also be
advantageous to classify these links, such as to create a primary
and secondary class of links.
[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates primary and secondary links that have
been established in a portion of a network. The primary links are
shown as dashed lines, such as dashed a dashed line 301. The
secondary links are shown as dotted lines, such as a dotted line
303.
[0054] A primary link between nodes, such as the primary link 301,
may be defined in the network as a link between two nodes over
which a communication between the two nodes may take place. A
secondary link, such as the secondary link 303, may be defined in
the network as a link between two nodes over which communication
between the two nodes may not take place. Although the secondary
link may be defined as one that will not carry communications, it
may still function as standby link and be promoted to a primary
link in the event that a primary link become unavailable.
[0055] An illustrative process of establishing, utilizing and
tearing down these links will now be presented.
[0056] Each node in the network may be configured to repeatedly
transmit a pilot signal on a common channel that is received and
processed by all of the nodes. If spread spectrum technology is
used, all pilots from all transmitting nodes may be spread with the
same spreading sequence. All receiving nodes node may be configured
to de-spread all received pilot signals using this same common
sequence.
[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates how this received information may be
processed by node in a network, along with other information.
[0058] The node may be in the receive mode, as reflected by a
Receive block 401.
[0059] The receiving node may detect whether a pilot signal is
within the received information, as reflected by Detect Pilot?
decision block 403. If a pilot is detected, the
carrier-to-interference ("C/I") ratio of the pilot may be compared
against a threshold value, as reflected in a Meet Threshold?
decision block 405. If the pilot meets the pre-determined
threshold, this means that the link between the node transmitting
the pilot and the node receiving the pilot is sufficiently strong
to be a viable link. Of course, other signal strength parameters
may also be evaluated in addition or instead.
[0060] As will be discussed below in mode detail, the transmitting
node may transmit information identifying the transmitting node,
along with the pilot signal. If the pilot signal meets the
threshold requirement, the receiving node may next determine
whether the link between the transmitting node and the receiving
node has already been registered, as reflected by a Previously
Registered? decision block 407. If the link has been registered,
the receiving node may not process the pilot information
further.
[0061] If the link has not been registered, on the other hand, the
receiving node may next determine whether it should be designated a
primary link, thus making it available for communication, or
whether it should be designated a secondary link, and thus not be
available for communication. This step is reflected in FIG. 4 by a
Meet Primary Criteria? decision block 409.
[0062] A broad variety of criteria may be considered by a node in
determining whether to designate a node as a primary node--thus
making it available for handling communications--or a secondary
node--thus leaving it as a standby link that may be promoted to a
primary link in the event that another primary link becomes
unavailable.
[0063] One criterion that the node may consider is the magnitude of
the C/I ratio. The larger the ratio, the stronger the signal. Of
course, other signal strength parameters may be considered in
addition or instead. When the signal is strong, power control
circuitry may enable the transmitting node to reduce the power of
its transmission, thus minimizing the power that is needed for the
transmission and the interference that the transmission may cause
to other signals.
[0064] Another criterion may be the angular orientation of the
existing primary links with the angular orientation of the new link
that is being evaluated. A potential primary link at an orientation
far from any orientation that is being serviced by an existing
primary link may be more important than a potential primary link at
an orientation that is very similar to an orientation of an
existing primary link.
[0065] Angular computations may be made using a variety of
technologies. For example, each node may transmit its geographic
location as determined by a GPS receiver in the node, by magnetic
field measurements, by signal triangulation or by any other
technique. Angular calculations may then be made using simple
geometry.
[0066] The anticipated stability of the link is another criterion
that may be considered. A stable link may be viewed as being more
valuable than an unstable link.
[0067] The relationship between the current number of primary nodes
and a desired minimum number of primary nodes may also be
considered. Similarly, a comparison of the current number of nodes
with a maximum number of nodes may be considered. Fewer nodes may
cause less interference and may better conserve energy. A larger
number of nodes, on the other hand, may increase the stability of a
communication, particularly when nodes are in motion. Three or four
primary links per node may also be set as an ideal target.
[0068] Once the decision is made as to whether to make the link a
primary link, as reflected in the Meet Primary Criteria? decision
block 409, the appropriate action is taken. If the decision is to
make the link a primary link, the link may be made a primary link
and registered as such in the node, as reflected by a Register as
Primary block 411. If the decision is made not to make the link a
primary link, the link may be registered as a secondary link in the
node, as reflected by a Register as Secondary block 413.
[0069] As previously indicated, each node may repeatedly issue
pilot signals. If the received C/I ratio does not meet the
pre-determined threshold, as determined during the Meet Threshold?
determination block 405, the signal may still be strong enough to
allow the receiving node to identify the transmitting node. If so,
the receiving node may next investigate whether the link with the
node transmitting the weak pilot was previously registered, as
reflected by the Previously Registered? block 413. If the link was
previously registered, the receiving node may next determine
whether the link had been registered as a primary link, as
reflected by a Registered as Primary? decision block 415. If the
weak link was previously registered as a primary link, the
receiving node may next attempt to promote a previously-registered
secondary link to a new primary link, as reflected by a Promote
Other Secondary to Primary block 417. The registration of the link
to the node with the weak pilot signal may then be removed, as
reflected by a Remove Registration block 419.
[0070] The registration of a link may also be removed if a pilot
from the linked node is not received after a pre-determined time.
An appropriate secondary link may then be promoted to a primary
link.
[0071] By repeatedly following the process described above and
illustrated in FIG. 4, each node will create and constantly
maintain a set of primary and secondary links, such as the primary
and secondary links shown in FIG. 3.
[0072] FIG. 5 illustrates a process a node may follow in a network
to process received information that is encoded. Encoded
information is received by the node, as reflected by a Receive
block 501. This may be during the same period that the node
receives a pilot, as reflected by the Receive block 401 in FIG. 4.
As will be discussed in more detail below, each transmitting node
may transmit both pilot and information within the same
transmission period.
[0073] The receive node may next determine whether the received
information is encoded for the receiving node, as reflected by an
Encoded for Node? decision block 503. The exact approach taken by
the receiving node for making determination may depend upon the
format of the encoding.
[0074] If the encoding is based on frequency, the receiving node
may simply examine the received signal to determine whether
information appears at the receiving frequency of the receiving
node. Appropriate filters as well as other techniques may be
used.
[0075] If the information is encoded by phase, a similar process
and appropriate apparatus may be followed to determine whether the
information is being delivered at the phase of the receiving
node.
[0076] If the information has been encoded by time division, the
receiving node may simply examine the received information within
its time slot.
[0077] If the information has been encoded by an addressing
technique, the receiving node may examine the received information
to see whether it is packaged with the address of the receiving
node.
[0078] If the information is encoded using spread spectrum
technology, the receiving node may de-spread the received signal
using its unique spread spectrum code. As is well known in the art,
this will result in the output of the information that has been
encoded if the codes match.
[0079] If another encoding technique is used, then another
correspondingly appropriate technique may used in the receiving
node to determine whether the received signal is encoded for the
node, as reflected by the Encoded for Node? decision block 503.
[0080] If the information is encoded for the node, the receiving
node may process the information. It may next determine whether the
information should be forwarded to another node or delivered to its
user interface, as reflected by a Need to Forward? decision block
505. As discussed below in more detail, this determination may be
based on instructions that accompany the information. It may also
be based on other criteria.
[0081] If the information is determined to be information that
should be delivered to the user interface of the node, that
information may be delivered to the user interface of the node, as
reflected by a Deliver to User Interface block 507. If the
determination is made that the information should be forwarded, the
information may be forwarded to another node, as reflected by a
Forward block 509.
[0082] A broad variety of approaches may be used in connection with
the forwarding of information. As part of the process, the
information may be encoded for another specific node with which the
forwarding node has already established a primary link. The
forwarded information may also be packaged with instructions to the
target node as to whether the information should be delivered to
the user interface of the target node or again forwarded by the
target node. Examples of more specific routing techniques and
procedures are discussed below.
[0083] As part of the forwarding process, the forwarded information
may be placed in a queue in the forwarding node. The information in
the queue may then be transmitted by the forwarding node in
accordance with a transmission schedule.
[0084] In order for a transmission from a node to be successfully
received, of course, the transmitting node must transmit at a time
when the receiving node is receiving.
[0085] One approach for accomplishing this is to configure each
node to transmit and receive at all times. Unfortunately, such
"full duplex" operation can create problems, including the need for
additional bandwidth and overloading of the receiver by the
transmitted signal.
[0086] Another approach is to transmit and receive at different
times, which is known as "half duplex" operation. In this mode of
operation, however, there must be some way for the transmitting
node to know when the receiving node will be receiving so that the
transmission will be received.
[0087] In some networks, a master controller provides information
to a plurality of nodes about when they should transmit and/or
receive, thus providing the needed synchronization. In the
embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3, however, there may not be any
master controller. In these embodiments, some other form of
synchronization may be provided.
[0088] One such approach is to configure each node to constantly
cycle between transmitting and receiving. Each node may further be
configured to vary the length of each cycle, each cycle consisting
of both a transmission and a reception portion.
[0089] To facilitate synchronization, the length of each cycle may
track a pre-determined pattern of lengths that each node in the
network identically follows. Each node in the network may further
be configured to be at a particular point in the pre-determined
pattern that is different at any one moment in time from the point
in the pattern at which every other node is at. By following this
approach, there may always be a particular point in time when a
scheduled transmission of a transmitting node will coincide with
the scheduled reception of a target node with which the
transmitting node wishes to communicate over a primary link.
[0090] These concepts are illustrated in FIG. 6. Specifically, FIG.
6 illustrates the randomized time division duplexing of two nodes
in a network. As shown in FIG. 6, a network node follows a
Transmit/Receive pattern 601; while a second node follows a
Transmit/Receive pattern 603. Each "T" in the figure represents
transmission; while each "R" represents reception. Each pair of
transmit and receive operations is referred to as a cycle,
denominated in the figure by a "C" followed by a subscript
indicating the position of the cycle within the pre-determined
pattern of cycle lengths.
[0091] The pre-determined pattern of cycle lengths that is followed
by both the first and second nodes may be identical. However, the
second node may always at a point in the pattern that is different
than the point of the network node. Thus, when the network node
begins its cycle C.sub.12, the second node may already be in its
cycle C.sub.82, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0092] At some point during the pattern of cycles, the initiation
of a transmission by the network node will be at a time when the
second node is receiving. An example of this is shown in FIG. 6 at
the point in time 605. At this point in time, the second node is in
the receiving portion of its cycle C.sub.82, while the network node
is just beginning to transmit in its cycle C.sub.13. If the length
of the information that needs to be transmitted from the network
node will not exceed the duration of the remaining portion of the
receive cycle C.sub.82, the point in time 605 then becomes a point
in time when the network node knows that it can transmit its
information to the second node with confidence that the second node
will receive all of it.
[0093] To accomplish this synchronization, the network node may
need to know the relative offset of the second node in the pattern
of cycle lengths. Since both nodes are following the identical
pattern, the network node can then calculate the point in time when
a scheduled transmission from the network node will be received by
the second node. When transmission of information from the first to
the second node is desired, the network node may then schedule the
transmission of information for this slot.
[0094] Another factor that may be considered by the nodes is the
ratio between the transmission and reception time within each
cycle. This ratio may be fixed, as shown in FIG. 6, or may vary in
accordance with network traffic or other conditions.
[0095] Many different ways may be used to store the pattern of
cycle durations. One approach may be for each node to use the same
pseudo-random ("PN") noise code and to have this code circulate in
a set of shift registers. An offset position of each node within
the pre-determined pattern may be determined by applying a hash
function to an identification code in the node that is unique for
each node in the network.
[0096] There is a broad variety of information that may be
transmitted by each node during the transmission portion of each
cycle. FIG. 7 illustrates components of one such transmission that
may be made by a node in a network. As shown in FIG. 7, the
transmission may begin with a pilot signal 701, followed by a
broadcast control message 703, followed by one or more
instruction/data sets, such as instruction/data sets 705/709 and
711/713.
[0097] The pilot signal 701 may be delivered in the beginning of
each transmission cycle of each node for the purpose of
establishing and maintaining links between each node, as discussed
above in connection with the discussion of FIG. 4.
[0098] Each pilot signal may be transmitted by each node on a
common channel. The exact approach for accomplishing this, of
course, may vary depending upon the technique that has been
selected for communicating information between nodes.
[0099] If spread spectrum technology is used, each pilot may be
spread with a common code so that it may be received and processed
by every other node within transmission range. As explained above,
one purpose of the pilot signal may be to allow other nodes in
close proximity to determine whether a link with the transmitting
node should be established (or removed) and, if so, whether it
should be made a primary link (or downgraded to a secondary link).
As also explained above, the strength of the received C/I ratio may
be used in this determination, as well as other criteria.
[0100] Like the pilot signal, the broadcast control message 703 may
also be sent over a common communication channel, such as a channel
spread by each node with the same code. As explained in more detail
below, the broadcast control message may enable other nodes to
learn needed information about the transmitting node in order to
establish (or change) a communication link with that node.
[0101] One or more pairs of instructions/data sets may then follow,
such as the instruction/data set 705/709 and the instruction/data
set 711/713. Each data segment may include information that is
ultimately destined for a user interface, such as voice
information, text information, video information or some other type
of information. Each instruction segment may instruct the receiving
node as to how to handle its associated data segment. For example,
an instruction may indicate that the associated data segment is to
be delivered to the user interface of the receiving node.
Alternatively, an instruction may indicate that its associated data
segment should be forwarded to another node. In regards to
forwarding, specific examples of routing techniques are discussed
below.
[0102] FIG. 8 illustrates components of a broadcast control message
that may be transmitted by a node in a network. As shown in FIG. 8,
a broadcast control message 801 may include a node ID 803, the node
location 805, a "PN" sequence offset 807, a Receive-to-Transmit
Ratio 809, a frame number 811, as well as other information
813.
[0103] The node ID 803 may be an ID that is unique for each node in
the network.
[0104] The node location 805 may be information indicative of the
location of the node. This information may be useful in determining
whether a receiving node should establish a link with the
transmitting node. It may also be useful in determining routing
paths, as discussed in more detail below.
[0105] The location of each node may be determined by any of a
broad variety of techniques. One such approach may include a GPS
receiver in the node operating in accordance with well known
techniques.
[0106] The PN Sequence Offset 807 may indicate the node's offset in
a PN sequence code. As explained above, the PN sequence code may be
used to control the duration of the transmit/receive cycles. The
offset in this sequence may be received and stored by the nodes
that are linked to the node that is transmitting its PN Sequence
Offset. Each receiving node, in turn, will then be able to
determine when the transmitting node will be in the receive mode
and thus will be able to schedule its transmissions to this node
accordingly.
[0107] The same PN sequence code may also be used by the receiver
in each node during its de-spreading operation when spread spectrum
technology is used. Each node may use the identical PN sequence
code, but offset by a unique amount. The PN Sequence Offset 807
that is transmitted may similarly be used by the receiving nodes
that are linked to the transmitting node to communicate to them the
offset that they must use when encoding information for that
node.
[0108] Thus, the PN Sequence Offset 807 of a target node may be
used by a transmitting node to both time and encode its
transmission to the target node.
[0109] The Receive-to-Transmit Ratio 809 may be used to indicate
the ratio of transmission-to-reception time within a cycle. As
explained in more detail above, this ratio will further enable
another node to determine when a target node will be in its
receiving mode. As also explained above, this ratio may be fixed or
may vary in accordance with network or other conditions.
[0110] The frame number 811 may indicate the current position of
the node within the pattern of transmission/reception cycle lengths
that is discussed above. It may be synonymous with the cycle
numbers ("C") that are illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0111] Other types of information 813 may also be included in the
broadcast control message 801. Variations on the specific fields
that have been discussed above may also be made.
[0112] In addition to establishing a system of links, such as the
primary and secondary links shown in FIG. 3, the network may also
include appropriate systems for determining and updating the routes
over which information may be sent from one node to another, such
as the routes shown by the dotted and solid lines in FIGS. 1 and by
the solid lines in FIG. 2.
[0113] In many cases, an initiating node that wishes to communicate
with a destination node may not have any links established with the
destination node and may not know where the destination node is.
This may be particularly true when the destination node is a mobile
node.
[0114] One approach for dealing with this may be for the initiating
node to flood the network with a Destination Node Discovery
message. In connection with the embodiments that have thus-far been
described, the flooding may be initiated by the initiating node by
sending the Destination Node Discovery message to each of the other
nodes with whom the initiating node has a primary link and also, in
certain embodiments, a secondary link. The Destination Node
Discovery message may ask each linked node whether it is aware of
the destination node and, if not, to forward the message to its
linked nodes. This process may repeat until the Destination Node
Discovery message is received by the destination node or a node
that is aware of it. Upon reaching such a node, the node may return
identifying information.
[0115] The initiating node may include with each Destination Node
Discovery message a time-to-live parameter. This parameter may be
decremented by one each time it is forwarded by another node. Once
the count reaches zero, the Destination Node Discovery message may
no longer be forwarded.
[0116] Including a time-to-live parameter may minimize the degree
to which a network is flooded by a Destination Node Discovery
message. When used, the value of the time-to-live may be selected
such that it is somewhat greater than the anticipated number of
hops that may be needed to reach the destination node.
[0117] The Destination Node Discovery message may also include the
ID of the initiating node, along with a message identifying the
destination node. This information may be used by each of the other
nodes that receive this message to distinguish it from other
Destination Node Discovery messages. Such information may enable
each node to avoid forwarding duplicates of the same Destination
Node Discovery message, even though the same message may be
received in duplicate from other nodes. This may also reduce the
degree of flooding.
[0118] After a destination node is located, various different
approaches may be used to actually establish a routing path.
[0119] One approach is location-based forwarding. With this
approach, the information that is sent back may include the
location of the destination node. The initiating node may also know
its location and thus be able to determine an appropriate routing
direction. The initiating node may also keep track of the location
of each of its linked nodes. Based on all of this location
information, the initiating node may then be able to identify the
primary link that is most closely directed to the destination node.
The initiating node may then encode the message for the node
associated with this primary link and then transmit the
message.
[0120] The node associated with this primary link, in turn, may
receive the message and perform a similar analysis to determine the
primary link over which it, in turn, will forward the message. This
"hopping" process may continue until the message finally reaches
the destination node. A return message may then be processed in the
same manner.
[0121] As described above and illustrated in connection with FIG.
2, however, there may be situations in which a single node will
initiate or forward the same message over more than a single
primary link. Such an approach may be used in cases in which there
may be uncertainty over the sufficiency of the operation of a
needed primary link. In this situation, one or more redundant paths
may be established in connection with at least portions of the
routing, as shown in FIG. 2 and discussed above.
[0122] As with the Destination Node Discovery message, information
messages may also be packaged with a time-to-live parameter, thus
insuring that a message that is unable to reach its destination
node does not endlessly travel throughout the network. Once routing
is established between the initiating node and the destination
node, the exact number of hops may be known. This information can
be used in selecting a judicious time-to-live parameter. As the
configuration of the routing changes, due to the establishment of
superior links or the removal of insufficient links, the expected
hop count may be updated and, along with it, the time-to-live
parameter.
[0123] Similarly, and particularly in connection with destination
nodes that are moving, the location of the destination node may
also be updated and, along with it, the routing that is
selected.
[0124] Another approach to routing is to use routing tables in each
node. In this embodiment, the route that is followed by a
Destination Node Discovery message between the initiating node and
the Destination Node may be recorded and associated with a unique
communication code that is assigned to the communication between
the initiating node and the destination node.
[0125] For example, the node 101 might initiate a Destination Node
Discovery message for the node 103 in FIG. 1. It might include with
the Destination Node Discovery message a unique code for the
communication that is being established.
[0126] The Destination Node Discovery message may also include the
node ID of each node that forwards the message. Thus, by the time
the Destination Node Discovery message reaches the destination node
103, the Destination Node Discovery message may include the IDs of
all of the nodes through which it was forwarded, i.e., the nodes
101, 105, 107 and 109.
[0127] The destination node may then store all of the accumulated
routing information that was received in its routing table. It may
also respond to the Destination Node Discovery message by directing
a message back over the series of links by which it came by
including with the response the same history of links, along with
the unique code of the communication.
[0128] Each node that receives the reply may then record in its
routing table the node from which the reply came, the node to which
the reply should be forwarded, and the unique number that has been
assigned to the communication.
[0129] The next time a node receives a communication bearing this
unique number, it may then consult its routing table to determine
the link over which it should be forwarded.
[0130] Each node may also include appropriate systems for managing
their routing tables. For example, each node may include a system
that deletes entries in the routing table that have not been
referenced for a pre-determined amount of time. Each node may also
include systems that update the routing table based on changes in
the network topology.
[0131] In some cases, a node may combine both location-based
forwarding with routing table information. For example, a node that
is implementing forwarding with routing tables may run into a
situation where it receives a communication that is not listed in
its routing table. In this situation, the node may forward the
message using location-based forwarding.
[0132] FIG. 9 illustrates a node that may be used in a network. As
shown in FIG. 9, the node may include a transmitter 901, a receiver
903, an antenna 905, an encoder 907, a decoder 909, a routing table
911, a controller 913, a searcher 915, a pilot generator 917, a PN
generator 919, a memory 921, a locator 923 and a user interface
925.
[0133] The transmitter 901 may transmit information received from
the controller 913 to the antenna 905. The receiver 903 may receive
information from the antenna 905 and deliver it to the controller
913. The encoder 907 may encode information for transmission, again
operating under the control of the controller 913. The encoder may
use any of the encoding techniques discussed above, such as
frequency encoding, phase encoding, time encoding, address encoding
or spread spectrum encoding.
[0134] Similarly, the decoder 909 may decode information received
from the receiver 903 under the control of the controller 913. As
with the encoder, the decoder 909 may decode information based on
frequency, phase, time, address or a spread spectrum code.
[0135] The routing table 911 may be used to store routing
information and may be used in those embodiments in which routing
is accomplished in connection with a routing table.
[0136] The pilot searcher 915 may be used in association with
information received by the receiver 903 under the control of the
controller 913 to search received information for pilots.
[0137] The pilot generator 917 may be used to generate pilots that,
under the control of the controller 913, are transmitted by the
transmitter 901.
[0138] The PN generator 919 may be used to generate one or more PN
sequence codes that, under the control of the controller, may be
used by the node to spread information for other nodes, to
de-spread information from other nodes, to control the times during
which the node transmits and receives, and to determine the times
during which a linked node is scheduled to receive information, all
as explained above in more detail.
[0139] The locator 923 may determine the location of the node. It
may include a GPS receiver. It may instead use magnetic location
techniques or determine location based on one or more signals that
are received by the node. Other location techniques may also be
used.
[0140] The user interface 925 facilitates communication between the
node and the user of the node. As discussed above in more detail in
connection with FIG. 1, the user interface may include one or more
input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, microphone,
camera or a communication link with another system. Similarly, the
user interface may include one or more output devices, such as a
display, loudspeaker, headset or a communication link with another
system.
[0141] The memory 921 may be used by the controller and/or other
components of the node to store information needed by the node,
permanently and/or temporarily, such as information from the user
interface, information for the user interface, location
information, PN codes, pilot information, routing information,
encoding information and/or decoding information.
[0142] The node may include additional components and/or may not
include all of the components discussed above in connection with
FIG. 9. For example, one or more nodes on the network might not
include a user interface and thus might not sink or source data,
but merely act as forwarding nodes and/or provide other
communication services to other nodes on the network.
[0143] The node may also include power control systems to control
the power level of the signals that are transmitted. Such systems
may be open loop and set the power level to a target node based on
the strength of the signal that is received from that node. Such
systems may be closed loop and allow the power level of the node to
be set by another node, such as a node that is receiving the signal
from the node whose power level is being set. A combination of
these approaches may also be used.
[0144] The randomized time division duplex feature that has been
discussed above may be used in conjunction with the encoding
feature that has also been discussed above or without it.
Similarly, the encoding feature may be used with or without the
time division duplex feature.
[0145] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and
circuits that have been described may be implemented or performed
with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP),
an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field
programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,
discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or
any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described
herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in
the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,
controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also
be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0146] The methods or algorithms described in connection with the
embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware,
in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination
of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash
memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard
disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage
medium known in the art. A storage medium may be coupled to the
processor such that the processor can read information from, and
write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the
storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and
the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in
the node, or elsewhere. In the alternative, the processor and the
storage medium may reside as discrete components in the node, or
elsewhere in an access network.
[0147] The description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to
enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present
invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
the scope of this application is not intended to be limited to the
embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope
consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed
herein.
* * * * *