U.S. patent application number 15/167639 was filed with the patent office on 2017-04-27 for connection initiation in wireless networks including load balancing.
This patent application is currently assigned to Strix Systems, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is James M. Jollota, Matthew Kuiken. Invention is credited to James M. Jollota, Matthew Kuiken.
Application Number | 20170118685 15/167639 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23106435 |
Filed Date | 2017-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170118685 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jollota; James M. ; et
al. |
April 27, 2017 |
CONNECTION INITIATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS INCLUDING LOAD
BALANCING
Abstract
Disclosed embodiments include a method for establishing a
wireless communication session between a base station unit and a
mobile unit wherein a system controller determines which base
station unit of multiple base station units is an optimal base
station unit to establish the session. The method includes the
system controller receiving commands from each of multiple BSUs
that have received a request for wireless service from a mobile
unit. The commands include information, such as a unique identifier
for the sending BSU, signal strength information for the sending
BSU, and channel availability for the sending BSU. The system
controller directs the optimal BSU to respond to the request, and
directs every other BSU to ignore the request. In at least one
embodiment, Bluetooth commands are used.
Inventors: |
Jollota; James M.; (Simi
Valley, CA) ; Kuiken; Matthew; (Goleta, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Jollota; James M.
Kuiken; Matthew |
Simi Valley
Goleta |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Strix Systems, Inc.
Camarillo
CA
|
Family ID: |
23106435 |
Appl. No.: |
15/167639 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12885908 |
Sep 20, 2010 |
9357445 |
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15167639 |
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11621959 |
Jan 10, 2007 |
7835325 |
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12885908 |
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10701374 |
Nov 3, 2003 |
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11621959 |
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PCT/US02/13710 |
May 2, 2002 |
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10701374 |
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60288270 |
May 2, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 84/18 20130101;
H04N 21/4126 20130101; H04W 48/20 20130101; H04W 36/08 20130101;
H04W 36/30 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201; H04B 7/022 20130101; H04W
48/14 20130101; H04W 36/0055 20130101; H04W 28/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 36/08 20060101
H04W036/08; H04W 36/30 20060101 H04W036/30; H04W 4/00 20060101
H04W004/00; H04W 48/14 20060101 H04W048/14; H04W 28/08 20060101
H04W028/08 |
Claims
1. A system for wireless communication with at least one mobile
unit (MU), the system comprising: one or more base station unit
BSUs coupled to a network, wherein each of the BSUs is configured
to communicate wirelessly with the MU according to a Bluetooth
protocol and to automatically handoff the MU to another BSU as
required when the MU moves with respect to the BSUs; one or more
network system controllers coupled to the one or more BSUs, wherein
each of the one or more network system controllers is configured
to: receive a command from each of the BSUs, wherein the command
indicates that the MU has sent an inquiry to the BSU to inquire
whether the BSU provides a wireless service, and wherein the
command includes a plurality of data relating to the BSU; compare
the pluralities of data received from each of the BSUs; determine
an optimal BSU of the BSUs to communicate with the MU; send a
command to the optimal BSU indicating that the optimal BSU should
respond to the MU; and send a command to each of the BSUs that are
not optimal BSUs indicating that each of the BSUs that are not
optimal BSUs should ignore the MU.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the inquiry is sent during one
or more Bluetooth procedures selected from a group comprising,
Inquiry, Inquiry-scan, Page, and Page-scan; the plurality of data
relating to the BSU comprises a BSU_ID, a MU_ID, a MU_RSSI, a
MU_Inquiry_Type, and Radio data, wherein the Radio data comprises a
radio identifier, a number of SCO channels used, a number of ACL
channels used, and a number of Handoff channels used; and wherein
each of the one or more network system controllers performs load
balancing in determining the optimal BSU.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein: the command indicating that the
optimal BSU should respond to the MU comprises an Accept_MU
command; and the indicating that each of the BSUs that are not
optimal BSUs should ignore the MU comprises an ignore_MU
command.
4. A lower than application level method for wireless communication
using a short-range radio frequency protocol, comprising: a mobile
unit (MU) sending a request for service to a plurality of base
station units (BSUs) in a wireless network; each of the plurality
of BSUs sending a command to a system controller in response to
receiving the request for service, wherein the command includes
data related to the BSU; the system controller comparing data
received from each of the plurality of BSUs to determine an optimal
BSU to complete a connection with the MU; the system controller
sending a first command to the optimal BSU with respect to
initiating service with the MU for transmitting digital data to, or
receiving digital data from, the MU, wherein the optimal BSU
represents an optimal digital data path with respect to the MU and
the system controller sending a second command to every other
BSU.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the short-range radio frequency
protocol comprises Bluetooth, and wherein the data related to the
BSU comprises: a BSU_ID; a MU_ID; a MU_RSSI; a MU_Inquiry_Type; and
Radio data, wherein the Radio data comprises a radio identifier, a
number of SCO channels used, a number of ACL channels used, and a
number of Handoff channels used.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the short-range radio frequency
communication comprises Bluetooth, and wherein: the first command
is an Accept_MU command that directs that a BSU to respond to a MU;
and the second command is an ignore_MU command that directs a BSU
to ignore the request for service.
7. The method of claim 4, further comprising: the system controller
determining whether more than one BSU sent the command to the
system controller; if more than one BSU sent the command to the
system controller, the system controller determining whether a
received signal strength indication (RSSI) for more than one BSU
that sent the command to the system controller is above a
predetermined threshold; and if an RSSI for more than one BSU is
above the predetermined threshold, the system controller
determining a BSU of the BSUs with a RSSI above the predetermined
threshold that has a minimum number of channels in use.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the request is for network
service, and wherein determining the BSU with the minimum number of
channels in use comprises determining the BSU with the minimum
number of asynchronous connectionless links (ACL) channels in
use.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the request is for telephony
service, and wherein determining the BSU with the minimum number of
channels in use comprises determining the BSU with the minimum
number of synchronous connection oriented (SCO) channels in
use.
10. The method of claim 4, further comprising: in response to the
first command, the optimal BSU sending a response to the MU
indicating that the optimal MU is fully available; and in response
to the second command, every other BSU sending a response to the MU
that the responding BSU has no service available.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the short-range radio frequency
communication comprises Bluetooth, and wherein: indicating that the
optimal MU is fully available comprises setting a BSU minor class
load factor field to a value that indicates "fully available"; and
indicating that the responding BSU has no service available
comprises setting a BSU minor class load factor field to a value
that indicates "no service available".
12. A method for wireless communication using a short-range radio
frequency, comprising: a mobile unit (MU) sending a request for
service to a plurality of base station units (BSUs) in a wireless
network; each of the plurality of BSUs sending a command to every
other one of the plurality of BSUs, wherein the command includes
data related to a BSU sending the command; and the plurality of
BSUs using the data to negotiate which BSU is an optimal BSU to
complete a connection with the MU and to transmit digital data to,
or receive digital data from, the MU, wherein the optimal BSU
represents an optimal digital data path with respect to the MU.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the short-range radio frequency
communication comprises Bluetooth, and wherein the data related to
the BSU comprises: a BSU_ID; a MU_ID; a MU_RSSI; a MU_Inquiry_Type;
and Radio data, wherein the Radio data comprises a radio
identifier, a number of SCO channels used, a number of ACL channels
used, and a number of Handoff channels used.
14. A method for wireless communication using a short-range radio
frequency protocol in a network comprising a plurality of base
station units (BSUs) and at least one mobile unit (MU), the method
comprising: during operational communication between different BSUs
in the network, exchanging mobile unit parameters between the
different BSUs, wherein the different BSUs comprise a BSU that is
currently communicating with the MU, and at least one BSU with
which the MU will next be in communication; and determining which
of the at least one BSUs is an optimal BSU to next communicate with
the MU for transmitting digital data to, or receiving digital data
from, the MU, wherein the optimal BSU represents an optimal digital
data path with respect to the MU.
15. A computer-readable medium containing lower than application
level instructions that, when executed, cause a wireless network
system controller to: receive at least one command from at least
one base station unit (BSU), wherein the command comprises an
indication that a mobile unit (MU) has requested at least one
service from the at least one BSU, and further comprises data
relating to each BSU from which the system controller receives a
command; determine, based on the data, which of the at least one
BSUs is an optimal BSU to respond to the request; send a first
command to the optimal BSU with respect to providing service for
the MU for transmitting digital data to, or receiving digital data
from, the MU, wherein the optimal BSU represents an optimal digital
data path with respect to the MU; and send a second command to
every other BSU of the at least one BSUs.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
instructions, when executed, further cause the optimal BSU, in
response to the first command, to respond to the MU to complete a
connection to the MU.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
instructions, when executed, further cause the every other BSU, in
response to the second command, to ignore the request of the
MU.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein: the wireless
network comprises communication using Bluetooth; the at least one
command is a Received_MU command; the data comprises a BSU_ID, a
MU_ID, a MU_RSSI, a MU_Inquiry_Type; and Radio data, wherein the
Radio data comprises a radio identifier, a number of SCO channels
used, a number of ACL channels used, and a number of Handoff
channels used.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the
instructions, when executed, further cause the system controller
to: determine whether more than one BSU sent the command to the
system controller; if more than one BSU sent the command to the
system controller, the system controller determining whether a
received signal strength indication (RSSI) for more than one BSU
that sent the command to the system controller is above a
predetermined threshold; and if an RSSI for more than one BSU is
above the predetermined threshold, the system controller
determining a BSU of the BSUs with a RSSI above the predetermined
threshold that has a minimum number of channels in use.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the service requested is a
network service, and wherein determining the BSU with the minimum
number of channels in use comprises determining the BSU with the
minimum number of asynchronous connectionless links (ACL) channels
in use.
21.-34. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of international
application no. PCT/US02/13710 filed May 2, 2002, and claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/288,270,
entitled Method for Load Balancing Networks, filed May 2, 2001,
both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosed embodiments relate to wireless systems and
networks.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As wireless communications technology has evolved, a variety
of hardware and software solutions have been used to implement
wireless networks. No clear standard for many of the design aspects
of wireless systems now exists, and each of the differently
designed networks has advantages and disadvantages. One of the
variables in wireless networking is the wireless networking
protocol used.
[0004] Global system for mobile communications (GSM, originally
"Groupe de travail Speciale pour les services Mobiles") is a
standard, or protocol, for digital cellular communications in the
process of being adopted by over 60 countries. The GSM standard is
currently used in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, and is typically
used in wide area network applications. GSM, and other standards
for wireless telephony, such as code division multiple access
(CDMA), or "spread spectrum" include methods for handing a session
off to a new coverage area, or cell, as the mobile device moves
from cell to cell. Previous standards also have disadvantages,
however. For example, the mobile telephony service may be
unreliable or unavailable in certain areas. For those standards
that use regulated regions of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum,
rights to use the regulated regions of the spectrum must be
obtained.
[0005] A personal communications network (PCN) is any network that
supports personal communication services (PCS). The PCS are
telecommunications services that bundle voice communications,
numeric and text messaging, voice-mail and various other features
into one device, service contract and bill. PCN does not share all
of the limitations of traditional cellular telephony, and offers
potentially wider application. For example, PCN offers wider
bandwidth, or "broadband access", and can provide greater
availability with higher reliability than cellular in some
geographic areas. In addition, PCN does not use a regulated area of
the RF spectrum. PCN does use various wireless networking
standards, such as Institute of Electronic and Electrical
Engineering (IEEE) 802.11 and IEEE 802.11b, which use
direct-sequence spread spectrum, and Bluetooth, which uses
frequency-hopping spread spectrum. Ericsson initially developed
Bluetooth as an inexpensive solution to unwiring devices, such as
in an office environment. Bluetooth uses a special short-range
radio frequency to communicate data between a Bluetooth transmitter
and a Bluetooth receiver. Bluetooth, and similar standards used
with PCN, currently lack the ability to adequately support movement
of the host mobile device from one cell to another, and to
adequately perform load balancing.
[0006] Details of the Bluetooth standard may be found at
http://www.palowireless.com. Further details of the Bluetooth
standard, and other wireless systems, may be found at:
[0007] "Specification of the Bluetooth System," version 1.1:
http://www.bluetooth.com/developer/specification/specification.asp;
[0008] IETF draft: "Temporally-Ordered Routing Algorithm (TORA)
Version 1 Functional
Specification"--http://www.ics.uci.edu/.about.atm/adhoc/paper-collection/-
corson-draft-ietf-manet-tora-spec-00.txt;
[0009] Text: "Mobile Communications", Jochen Schiller,
Addison-Wesley, 2000;
[0010] Text: "Bluetooth--Connect Without Wires", Bray &
Sturman, Prentice Hall PTR, 2001;
[0011] Text: "Bluetooth Revealed", Miller & Bisdikian, Prentice
Hall PTR, 2001; and
[0012] Text: "Bluetooth Demystified", Muller, McGraw-Hill,
2001.
[0013] An example of the failure of traditional Bluetooth networks
to handle true mobility is the typical connection initiation
process. Typically, in order to access a particular personal
communication service (e.g., LAN Access Point, Phone, etc), the
Bluetooth mobile device sends a request for service to all base
station units (BSUs) within range, in the form of a standard
Bluetooth command. In prior Bluetooth networks, the Bluetooth
mobile device receives responses from every appropriately capable
BSU within range, as well as from every other appropriately capable
Bluetooth device within range. The Bluetooth mobile device must
then choose to complete a connection to one of the responding BSUs,
which is burdensome overhead for the mobile device. For example,
every mobile device, or user, must examine data in every response,
and make some load balancing decisions based on data from each of
the responding BSUs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment showing a mobile user
device in a wireless network with multiple base station units.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating base station unit (BSU)
availability for the mobile unit under an embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating determining an optimal
BSU in one embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating determining a BSU
response to a mobile unit (MU) in one embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating determining a BSU
response to a mobile unit (MU) in one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following description provides specific details for a
thorough understanding of, and enabling description for,
embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will
understand that the invention may be practiced without these
details. In other instances, well known structures and functions
have not been shown or described in detail in order to avoid
obscuring the description of the embodiments of the invention.
[0020] A method and apparatus for establishing a connection between
a mobile wireless device and a base station unit (BSU) are
described. When an attempt to initiate a wireless session is made
by a mobile device, every BSU in range receives a request from the
mobile device. In one embodiment, all of the BSUs that received the
request communicate among themselves to determine the "optimal BSU"
for the requested wireless session. Once the determination is made
among the receiving BSUs, one useable response is sent to the
requesting mobile device from the optimal BSU. Load balancing is
performed in the course of communication between the BSUs. The
embodiments described reference the Bluetooth standard, but many
wireless communication systems are applicable.
[0021] Using standard Bluetooth Inquiry, when a mobile device or
mobile unit (MU) enters the PCN of one embodiment, and when it
powers on, the MU and the PCN initiate a communication session.
This session, or link is initiated using any one of four procedures
described in the Bluetooth core specification (Inquiry,
Inquiry-scan, Page, and Page-scan). The MU attempts to locate
devices that feature services it requires under the wireless link,
such as LAN Access Point, Voice Base Station, Phone, etc. Inquiry
is a Bluetooth procedure that enables a device to discover which
devices are in range, and to determine addresses and clocks for the
devices. The Inquiry procedure involves a source, in this case, the
MU, sending inquiry packets and receiving inquiry replies.
Destination units that receive the inquiry packets, in this case
BSUs, should be in an inquiry scan state to receive the inquiry
packets. The destination units then enter the inquiry response
state and send an inquiry reply to the source unit. After the
Inquiry procedure has completed, a connection can be established
using the Bluetooth paging procedure.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an arrangement of BSUs in a wireless
network 100 of one embodiment. The use of hexagons to represent BSU
cells is for clarity only. In a real PCN installation, a particular
BSU can have less than six neighbors or more than six neighbors. It
is not unusual for cells to have significantly more overlap than
implied by FIG. 1. An MU 201 is shown in cell B11, which has six
neighbor cells. The cells are connected (via a wired or wireless
connection) so as to communicate with a wireless pocket mobility
network (PMN) backbone 102. A PMN system controller, PSC 104 is
also connected to the PMN backbone 102. One PSC 104 is shown, but
multiple PSCs can be in a wireless network. The PMN is further
described in the following U.S. patent applications: Link Context
Mobility, such as for use in a Wireless Network, Ser. No.
60/262,558, filed Jan. 18, 2001; Wireless Base Station Neighbor
Discovery, Ser. No. 60/288,296, filed May 2, 2001; Wireless System
Base Station to Base Station Synchronization, Ser. No. 60/288,294,
filed May 2, 2001; and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Wireless
Systems Interference Mitigation by Transmit Suppression, Ser. No.
60/288,301, filed May 2, 2001.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the region around the MU 201. As the
MU 201 powers up within the B11 cell, or transitions from a
low-power state to an active state, there are often multiple BSUs
with adequate signal strength to accept the MU 201 Bluetooth
connection. If the MU 201 is in the area within the circle 202a,
only BSUs in the B11 cell have adequate signal strength to complete
the connection with the MU 201. If the MU 201 is outside the area
within circle 202a, as shown above, the signal strength difference
between BSUs in the B11 cell, the BSUs in the B12 cell, and the
BSUs in the B15 cell is not significant. A BSU in any of the cells
could accept the connection and offer similar performance. After
power-up, the probability of the MU 201 moving in any one
direction, that is, towards any of the candidate BSUs, is the same.
BSUs in each of the three cells are each equally qualified to
complete the connection.
[0024] Upon receiving the Inquiry, or any of the other Bluetooth
initiation procedure messages, each BSU sends a Received_MU
command, or data structure, to the PSC. The Received_MU command
includes the MU 201 Bluetooth address (BD_ADDR), the RSSI of the
received MU 201 request, the current radio channel allocation of
the BSU, including number of available radios, and the number of
asynchronous connectionless links (ACL links) and synchronous
connection oriented links (SCO links) used by each radio, as
described below. In addition, the amount of data sent to the PSC
can be expanded as system parameters change. For example,
additional parameters such as the number of used radio channels
allocated for handoff for each BSU can be sent to the PSC.
[0025] The PSC receives these Received_MU commands from multiple
BSUs, and determines which of the BSUs is the "optimal BSU" to
answer the MU 201 Inquiry. Answering the MU 201 inquiry implies
that the BSU will complete a wireless connection with the MU and
communicate with the MU. In one embodiment, the optimal BSU has a
minimum number of ACL or SCO links per radio for the most efficient
use of bandwidth in the network. A system configurable number of
radio channels is allocated to support the handoff of the MU from
cell to cell. Even if a BSU has some radio capacity,
handoff-support is better assured if these handoff channels are
left idle. MU signal strength, radio channel allocation, and
handoff-channel allotment are compared by the PSC to determine
which BSU, and thus which radio-channel, is optimal, as described
herein.
[0026] The PSC sends an Accept_MU command to the optimal BSU. All
of the other BSUs that sent Received_MU commands to the PSC receive
Ignore_MU command in response. The Ignore_MU command tells a BSU to
ignore the MU Inquiry.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a
routine performed by the PSC to determine the optimal BSU. Table 1
lists and describes some Bluetooth variables and settings, and can
be referred to along with FIG. 3. Table I effectively describes one
embodiment of the Received_MU data structure.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Received_MU Data Structure ID Description
BSU_ID A unique identifier for each BSU in the system. MU_ID A
unique identifier for each MU in the system, may be the same as, or
related to, BD_ADDR. MU_RSSI The received signal strength for the
MU, measured by the BSU. MU_Inquiry_ Indicates whether the MU
inquired for a data Type device or a voice device Radio-# A unique
identifier for each radio within the BSU. Radio-SCO Indicates how
many synchronous channels are Channels Used in use for the radio.
Radio-ACL Indicates how many asynchronous channels are Channels
Used in use for the radio. Radio-Handoff Indicates how many
allocated handoff channels Channels Used are in use for the BSU.
My_Threshold Indicates the minimum acceptable RSSI for BSU to MU
radio communication. Minimum System-wide configuration allotting a
certain Handoff number of radio channels for use Channels during
BSU to BSU handoff.
[0028] BSU selection begins in block 302, where the PSC receives
includes the transmission of Received_MU commands from each of the
BSUs within range of the inquiring MU. The Received_MU commands
each include a field or data structure: BSU_ID; MU_ID; MU_RSSI;
MU_Inquiry_Type; and Radio data, as shown in Table 1. The radio
data includes Radio #, which is a unique identifier for each radio
within the BSU, a number of SCO channels used, a number of ACL
channels used, and a number of Handoff channels used. The PSC
determines in block 304 whether it received Received_MU commands
from only one responding BSU. If so, then the PSC determines that
the single BSU is the optimal BSU. The PSC returns an Accept_MU
command in block 306 to the BSU.
[0029] When the PSC determines that it received more than one
Received_MU command, it compares in block 308 the MU_RSSI from each
of the Received_MU commands against a predetermined threshold
("My_Threshold"). If the PSC in block 312 determines that only one
of the BSUs has a RSSI greater than My_Threshold in block 312, the
PSC returns an Accept_MU command to the BSU with the acceptable
RSSI. Also in block 312, the PSC sends Ignore_MU commands to all of
the other BSUs that sent Received_MU commands.
[0030] If there is more than one BSU with a RSSI greater than
My_Threshold, the PSC compares in block 310 the number of channels
available against a predetermined number of available channels.
When only one BSU has available handoff channels, the PSC in block
316 returns an Accept_MU command to the BSU with the available
handoff channels. Also in block 316, the PSC sends Ignore_MU
commands to all of the other BSUs that sent Received_MU
commands.
[0031] If there is more than one BSU with available handoff
channels, the PSC switches based on MU_Inquiry_Type in block 314 in
order to make one of two determinations dependent on whether the
session is a networking session or a telephony or audio session. If
the MU_Inquiry_Type field indicates a networking session, the PSC
determines in block 318 which BSU has the minimum number of BSU-ACL
channels currently used. Alternatively, if the MU_Inquiry_Type
field indicates a telephony or audio session, the PSC determines in
block 320 which BSU has the minimum number of SCO channels
currently used. After either determination (under blocks 318 or
320) is made, the PSC in block 322 returns an Accept_MU command to
the BSU with the minimum number of SCO channels currently used.
Also in block 322, the PSC sends Ignore_MU commands to all of the
other BSUs that sent Received_MU commands.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of BSU response to the command
returned from the PSC in one embodiment. In block 402, the BSU
determines whether an Ignore_MU command or an Accept_MU command was
returned by the PSC. If an Ignore_MU command was received, the
process is at an end in block 404. If an Accept_MU command was
received, the BSU continues to communicate with the MU and
completes the connection to the MU in block 406.
[0033] Many alternatives to the embodiments described above are
possible. For example, in a first alternative embodiment, each BSU
will communicate with the MU regardless of whether an Ignore_MU
command or an Accept_MU command was received. Different
communications occur in each case, as described below. For example,
individual BSUs respond to the MU with different availability
parameters. The MU then has the option to choose among responding
BSUs. The BSU selection process begins and proceeds as described
with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 3. The embodiment differs
from the embodiment of FIG. 3 as shown in FIG. 5. At block 502, the
BSU determines whether an Ignore_MU command or an Accept_MU command
was returned by the PSC. If an Ignore_MU command was received, the
BSU responds to the MU indicating that no service is available in
block 504. If an Accept_MU command was received, the BSU responds
to the MU indicating that the BSU is "fully available" in block
506. A preferred-BSU selection is still available for the MU, but
the user of the MU may override the preferred-BSU if desired. One
implementation of the process of FIG. 5 using Bluetooth is
explained in more detail below.
[0034] During the Bluetooth Inquiry process, a Bluetooth
slave-device can attempt to locate devices with the LAN Access
Point device type profile. According to the Bluetooth standard, a
LAN Access Point will transmit an inquiry-response, which includes
the Bluetooth frequency hopping synchronization (FHS) packet type.
Within the FHS packet is an indication of a "class of device"
(CoD). The CoD for the LAN Access Point radio is: Networking; LAN
Access Point; and a utilization/availability status. The
availability status indicates whether the single radio within the
Access Point is 0% utilized, 1-17% utilized, 18-33%, and so on. All
BSUs receiving the Ignore_MU command from the PSC will reply to the
MU (as shown at block 504 in FIG. 5) with a BSU Minor Device Class
Load Factor field set to 111 indicating "no service available". If
the BSU is the optimal BSU, and received the Accept_MU command, the
BSU responds to the MU (as shown at block 506 of FIG. 5) with a BSU
Minor Device Class Load Factor field set to 000 indicating "fully
available". The MU still has the option of choosing any BSU within
range.
[0035] A second alternative embodiment does not include the PSC in
the decision process. All of the information that was previously
described as going to the PSC from the BSU, is instead broadcast to
all of the BSUs within the network. The BSUs then negotiate which
BSU is the optimal BSU. Only the optimal BSU responds to the MU.
This may require network traffic to broadcast the data between the
BSUs.
[0036] A third alternative embodiment includes proactively
transmitting the MU parameters, as described above, between each
BSU during MU handoff communication or some other BSU-to-BSU
operational communication. Communicating the MU parameters
proactively allows the BSUs to determine the most optimal BSU to
respond to an MU before the MU appears. In one embodiment, the BSUs
exchange the MU parameters for MUs currently within their range, or
with which the BSU is currently communicating, with any neighboring
BSU to which the MU may be handed off. In this way, the BSUs have
time to assess which of the possible "next" BSUs is the optimal
BSU.
[0037] Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the
invention can be practiced with various telecommunications or
computer system configurations, including Internet appliances,
hand-held devices, wearable computers, palm-top computers, cellular
or mobile phones, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or
programmable consumer electronics, set-top boxes, network PCs,
mini-computers, mainframe computers and the like.
[0038] Aspects of the invention can be embodied in a special
purpose computer or data processor that is specifically programmed,
configured or constructed to perform one or more of the
computer-executable instructions explained in detail below. Indeed,
the term "computer", as used generally herein, refers to any of the
above devices, as well as any data processor. Data structures and
transmission of data particular to aspects of the invention are
also encompassed within the scope of the invention. In general,
while hardware platforms, such as stationary and mobile devices,
are described herein, aspects of the invention are equally
applicable to nodes on the network having corresponding resource
locators to identify such nodes.
[0039] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout
the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising,"
and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed
to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of
"including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or plural
number also include the plural or singular number respectively.
Additionally, the words "herein," "above, "below," and words of
similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this
application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this
application.
[0040] The above detailed descriptions of embodiments of the
invention are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific
embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above
for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the
relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented
in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines
having steps in a different order. The teachings of the invention
provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily
the PMN system described herein. These and other changes can be
made to the invention in light of the detailed description.
[0041] The elements and acts of the various embodiments described
above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of
the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems,
functions and concepts of the various patents and applications
described above to provide yet further embodiments of the
invention.
[0042] All of the above references and U.S. patents and
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
[0043] These and other changes can be made to the invention in
light of the above detailed description. In general, the terms used
in the following claims should not be construed to limit the
invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the
specification, unless the above detailed description explicitly
defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention
encompasses the disclosed embodiments and all equivalent ways of
practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
[0044] While certain aspects of the invention are presented below
in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various
aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. For example,
while only one aspect of the invention is recited as embodied in a
computer-readable medium, other aspects may likewise be embodied in
a computer-readable medium. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the
right to add additional claims after filing the application to
pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the
invention.
* * * * *
References