Patent · US Expired

Distributed topology learning method and apparatus for wireless networks

US6414955B1 · kind B1 · utility

159Cited by
11References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 1999
Grant dateJul 2, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/70
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wireless network of communicating devices, preferably including sensors, uses a distributed method of topology learning to organize multiple hop, relayed communication among the devices and with users. The method of topology learning identifies interference neighbors and communication neighbors for each device, preferably using ranging between devices and distributed calculation to limit the number of devices involved in each step of the topology learning method, thereby conserving energy and bandwidth. The identification of interference neighbors and communication neighbors for each device in the network facilitates scheduling of communications in any of a variety of multiple access protocols.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.