Patent · US Expired

Cluster head resignation to improve routing in mobile communication systems

US6493759B1 · kind B1 · utility

47Cited by
7References
7Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 2000
Grant dateDec 10, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 24, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L45/04
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A communications system for communication among plural stations in a network has stations (CH1, CM2, CM3, CH4, CH5, CM6, CM7) arranged in clusters (1a, 1b, 1c) of communication member stations, each communicating with each other. One of the member stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) is a head station of the cluster. The cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) communicate with other cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5). A method for configuring the network of stations includes a step of operating at least a first (CH5) and a second (CH4) station of the plural stations as cluster head stations, the first (CH5) and second (CH4) stations forming a communications link. The method also includes a step to resign the first (CH5) station from operating as a cluster head station when a predetermined resignation condition is met. The method also includes a step of maintaining the communication link between the first (CH5) and second (CH4) station as the first station (CH5) transitions from operating as a cluster head station (CH5) to operating as a cluster member station (CM5) of a cluster headed by the second cluster head station (CH4).

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