Patent · US Active

Method of designating a future network coordinator

US7447503B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 11, 2005
Grant dateNov 4, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W48/16
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method (500) is provided for operating a network coordinator (110). The method includes receiving device capability information from a plurality of network devices (121-125), including whether each of the network devices can perform network control functions (520); determining whether any of the network devices is capable of performing network control functions based on the device capability information (540); choosing one of the network devices that is capable of performing network control functions to be a designated next coordinator if any of the network devices are capable of performing network control functions (570); determining that there will be no designated next coordinator if none of the network devices are capable of performing network control functions (550); and sending a beacon (220) to the network devices, the beacon including next coordinator information (300) indicating one of: the designated next coordinator, or that there is no designated next coordinator (580).

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