Dynamic operating roles for internet of things (iot) devices in a network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018343165-A1
Application number	US-201815951135-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 11, 2018
Priority date	May 26, 2017
Publication date	Nov 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an internet of things (IoT) device. In some implementations, the IoT device can select an operating role for the first IoT device in a local network. The operating role may be selected from between an endpoint role and a relay role. The operating role may be dynamically selected by the first IoT device based whether the relay role would enhance connectivity for a client device that is within a wireless range of the first IoT device. The IoT device may participate in a self-organizing network (SON) and may coordinate with other devices in the SON to enhance wireless coverage for the client device based on a position of the client device relative to the one or more IoT devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method performed by a first internet of things (IoT) device, comprising:
establishing a first communication link between the first IoT device and a first network node of a local network; selecting, by the first IoT device, an operating role for the first IoT device in the local network, the operating role selected from between an endpoint role and a relay role, wherein the operating role is dynamically selected by the first IoT device based, at least in part, on a determination whether the relay role would enhance connectivity for a client device that is within a wireless range of the first IoT device; and upon selecting the relay role:
establishing a second communication link via a wireless association between the first IoT device and the client device; and
bridging traffic associated with the client device via the first communication link and the second communication link.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, upon selecting the relay role:
changing the operating role of the first IoT device from the endpoint role to the relay role; configuring the first IoT device to operate as a relay node between the first network node and the client device; and bridging the traffic in response to changing the configuration of the first IoT device to operate as the relay node.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the local network is a self-organizing network (SON), and wherein selecting the operating role includes communicating with a second IoT device utilizing a SON protocol.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the operating role for the first IoT device includes:
coordinating between the first IoT device and one or more other IoT devices in the local network to select the relay role for the first IoT device based, at least in part, on a position of the client device relative to the first IoT device and the one or more other IoT devices.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the operating role for the first IoT device includes:
sending, from the first IoT device to one or more network nodes of the local network, a message indicating that the first IoT device is capable of operating in the relay role for the local network.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the operating role for the first IoT device includes:
broadcasting an advertisement message indicating that the first IoT device is capable of operating in the relay role for the local network; receiving a request from the client device for the wireless association between the first IoT device and the client device; and selecting the relay role in response to receiving the request from the client device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining to steer the client device from the first IoT device to a second network node in the local network; and steering the client device to the second network node.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second network node is a second IoT device connected to the local network.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein determining to steer the client device includes:
determining a first link metric for the first communication link between the first IoT device and a central access point of the local network; determining a second link metric for a third communication link between the second network node and the central access point; and determining that the second network node would provide a higher quality of service for the client device based, at least in part, on a comparison of the first link metric and the second link metric.

10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising, after steering the client device to the second network node:
reducing power for a wireless coverage area associated with the first IoT device.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising, after steering the client device to the second network node:
determining that no client devices are using the relay role of the first IoT device for bridging traffic to the local network; changing the operating role of the first IoT device from the relay role to the endpoint role; and configuring the first IoT device to operate as an endpoint in the local network.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication link between the first IoT device and the first network node includes a wireless connection to the first network node.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enabling a wireless interface of the first IoT device in response to a request received via the first communication link between the first IoT device and the local network; and utilizing the wireless interface to obtain diagnostic measurements associated with at least one other device in the local network.

14 . A first internet of things (IoT) device, comprising:
a processor; and memory coupled with the processor and having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor cause the first IoT device to:
establish a first communication link between the first IoT device and a first network node of a local network;
select, by the first IoT device, an operating role for the first IoT device in the local network, the operating role selected from between an endpoint role and a relay role, wherein the operating role is dynamically selected by the first IoT device based, at least in part, on a determination whether the relay role would enhance connectivity for a client device that is within a wireless range of the first IoT device; and
upon selecting the relay role:
establish a second communication link via a wireless association between the first IoT device and the client device; and
bridge traffic associated with the client device via the first communication link and the second communication link.

15 . The first IoT device of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first IoT device to, upon selecting the relay role:
change the operating role of the first IoT device from the endpoint role to the relay role; configure the first IoT device to operate as a relay node between the first network node and the client device; and bridge the traffic in response to changing the configuration of the first IoT device to operate as the relay node.

16 . The first IoT device of claim 14 , wherein the local network is a self-organizing network (SON), and wherein the instructions to select the operating role of the first IoT device include instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first IoT device to communicate with a second IoT device utilizing a SON protocol.

17 . The first IoT device of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to select the operating role of the first IoT device include instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first IoT device to:
coordinate between the first IoT device and one or more other IoT devices in the local network to select the relay role for the first IoT device based, at least in part, on a position of the client device relative to the first IoT device and the one or more other IoT devices.

18 . The first IoT device of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to select the operating role of the first IoT device include instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first IoT device to:
send, from the first IoT device to one or more network nodes of the local network, a message indicating that the first IoT device is capable of operating in the relay role for the local network.

19 . The first IoT device of claim 14 , wherein t

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Anantharaman Subramanian
• Natarajan Sreekanth

Classifications

• H04W88/04

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title

• H04W40/22

  using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point · CPC title

• H04W84/18

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• H04L41/0816 Primary

  the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events · CPC title

• H04L12/283

  Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network · CPC title