Network routing system, method, and computer program product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022141874-A1
Application number	US-202117552753-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 9, 2011
Publication date	May 5, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, system, or computer program product to enhance the performance of multi-hop cellular networks or other wireless networks is provided. A wireless device (e.g., cellular telephone) is able to communicate with a base-station in a cell of the cellular network over a non-cellular interface via another wireless device in the cell through the use of multi-hopping. By enabling wireless devices to communicate with a base station in such a manner, the effective coverage area of the cellular network is expanded and the effective capacity of the cellular network is improved. Distributed routing, device management, adaptive scheduling, and distributed algorithms can be used to enhance the overall performance of multi-hop cellular networks.

First claim

1 .- 14 . (canceled)

15 . A method of relaying data on a multi-hop network, the method comprising:
receiving data at a first cellular base station in a multi-hop network from a first relay device via at least a first wireless communications channel, wherein the first relay device receives the data from at least one cellular device via at least a second wireless communications channel; obtaining a measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station; and directing the first relay device to connect to a second cellular base station based at least in part on the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first relay device relays data between the second cellular base station and the at least one cellular device via at least a third communications channel and a fourth communications channel.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station is associated with the first wireless communications channel.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station is associated with a third wireless communications channel, and wherein the first cellular base station is in communication with a wireless device via at least the third wireless communications channel.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station is associated with a data rate of the first cellular base station.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the directing is performed with the second cellular base station.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a second relay device is in communication with the first relay device via the second communications channel, and the second relay device is in communication with the at least one cellular device via at least a third communications channel.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising storing routing information associated with the second relay device in the first relay device.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a second relay device is in communication with the first relay device via a third communications channel, and the second relay device is in communication with the second cellular base station via at least a fourth communications channel.

24 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving one or more parameters for determining a set of potential relay devices based on at least signal quality of communications channels associated with the set of potential relay devices.

25 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
encrypting the data with a security key based on a security identifier associated with the first relay device to create encrypted data; and at least one of the group consisting of:
transmitting the encrypted data from the first relay device to the first the cellular base station; and
transmitting the encrypted data from the first cellular base station to the first relay device.

26 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
encrypting the data with a security key based on a security identifier associated with the one cellular device to create encrypted data; and at least one of the group consisting of:
transmitting the encrypted data from the one cellular device to the first relay device;
transmitting the encrypted data from the first relay device to the first the cellular base station;
transmitting the encrypted data from the first cellular base station to the first relay device; and
transmitting the encrypted data from the first relay device to the one cellular device.

27 . A system that relays data on a multi-hop network, the system comprising:
a first cellular base station; a first relay device that relays data between the first cellular base station and at least one cellular device via at least a first wireless communications channel and a second wireless communications channel; and a second cellular base station that obtains a measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station and directs the first relay device to connect to the second cellular base station based at least in part on the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the first relay device relays data between the second cellular base station and the at least one cellular device via at least a third communications channel and a fourth communications channel.

29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station is associated with the first wireless communications channel.

30 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station is associated with a third wireless communications channel, and wherein the first cellular base station is in communication with a wireless device via at least the third wireless communications channel.

31 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station is associated with a data rate of the first cellular base station.

32 . The system of claim 27 , further comprising a second relay device in communication with the first relay device via the second communications channel, wherein the second relay device is in communication with the at least one cellular device via at least a third communications channel.

33 . The system of claim 27 , further comprising a second relay device in communication with the first relay device via a third communications channel, wherein the second relay device is in communication with the second cellular base station via at least a fourth communications channel.

34 . The system of claim 27 , further comprising:
one or more processors that encrypt the data with a security key based on a security identifier associated with the first relay device to create encrypted data; and at least one of the group consisting of:
the first relay device transmits the encrypted data to the first the cellular base station; and
the first cellular base station transmits the encrypted data from the first cellular base station to the first relay device.

35 . Non-transitory computer-readable storage comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a method of relaying data on a multi-hop network to be performed, the method comprising:
receiving data at a first cellular base station in a multi-hop network from a first relay device via at least a first wireless communications channel, wherein the first relay device receives the data from at least one cellular device via at least a second wireless communications channel; obtaining a measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station; and directing the first relay device to connect to a second cellular base station based at least in part on the measurement associated with operation of the first cellular base station.

Assignees

• Univ Texas

Inventors

• Bhargava Vidur
• Vishwanath Sriram
• Jose Jubin

Classifications

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title

• H04W40/12

  based on transmission quality or channel quality · CPC title

• H04W74/0816 Primary

  with collision avoidance · CPC title

• H04W40/22

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

• H04W74/02

  Hybrid access · CPC title