US007 197326 B2
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`(12)
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`United States Patent
`Acampora
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,197,326 B2
`*Mar. 27, 2007
`
`(54) ADAPTIVE LOCAL WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`La Jolla, CA (US
`tor: Anthonv A
`75) I
`(75) Inventor: Anthony Acampora, La Jolla, CA (US)
`(73) Assignee: The Regents of the University of
`California, Oakland, CA (US)
`-
`0
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 598 days.
`This patent is Subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/722,214
`(22) Filed:
`Nov. 24, 2003
`
`(65)
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`Prior Publication Data
`US 2004/O25.3924 A1
`Dec. 16, 2004
`O
`O
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/663,068, filed on
`Sep. 15, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,751,455.
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/154,615, filed on Sep.
`17, 1999.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04O 7/20
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................. 455/522:455/412:455/426.1:
`455/343.1: 370/338
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............... 455/4.1.2,
`455/426.1-426,573-574, 522, 69,343.1-343,
`455/402; 370/338; 340/693.1,538, 7.29,
`340/310.11; 709)248, 203
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,771,448 A
`9/1988 Koohgoli et al.
`5,361,985 A 11/1994 Rein et al.
`5,564,070 A 10, 1996 Want et al.
`
`5,694,329 A * 12/1997 Pomatto ..................... TOO,286
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`WO 99.17477
`4f1999
`
`WO
`
`Primary Examiner Joseph Feild
`Assistant Examiner Kamran Afshar
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Fish & Richardson P.C.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A radio link management system for a home or office
`substantially (i) an ad hoc network of agents wirelessly
`communicating among themselves, while (iii) clients wire
`lessly communicate with proximate agents. Control of the
`network may be centralized as network controller integrated
`with an agent, or may be distributed upon the network of
`agents. Some agent or agents, which may include an agent
`that is also the network controller, typically serves as a
`gateway device which connects to a worldwide communi
`cations network external to the home or office, normally by
`fiber or by wire.
`Each agent is most commonly a small radio transceiver plus
`logic and power Supply that mounts upon a wall and plugs
`directly into an AC power socket. Agents wirelessly com
`municate among themselves and with the controller—which
`may be centralized or distributed in a bandwidth-efficient
`mode since prime power is not an issue. Each client, which
`is most commonly a battery-powered user device, wirelessly
`radio communicates with one or more proximately-located
`agents. Consistent with overall demand for the radio
`resource, parameters for radio communication are allocated
`ad hoc in a manner which is (a) client-dependent, and which
`(b) uses the least power from the battery-powered client. The
`agents establish an ad-hoc network among themselves, with
`routing among and between the agents being both multi-hop
`and “minimum hop” to conserve bandwidth. Accordingly
`both power and bandwidth are conserved, each as and where
`required and desired.
`
`63 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`A6
`O
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`O : Agent
`D: Client
`Client Agent
`Radio LinkS
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`C4
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`Agent Agent
`Radio Link
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`land Line
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`Uniloc Ex. 2004
`Microsoft v. Uniloc
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`US 7,197,326 B2
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,802.467 A
`5.999,094. A
`6,304,556 B1
`6,396.457 B1
`6,542,754 B1
`
`9, 1998
`12, 1999
`10, 2001
`5, 2002
`4, 2003
`
`Salazar et al.
`Nilssen
`Haas
`Gatherer et al.
`Sayers et al.
`
`6,748,233 B1*
`6,937,579 B2*
`2002fOO27894 A1
`2002fOO47774 A1
`2004/OO77354 A1*
`* cited by examiner
`
`6, 2004
`8, 2005
`3, 2002
`4, 2002
`4, 2004
`
`Arnold et al. .............. 455,522
`Bantz et al. ................ 370,312
`Arrakoski et al.
`Christensen et al.
`Jason et al. ................. 455,450
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 27, 2007
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`US 7,197,326 B2
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`O
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`O Agent
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`Client-Agent
`Radio LinkS ?"
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`Agent-Agent
`2.Édioik
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`Land Line
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`FIG. 2
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`|AIAC/ICA14214C2|Ca2SANIACN
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`FIG. 3
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`US 7,197,326 B2
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`1.
`ADAPTIVE LOCAL WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
`
`2
`a ubiquitous link would provide the basis for small portable
`devices to communicate together in an ad-hoc fashion. A
`study was performed, and a technology code named "Blue
`tooth” began to be defined. The goal was to provide effort
`less service for mobile and business users by means of a
`Small, short range radio-based technology Suitably inte
`grated into production line models of a range of different
`devices.
`Five companies—Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and
`Toshiba teamed up in May, 1998, to address the rising tide
`of information currently received on mobile computers, cell
`phones and personal digital assistants. The result was the
`Bluetooth wireless communications initiative.
`As of October, 1998, some 200 companies including
`3Com, Compaq, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lucent, Motorola,
`NTT DoCoMo, Philips, Samsung, Siemens and Texas
`Instruments have joined the Bluetooth Special Interest
`Group (SIG).
`Bluetooth technology is intended to enable users to con
`nect their mobile computers, digital cellular phones, hand
`held devices, network access points and other mobile
`devices via wireless short-range radio links unimpeded by
`line-of-sight restrictions.
`Eliminating the need for proprietary cables to connect
`devices, Bluetooth technology will increase the ease and
`breadth of wireless connectivity. Users will be able to
`automatically receive e-mail on their notebook computers
`via the digital cellular phones in their pockets, or synchro
`nize their primary PC with their hand-held computer without
`taking it out of their briefcase.
`The overwhelming interest in Bluetooth technology from
`a wide range of industries demonstrates the growing impor
`tance of wireless communication, said Andrew M. Seybold,
`editor-in-chief, Andrew Seybolds Outlook and keynote
`speaker at the Bluetooth Developers Conference. Mr. Sey
`bold found the Bluetooth SIG to include the right balance of
`industry leaders who can make the vision a reality.
`The Bluetooth specification version 1.0 was publicly
`released on Jul. 26, 1999, and product announcements are
`imminent as of Fall, 1999. Early Bluetooth-enabled products
`are expected to include mobile computers, hand-held PCs,
`digital cellular phones and peripherals such as printers,
`projectors, PC Cards and hands-free head-sets. Network
`access points will also be available to facilitate access to
`LANs and WANs.
`The core Bluetooth programmed wireless transmitter/
`receiver is expected to permit a free flow of data without
`bulky cables. The technology, which ultimately may cost as
`little as S5, is designed to work anywhere, even on airplanes.
`Low power consumption—drawing only 0.3 mA in
`standby mode—enables maximum performance longevity
`for battery-powered devices. During data transfer the maxi
`mum current drain is 30 mA. However, during pauses, or at
`lower data rates, the drain will be lower.
`2.3 The HomeRF Working Group
`“HomeRF is also each of a consortium, a standard, and
`a (prospective) class of products. As before, the present
`invention will be seen to be none of these, but only suscep
`tible of implementation under the HomeRF standard.
`Review of HomeRF is useful primarily so as to again show,
`as with Bluetooth, that the wireless communications links
`realized by the present invention are readily implemented,
`circa 2000.
`The HomeRF Working Group (HRFWG) was formed to
`provide the foundation for a broad range of inter-operable
`consumer devices by establishing an open industry specifi
`
`REFERENCE TO A RELATED PATENT
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of 09/663,068, filed
`Sep. 15, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,455, which claims
`priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
`60/154,615 filed Sep. 17, 1999 The entire disclosures of the
`above-referenced patent applications are hereby incorpo
`rated by reference.
`
`10
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention generally concerns wireless com
`munication, including in the home or office.
`The present invention particularly concerns power, and
`bandwidth, management in and for wireless communica
`tions systems, most particularly as may be located in the
`home or office.
`The present invention still more particularly concerns
`power and bandwidth management for wireless communi
`cations systems, especially as are used in the home of office,
`that is adaptive, and tailored to communications conditions.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`2.1 Bluetooth and Home RF: Industry Efforts for Wireless
`Networking
`30
`The present invention will be seen to concern power
`management in and for home and office wireless commu
`nications systems. Before specifically considering power
`management, it is useful to understand just what is the “state
`of the art” in home and office wireless communications,
`circa 1999. In this regard, Bluetooth and Home RF are the
`leading international efforts for wireless networking.
`Bluetooth (www.bluetooth.com) is an effort by a consor
`tium of companies to design a universal framework that
`offers a way to access information based on a diverse set of
`40
`devices (e.g. PDA, mobile PCs, phones, pagers) in a seam
`less, user-friendly and efficient manner. Bluetooth envisages
`a functional and connectivity model based on a combination
`of wireless access technologies—each matched to different
`device capabilities and requirements.
`Another group of companies has formed the Home RF
`Working Group or Home RF (www.homerf.org), which has
`created the Shared Wireless Access Protocol (or SWAP).
`The present invention will be seen to be a system and a
`method that can be implemented by use of the Bluetooth, or
`the HomeRF. Standard and protocol, among other standards
`and protocols. Review of these wireless communications
`standards is useful primarily so as to show that the wireless
`communications links realized by the present invention are
`neither new nor exotic; circa 2000.
`2.2 Bluetooth
`"Bluetooth' is each of a consortium, a standard, and a
`(prospective) class of products. The present invention will
`be seen to be none of these: it is a system and a method that
`can be implemented by use of the Bluetooth standard and
`protocol, among other standards and protocols. Review of
`Bluetooth is useful primarily so as to show that the wireless
`communications links realized by the present invention are
`readily implemented, circa 2000.
`A few years ago, the telecommunications and computing
`industries recognized that a truly low-cost, low-power radio
`based cable replacement, or wireless link, was feasible. Such
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`cation for wireless digital communication. The specification
`is directed to wireless digital communication between PCs
`and consumer electronic devices anywhere in and around the
`home. The HRFWG, which includes the leading companies
`from the personal computer, consumer electronics, periph
`erals, communications, software, and semiconductor indus
`tries, has developed a specification for wireless communi
`cations in the home called the Shared Wireless Access
`Protocol (SWAP).
`To date, the high cost and impracticality of adding new
`wires have inhibited the widespread adoption of home
`networking technologies. Wired technologies also do not
`permit users to roam about with portable devices. In addi
`tion, multiple, incompatible communication standards have
`previously limited acceptance of wireless networks in the
`home. The HRFWG believes that the open SWAP specifi
`cation will break through these barriers by (1) enabling
`inter-operability between many different consumer elec
`tronic devices available from a large number of manufac
`turers, while (2) providing the flexibility and mobility of a
`wireless solution. This flexibility is important to the success
`of creating a compelling and complete home network solu
`tion.
`Since the formation of the HEFWG was announced in
`March 1998, the total number of member companies has
`risen to more than 90, and continues to expand quickly. The
`inclusion of nearly all the leading consumer electronics
`companies in the working group ensures that consumers will
`benefit from a wide variety of innovative, inter-operable
`devices for use in and around the home.
`2.3.1 Shared Wireless Access Protocol
`The SWAP specification of the HomeRF Working Group
`(HRFWG) defines a new common interface that supports
`wireless voice and data networking in the home. Represen
`tation from the wide range of member companies, which
`span diverse industries, ensures that the final specification is
`complete and robust, and that devices envisioned as part of
`the home network are inter-operable. The SWAP specifica
`tion is on target for release at the end of 1998.
`Some examples of what users will be able to do with the
`availability of products that adhere to the SWAP specifica
`tion include:
`setting up a wireless home network to share voice and
`data between PCs, peripherals, PC-enhanced cordless
`phones, and new devices such as portable, remote display
`pads;
`accessing the Internet from anywhere in and around the
`home from portable display devices:
`sharing an ISP connection between PCs and other new
`devices;
`sharing files/modems/printers in multi-PC homes:
`intelligently forwarding incoming telephone calls to mul
`tiple cordless handsets, FAX machines and Voice mailboxes;
`reviewing incoming voice, FAX and e-mail messages
`from a small PC-enhanced cordless telephone handset:
`activating other home electronic systems by simply
`speaking a command into a PC-enhanced cordless handset:
`and
`enabling multi-player games and/or toys based on PC or
`Internet resources.
`2.4 Issues of Power, and Bandwidth, Utilization Optimiza
`tion in the Home and Office Wireless Communications
`Environment
`The present invention deals with issues, and problems,
`regarding the utilization of both (i) power and (ii) bandwidth
`in the wireless communications environment, particularly in
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`the home and/or office. These issues and problems are
`reasonably Sophisticated, and sometimes Subtle.
`It is, of course, immediately obvious that wireless-com
`municating, normally radio-communicating, devices that are
`battery-powered should attempt to conserve power to (i)
`maximize the duration(s) of communication connectivity,
`and (ii) minimize the duration, frequency, inconvenience
`and expense of any necessary battery recharging and/or
`replacement. It is less obvious that there is a tradeoff
`between battery power and communications bandwidth.
`Less power may be used to realize a given signal-to-noise
`ratio if more radio communications bandwidth is used, and
`Vice versa.
`Each individual radio-communicating device may nor
`mally acceptably use relatively more radio bandwidth with
`out unduly interfering with other devices—which may also
`desire large communications bandwidths—if the radius of
`communication is relatively shorter. But how can a short
`communication radius invariably be assured? And, if suffi
`cient power is normally provided for only but a short
`communication distance, how can it be assured that enough
`power will be available should communications need to
`transpire over a longer distance'? And how can it be assured
`that multiple broadband communicating devices will never
`be in conflict?
`Worse, power and/or bandwidth communications alloca
`tions requirements may change (i) over time and (ii) with the
`location(s) of communicating devices. A intrinsically low
`power device, or just a device running low on power, may
`simply refuse to communicate at a high data rate, or in a
`high-power channel communications code. Such a low
`power device may need a lot of bandwidth to successfully
`communicate at all. A wireless communications system must
`accommodate the requirements of communicating both to,
`and from, such a low-power device.
`However, at another time, and/or in another location,
`another device, or even the same device, may have abundant
`power, and may reasonably have a requirement to commu
`nicate at a high rate and/or in channel communications mode
`that is of high overall power and/or a narrow bandwidth (i.e.,
`at a high power per unit bandwidth).
`The present invention will be seen to (i) present a com
`munications system framework that is intrinsically Superior
`for the home and office wireless communications environ
`ment, and then, this framework being established, (ii) show
`how wireless communications may be dynamically adapted
`and optimized both in power and bandwidth to the exi
`gencies of the moment, communicating optimally for con
`ditions.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention contemplates a new system orga
`nization, and method, for wirelessly communicating within
`the home or office, and certain new equipments needed to
`realize this new method.
`Major problems associated with wireless at-home net
`works include (i) the wide variety of devices and applica
`tions which must be supported, (ii) cost, (iii) power con
`straints, and (iv) bandwidth constraints. The present
`invention deals with these problems in and by a dual
`strategy: (i) a Superior home and office communications
`system “framework” is adopted, and then, this “framework”
`being set in place, (ii) wireless communications upon the
`“framework” is dynamically adapted and optimized in both
`power and bandwidth.
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`In the simplest possible terms, the wireless communica
`tion system of (i) Superior design in accordance with the
`present invention is preferably (ii) operated adaptively,
`realizing Superior wireless communication rates and reli
`ability.
`1. A Home and Office Wireless Communication System of
`New Design Uses “Agents’: The “Agents' Make the System
`Operate in Two Tiers, with Optimization of Communication
`The present invention contemplates (i) a wireless com
`10
`munication system of new design using 'agents', (ii) a
`particular, two-tier, wireless communication strategy and
`pathways enabled with, and by, the “agents, and (iii)
`optimization, including adaptive optimization, of commu
`nications power and/or bandwidth based on the new-design
`two-tier system using "agents'.
`1.1 The Addition of “Agents' Improves the “Framework” of
`Home and Office Wireless Communication
`The improvement accorded by the present invention to the
`existing “framework” of home and office wireless commu
`nication systems is this: the present invention adds "agents'.
`In accordance with the present invention, much of the
`communications power requirement for local, home or office,
`wireless communication away from “clients' is moved from
`these “clients' onto a new class of radio-communicating
`networked devices which include intermediaries in the over
`all scheme of wireless communications and are referred
`herein as "agents.” Examples for "clients' include, among
`others, functional devices such as telephones, computers,
`televisions, key pad controllers, burglar alarms, household
`appliances, and hybrids thereof. These abundant, low-cost,
`agents are essentially non-power-limited radio-frequency
`transceivers that plug inconspicuously into otherwise
`unused wall power outlets of the home or business. The
`agents may physically resemble Surge protectors.
`The agents are reasonably capable and “intelligent” to
`self-organize into communications networks, as will be
`discussed. They are typically more capable than are the
`system clients, which are relegated to wireless communi
`cating only with agents along but a few wireless links.
`Although some clients, notably including non-portable
`species of computers and larger televisions, heavy appli
`ances, and burglar alarms, are permanently connected to the
`power grid, other battery-powered clients, notably including
`telephones, portable computers and portable radios and
`televisions, can immediately benefit from the present inven
`tions re-partitionment of the “framework” of wireless com
`munications. This is because the power requirements for
`these clients are sharply reduced: the clients need normally
`wirelessly communicate only to a very nearby agent a
`power-grid-powered wall-plugged radio frequency trans
`ceiver that is normally within the same room. Certainly,
`Some clients that are permanently connected to the power
`grid may also be beneficially combined with agents.
`Next, the same re-partitionment simultaneously benefi
`cially conserves local radio frequency bandwidth. A client,
`especially a battery-powered mobile client, wirelessly com
`municates only with that agent to which it is electrophysi
`cally closest, normally over a distance of but a few meters.
`Very little radio frequency power need be used and, in
`60
`accordance with the present invention, is used. The com
`munications of other clients with other agents elsewhere in
`the same home or business is non-interfering (by action of
`agent-network-controlled agent-client communication, as
`will be explained).
`The same re-partitionment also has a benevolent, or at
`worst a neutral, effect on issues of cost and diversity of
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`devices Supported. Basically, the abundantly-produced and
`liberally-sited ubiquitous wall-powered agents (i) eliminate,
`or at least mitigate, some of the requirements for (a) power,
`and/or for (b) Sophistication in power management, in
`wirelessly-communicating home and/or office client
`devices. Meanwhile, the agents (ii) simultaneously lessen
`constraints, and/or any required Sophistication, in the use of
`RF bandwidth by these client devices. Therefore, and
`although the agents—the wall-powered RF transceiver mod
`ules—are reasonably Sophisticated (in accordance with
`existing communications protocols) in self-organizing into a
`wireless communications network, and are thus estimated to
`cost some few dollars each, the agents potentially (i) dimin
`ish demands on other home/office wireless communications
`system components, while (ii) adding great value to home/
`office wireless communications system performance.
`The present invention is of good utility and effect just by
`addition of the agents, without more. However, once the
`agents are inserted into a home or office wireless commu
`nications system, the present invention contemplates still
`further improvements.
`1.2 The Agents are Intelligent, Endowing the Wireless
`Communications Network Upon which they are Distributed
`with “Adaptive Intelligence” as Permits Communication
`Optimization
`The agents are not merely radio repeaters. They also
`implement an expandable, open-ended, dynamic, distributed
`radio communications management system.
`The collective agents—the distributed radio communica
`tions management system—a) registers clients (either at
`home or visiting), b) authenticates visitors, c) maintains a
`link to external networks (e.g., to the PSTN, or the Internet),
`d) Self-organizes a communications mesh e) implementing
`the MAC protocol, f) implements the LLC protocol, g)
`maintains link addresses for all clients and agents, and, most
`importantly, h) adapts the mesh, and the communications
`upon the mesh, to the numbers, powers and instantaneous
`communications requirements of the clients then connected
`on and by the communications mesh.
`Little of this functionality is earthshaking, being that it
`has, by and large, recently come to exist in cellular and other
`mesh communications networks. In the past, however, the
`digital “intelligence It associated with communications sys
`tem management has been reserved for physically large,
`geographically extensive, communications systems such as
`might typically serve a town or a city. The present invention
`has the “audacity' to bring the most powerful mesh com
`munications methods—developed over decades at immense
`cost but as are now increasingly implemented in application
`specific integrated circuit chips—directly into the Smallest
`environment: the home or office. Exactly because this envi
`ronment is the “poorest in every way—in power, in band
`width, and in the confusingly high diversity of low Sophis
`tication communicating equipments—it is the very
`environment that can most benefit from the application of
`state-of-the-art Sophisticated distributed communications
`control methodology. This is exactly what the present inven
`tion teaches to do.
`
`1.3 A Two-Tier Wireless Communications Network
`The agents and clients of the present invention implement
`a “two-tier wireless communications system. The invention
`may thus be thought of as a “two-tier wireless communi
`cations system, and/or to be embodied in a “two-tier'
`wireless communications system. The “two tiers' are tiers of
`a communications hierarchy: in a first communications tier
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`the agents communicate with other agents; in a second
`communications tier the local clients of each agent commu
`nicate with that agent.
`Communications in each of the two tiers may be, and
`preferably is, separately conducted from communications in
`the other tier but need not be so separated and divided. For
`example, in one embodiment of the “two-tier wireless
`communications system of the present invention communi
`cations between agents in one tier is at a different radio
`frequency than communication between an agent and its
`associated clients otherwise transpiring in the other tier. In
`another embodiment of the “two-tier wireless communica
`tions system of the present invention communications
`between agents in one tier transpires during a different time
`slice than does communication between an agent and its
`associated clients otherwise transpiring in the other tier. In
`still yet another embodiment of the “two-tier wireless
`communications system of the present invention communi
`cations between agents in one tier transpires with and at
`different code divisions than does communication between
`an agent and its associated clients in the other tier.
`Although the communication in tiers is preferably so
`separated and divided in any of frequency, time division or
`code division, the communication need not invariably be so
`divided. Instead, the unique address of each agent and client
`can be relied upon.
`Consider first the agents. When a group of agents is
`initially powered on, or a new agent is introduced to an
`existing group, all the agents will attempt to, and will—in a
`manner and procedure quite normal for wireless communi
`cations—form an ad hoc (wireless) communications net
`work. Each agent attempts to communicate with every other.
`Some communications links are enabled; others fail. The
`agents serve to create ad hoc what can ultimately be
`expressed in a conventional connectivity diagram where, by
`convention, a line is drawn an the diagram between two
`devices that are (radio) communicating. Where no commu
`nication is present, no line is drawn.
`The agents thus form of themselves, and without outside
`intervention or control, a (radio) communications mesh.
`This mesh, this ad hoc communications network, is the
`“backbone' of the two-tier wireless (radio) communications
`network of the present invention. Communication between
`agents may transpire under the IEEE 802.11 standard, or the
`Bluetooth standard, or any Suitable network radio commu
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`nications standard.
`Consider now the clients. The numerous clients are desir
`ably simpler, and less expensive, than are the agents. The
`clients use less power than do the agents. Attendant upon a
`lack of both (i) sophistication, and (ii) power, the preferred
`clients are typically not capable, as are the agents, of
`self-organizing into a communications network. Instead, the
`clients may be and preferably are, by way of example,
`impressed with a series of fixed addresses at the times when
`they are built. Upon being powered on, the client will look
`to communicate with each of these fixed addresses in turn,
`and will ultimately end up addressing a local agent. From
`this point forward the client will communicate only with its
`associated agent. This communication also may transpire
`under the IEEE 802.11 standard, or the Bluetooth standard,
`or any suitable network radio communications standard.
`2. Embodiments of the Present Invention
`Accordingly, the present invention may be considered to
`be embodied in each of (i) a local wireless communications
`system, (ii) a wireless communications system where power
`and/or bandwidth is allocated efficiently, (iii) a wireless
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`communications system distributed among and between
`power-grid-powered intelligent "agents' communicatively
`servicing battery-powered dumb clients, and (iv) a two-tier
`wireless communications system.
`2.1 A Local Wireless Communications System
`Therefore, in one of its aspects the present invention may
`be considered to be embodied in a local wireless commu
`nications system. A "local wireless communications system
`means a system for, most commonly, a home or a business,
`or even a farm or a mall or a school or a business park.
`However, a “local wireless communications system is not
`a system for a neighborhood, nor for a community, nor for
`a city, nor for other, still larger, areas.
`The system has number of clients, at least one of which
`is powered from a portable power source. Each client locally
`wirelessly communicates by radio. Each client performs an
`additional function with, and for, a human user other than
`just radio communication. Indeed, this is the meaning of a
`“client’, which is something that performs a function
`beyond just radio communication. Examples of "clients' are
`radio-communicating telephones, televisions, computers,
`keypad controllers, burglar alarms, and appliances.
`The system further includes a number of communication
`agents. Each agent is powered from a power grid. The agents
`first locally wirelessly radio-communicate between them
`selves in a local wireless radio communications network.
`The agents second locally wirelessly radio-communicating
`with the plurality of clients.
`An optional communications gateway device, also pow
`ered from the power grid, controls local wireless radio
`communication (i) between the agents upon the network and
`(ii) an external worldwide communications network (e.g.,
`the Internet).
`By this organization the agents are each powered from the
`power grid while at least one of the clients—and normally
`many, most or even all clients—is powered from a portable
`power source. Nonetheless that an individual client may be
`powered by battery power source, it can radio-communicate
`to at least Some agent. Meanwhile, the several power-grid
`powered agents communicate via radio links among them
`selves in a communications mesh network. Therefore, at the
`very onset, the system of the present invention Suffices to
`extend battery-powered radio-communication from a bat
`tery-powered radio-communicating agent to at least some
`number of power-grid-powered communication agents.
`If the communications system includes the optional com
`munications gateway device, also powered from the power
`grid, that globally communicates to a worldwide communi
`cations network external to the local area of radio commu
`nication, then this gateway device may be functionally
`separate from all the plurality of communications agents, in
`which case it locally wirelessly radio-communicates with at
`least one agent. Alternatively, this communications device
`may be integrated with a communications agent, in which
`case it is powered from the power grid identically as is the
`communications agent.
`The gateway communications device may be of the order
`of a modem, globally communicating via a physical com
`munication channel of a wire or a fiber type. The commu
`nications device may be of the order of a long range radio
`or optical transceiver, globally communicating via an atmo
`spheric communication channel of the radio of free-space
`optical types.
`In either case, it is clear that a communications path is
`extended all the way from the at least one client that may be,
`and most often is, battery-powered via one or more agents,
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`and via the communications gateway device—all of which
`are power-grid-powered—all the way to a global commu
`nications network.