Patent Application
20110179174
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication, and in particular, to managing wireless radio operation in apparatuses that are interacting in wireless networks.
2. Background
Advancements in communication-related technology have helped to proliferate the integration of communication-related functionality in everyday applications. In particular, some ability to interact electronically using wired and/or wireless communication is now expected for many existing and emerging applications. Where wireless communication is being employed, wireless transports may be utilized to send electronic data to multiple destinations. These destinations may reside in different locations, and thus, more than one wireless transport may be employed in a single apparatus in order to address these communication needs. Further, the suppliers and consumers of electronic information may not operate using the same forms of communication, so these apparatuses must be able to change communication configuration in order to support less-flexible applications (e.g., processing, size or power limited apparatuses).
However, while enhanced functionality may be realized through the proliferation of wireless communication, the increasing inclusion of wireless support in different applications will unavoidably result in increased wireless signal traffic. As wireless protocols may operate in the same or similar bandwidths, interference may occur when the protocols operate concurrently. This would especially be the case when transmitters and/or receivers are in close proximity, such as in an apparatus that supports multiple protocols. Moreover, other sources of interference may exist within an operational environment. For example, electromagnetic fields may be generated by electronic apparatuses or power systems. Further, legacy wireless communication signals, such as AM/FM radio and television (TV) broadcast signals, may operate in frequency bands that fall very close to emerging wireless protocols, which may also cause signal interference.
Legacy broadcast signals may be especially problematic when attempting to reuse bandwidth that was traditionally reserved for AM/FM radio and/or TV broadcasts. For example, in the U.S. the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has decided that TV white space, or the operational frequencies that were previously reserved for TV channels that is not currently in use, is available for unlicensed broadband use. However, operating in these sections of unused TV broadcast spectrum may entail certain requirements and/or impediments. More specifically, in addition to rules prohibiting interference with certain legacy apparatuses that operate within this spectrum, the unlicensed nature of these unused channels means that many apparatuses may be operating in this bandwidth, resulting in potential interference coming from many sources.
In order to support wireless network operation in view of such regulations and/or obstacles, the wireless industry has began to discuss how to standardize operations for wireless apparatuses operate in TV white spaces. For example, standard operation may require networks in this environment may to interact (e.g., exchange information) in order to avoid interference. However, avoiding interference by facilitating cooperation between apparatuses from a multitude of different manufacturers and owned by different entities may be problematic, to say the least.
Various example embodiments of the present invention may be directed to a method, apparatus, computer program product and system for managing wireless interaction between apparatuses that may be, for example, masters in various coexistent wireless networks. An apparatus may transmit a request to a server via an Internet connection. This request may inquire as to whether other apparatuses are located proximate to the apparatus in an operational environment. The server may return information to the apparatus via the Internet informing the apparatus of other proximately-located apparatuses. The apparatus may utilize this information to communicate with the proximate apparatuses in order to coordinate collaborative operations.
In at least one example implementation the information provided by the server to the apparatus may comprise Internet addresses corresponding to potential network masters that are managing wireless networks in the same operational environment as the apparatus, which is also a network master. The apparatus may contact at least some of the potential apparatuses via the Internet in order to request communication configuration and test information. The other apparatuses may respond to these requests, and the apparatus may use the communication received configuration and test information to select a group of candidate apparatuses. Candidate apparatuses may be selected based on, for example, the distance from the apparatus to a potential apparatus, transmission properties (e.g., transmission power of potential apparatuses), etc. Information needed for candidate selection may be provided by potential apparatuses to the apparatus via an Internet connection.
In accordance with at least one example embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may then initiate testing the group of candidate apparatuses. Testing may comprise transmitting one or more wireless signals that should be receivable by the candidate apparatuses. The candidate apparatuses that receive the wireless signals may then transmit reporting to the apparatus via an Internet connection confirming receipt of a signal. The apparatus may utilize testing results to select real neighbor apparatuses from the group of candidate apparatuses. The apparatus may then engage in further communication with apparatuses in the group of real neighbor apparatuses towards the goal of collaboration. For example, this communication may take the form of direct wireless interaction between these apparatuses to avoid interference.
The foregoing summary includes example embodiments of the present invention that are not intended to be limiting. The above embodiments are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in implementations of the present invention. However, it is readily apparent that one or more aspects, or steps, pertaining to an example embodiment can be combined with one or more aspects, or steps, of other embodiments to create new embodiments still within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, persons of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate aspects from other embodiments, or may be implemented in combination with other embodiments.
The invention will be further understood from the following description of various example embodiments, taken in conjunction with appended drawings, in which:
While the invention has been described below in terms of a multitude of example embodiments, various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as described in the appended claims.
An example of a system that is usable for implementing various embodiments of the present invention is disclosed in
Computing device 100 may correspond to various processing-enabled apparatuses including, but not limited to, micro personal computers (UMPC), netbooks, laptop computers, desktop computers, engineering workstations, personal digital assistants (PDA), computerized watches, wired or wireless terminals/nodes/etc., mobile handsets, set-top boxes, personal video recorders (PVR), automatic teller machines (ATM), game consoles, or the like. Elements that represent basic example components comprising functional elements in computing device 100 are disclosed at 102-108. Processor 102 may include one or more devices configured to execute instructions. In at least one scenario, the execution of program code (e.g., groups of computer-executable instructions stored in a memory) by processor 102 may cause computing device 100 to perform processes including, for example, method steps that may result in data, events or other output activities. Processor 102 may be a dedicated (e.g., monolithic) microprocessor device, or may be part of a composite device such as an ASIC, gate array, multi-chip module (MCM), etc.
Processor 102 may be electronically coupled to other functional components in computing device 100 via a wired or wireless bus. For example, processor 102 may access memory 102 in order to obtain stored information (e.g., program code, data, etc.) for use during processing. Memory 104 may generally include removable or imbedded memories that operate in a static or dynamic mode. Further, memory 104 may include read only memories (ROM), random access memories (RAM), and rewritable memories such as Flash, EPROM, etc. Examples of removable storage media based on magnetic, electronic and/or optical technologies are shown at 100 I/O in
One or more interfaces 106 may also be coupled to various components in computing device 100. These interfaces may allow for inter-apparatus communication (e.g., a software or protocol interface), apparatus-to-apparatus communication (e.g., a wired or wireless communication interface) and even apparatus to user communication (e.g., a user interface). These interfaces allow components within computing device 100, other apparatuses and users to interact with computing device 100. Further, interfaces 106 may communicate machine-readable data, such as electronic, magnetic or optical signals embodied on a computer readable medium, or may translate the actions of users into activity that may be understood by computing device 100 (e.g., typing on a keyboard, speaking into the receiver of a cellular handset, touching an icon on a touch screen device, etc.) Interfaces 106 may further allow processor 102 and/or memory 104 to interact with other modules 108. For example, other modules 108 may comprise one or more components supporting more specialized functionality provided by computing device 100.
Computing device 100 may interact with other apparatuses via various networks as further shown in
Further, interaction with remote devices may be supported by various providers of short and long range wireless communication 140. These providers may use, for example, long range terrestrial-based cellular systems and satellite communication, and/or short-range wireless access points in order to provide a wireless connection to Internet 120. For example, personal digital assistant (PDA) 142 and cellular handset 144 may communicate with computing device 100 via an Internet connection provided by a provider of wireless communication 140. Similar functionality may be included in devices, such as laptop computer 146, in the form of hardware and/or software resources configured to allow short and/or long range wireless communication.
Further detail regarding example interface component 106, shown with respect to computing device 100 in
Multiradio controller 202 may manage the operation of some or all of interfaces 204-210. For example, multiradio controller 202 may prevent interfaces that could interfere with each other from operating at the same time by allocating specific time periods during which each interface is permitted to operate. Further, multiradio controller 202 may be able to process environmental information, such as sensed interference in the operational environment, to select an interface that will be more resilient to the interference. These multiradio control scenarios are not meant to encompass an exhaustive list of possible control functionality, but are merely given as examples of how multiradio controller 202 may interact with interfaces 204-210 in
Now referring to
Ideally, apparatuses 332, 224 and 336, as disclosed
The Quality of Service (QoS) delivered by wireless transports may also depend on the sensitivity of the radio technology being employed (e.g., how resistant is the technology to interference). For example, severe co-located interference may occur when a high power radio transmits at the same time when low power radio is receiving. For example, if a device supports both Long Term Evolution (LTE) operating at 700 MHz and TVWS technology using wireless local area network (WLAN) technology where the TVWS channel exists at high end of TV band (e.g., ˜690 MHz), the interference between LTE and TVWS technology can be substantial. The aforementioned case is just an example. Other combinations may also prove problematic. For example, other signal sources 330D may comprise apparatuses whose signals are present within the operational environment but are not part of the short-range unlicensed wireless network formed as disclosed at 330A. Other signal sources 330 may comprise, for example, electronic or electromechanical apparatuses whose operation causes electromagnetic field (EMF) interference in the operational environment. Moreover, wireless-enabled apparatuses that are operating close by but are not participating in unlicensed operation 330A may also contribute to signal traffic.
Such wireless-enabled apparatuses may prove extremely problematic in TVWS network systems since there may be very strict sensing requirements of incumbent users (e.g., legacy users 330B). For example, in TVWS systems a device may be requested to sense if a channel is used by a primary user before initiating any communication in that radio channel. Primary users may include, for example, TV broadcasters and/or a wireless microphones. More specifically, the FCC requires that devices must operate using a −114 dBM detection sensitivity. As a result, any other co-located radio should interfere less than the above value to avoid false positive detections of primary users. Traditionally it would be impossible to achieve this level of sensitivity without implementing application specific co-located coexistence detection. For this reason, TVWS networking may be considered the first practical application of cognitive radio.
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention,
Initially,
Server 502 may utilize this information to identify other apparatuses operating in proximity to apparatus 500. Proximity may pertain to physical apparatus location or to sources of signals within communication range of apparatus 500. For example, server 502 may maintain a list of registered apparatuses and may query the list to determine the registered apparatuses that are proximate to apparatus 500. For example, registered apparatuses may comprise devices that are capable of creating, initiating and/or forming secondary networks (e.g., fixed 332 or mode II 336 apparatuses in the TVWS spectrum). Server 502 may then respond to apparatus 500 via the same or another Internet connection. The response may identify proximate apparatuses, and in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, may also comprise internet addresses for each proximate apparatus. In some instances the relative or absolute location of each apparatus may also be specified in the response, or the apparatuses may be presented (e.g., listed) in the response in an order based on location, so that apparatus 500 may determine the location of each apparatus with respect to its current location. Using this information, some of the apparatuses identified in the response may be classified as potential apparatuses based on, for example, the proximity of the apparatus with respect to apparatus 500. Potentiality may then rank each apparatus beginning from the closest to apparatus 500. Apparatuses that are located outside of communication range of apparatus 500 may not be considered as a potential apparatus.
Referring now to
As shown in
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a further stage of the process is disclosed in
In some instances the candidate apparatuses may request that the transmission occur during quiet periods in the channel used by the candidate apparatus. As a result, candidate apparatuses 604, 608, 610 and 614 would not have to measure other channels and may continue operation in its own channel and neighbor detection measurements in parallel. The quiet periods need to have some periodicity, which candidate apparatuses may indicate as part of the test signal parameters that were previously provided. Apparatus 500 may first attempt to determine the timing of quiet periods in the candidate apparatuses by executing a synchronization algorithm that searches for periodic time instants with no transmissions. If this synchronization algorithm is successful, apparatus 500 may transmits test signals during the detected quiet periods. If this synchronization fails, apparatus 500 may transmit test signals continuously for a period of time.
If any of candidate apparatuses 604, 608, 610 and 614 requests that test signal transmission occur in some other channel than the channel used to maintain the network of the candidate apparatus, then apparatus 500 may transmit the test signal continuously for a period of time without any concern about quiet periods since no network signaling will be expected to interrupt the testing. However, candidate apparatuses may only transmit test signals on the other channel if they see it as free. Apparatus 500 still senses the other channel before transmitting. If the channel is occupied by foreign signal activity, apparatus 500 will await a silent period before transmission. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, it is also possible for the same test signal to be transmitted to all of candidate apparatuses 604, 608, 610 and 614. Upon receiving the test signal, candidate apparatuses 604, 608, 610 and 614 may provide measurement results for the received test signal to apparatus 500. The measurement results may indicate the strength of the received test signal and may be provided via the Internet.
Apparatus 500 may now have the test signal measurement reports from candidate apparatuses 604, 608, 610 and 614, and possibly also results from its own measurement of each candidate apparatus. If both of these measurements are positive (e.g., within a threshold level that may indicate that both apparatuses can reliably detect each other) a candidate apparatus may be qualified as (e.g., selected) a real neighbor. This is represented in
As shown in
An example flowchart of a communication management process in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in
If a response identifying one or more potential apparatuses is received in step 1002, then in step 1006 the apparatus may transmit inquiries to at least some of the potential apparatuses via an Internet connection. Inquiries may request, for example, location, communication configuration and test information. Responses to these inquiries may be received from some or all of the potential apparatuses in step 1008. A determination may then be made in step 1010 as to whether any of the responses qualify the responding potential apparatuses as candidate apparatuses. This qualification may be based on, for example, the type of communication being conducted in the potential apparatus, the distance between the apparatus and the potential apparatus, etc. If none of the apparatuses qualify as candidate apparatuses in step 1010 then the process may return to step 1004 where the operation of the apparatus may continue without collaboration. Again, the process may then terminate and return to step 1000 as set forth above.
If in step 1010 one or more candidate apparatuses are qualified (e.g., selected from the group of potential apparatuses) then in step 1012 the apparatus may initiate testing with the candidate apparatuses to determine if any of the candidate apparatuses are real neighbors. Such testing may include, for example, the transmission of test signals from the apparatus to the candidate apparatuses. Any candidate apparatus that receives a test signal may then transmit a measurement report to the apparatus via the Internet. The apparatus may then, based on the measurement report and possibly also on its own measurements, qualify candidate apparatuses as real neighbor apparatuses. If in step 1014 no real neighbors are determined to exist as a result of the testing initiated in step 1012, then the process may return to step 1004 where the apparatus may continue to operate in the environment without collaboration. Otherwise, the process may proceed to step 1015 where the apparatus may collaborate with one or more of the real neighbor apparatuses, for example, by exchanging spectrum map information. Regardless of whether the process proceeded through step 1014 or step 1016, the process may be deemed complete in step 1004 and may return to step 1006 in preparation for the next inquiry transmission to the server.
While various exemplary configurations of the present invention have been disclosed above, the present invention is not strictly limited to the previous embodiments.
For example, the present invention may include, in accordance with at least one example embodiment, an apparatus comprising means for transmitting an inquiry from an apparatus to a predefined entity via the Internet, the inquiry comprising at least information relating to the location of the apparatus, means for receiving information at the apparatus from the predefined entity via the Internet, the information at least identifying potential apparatuses in proximity to the apparatus, means for transmitting second inquiries from the apparatus to at least some of the potential apparatuses via the Internet, the second inquiries requesting location and communication configuration information associated with the potential apparatuses, means for receiving responses comprising at least location and communication configuration information at the apparatus from at least some of the potential apparatuses via the Internet, and means for selecting a group of candidate apparatuses from the potential apparatuses based on the information received in the responses.
At least one other example embodiment of the present invention may include electronic signals that cause apparatuses to transmit an inquiry from an apparatus to a predefined entity via the Internet, the inquiry comprising at least information relating to the location of the apparatus, receive information at the apparatus from the predefined entity via the Internet, the information at least identifying potential apparatuses in proximity to the apparatus, transmit second inquiries from the apparatus to at least some of the potential apparatuses via the Internet, the second inquiries requesting location and communication configuration information associated with the potential apparatuses, receive responses comprising at least location and communication configuration information at the apparatus from at least some of the potential apparatuses via the Internet, and select a group of candidate apparatuses from the potential apparatuses based on the information received in the responses.
Accordingly, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described example embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
