# US 10,455,640 B2 · IoT networking extension with bi-directional packet relay > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,640 B2 - Document ID: US10455640B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/859,438 - Filed: 2017-12-30 - Published: 2019-01-31 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-30 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Keith Nolan; Mark Kelly; Charlie Sheridan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455640B2 ## CPC - H04W 88/04: adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user - H04B 7/155: Ground-based stations (H04B7/204 takes precedence) - H04B 7/15528: {Control of operation parameters of a relay station to exploit the physical medium} - H04B 7/2606: {Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels} - H04W 8/14: between corresponding nodes - H04W 76/12: Setup of transport tunnels - H04W 8/005: {Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals} - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract An Internet of Things (IoT) device includes a transceiver to transmit and receive data packets. The IoT device also includes a controller to alternate between upstream and downstream relaying of data packets via the transceiver. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An Internet of Things (IoT) device, comprising: a transceiver to transmit and receive data packets; and a controller to alternate between upstream and downstream relaying of data packets via the transceiver, and to switch a polarity of the transceiver when switching between an upstream relay mode and a downstream relay mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The IoT device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is a low power wireless transceiver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The IoT device of claim 2, wherein the low power wireless transceiver is a LoRaWAN transceiver. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The IoT device of claim 1, the controller to control the transceiver to enter an upstream mode to identify packets that require upstream relay support and to control the transceiver to enter a downstream mode to identify packets that require downstream relay support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The IoT device of claim 1, the controller to determine if a received packet is a normal packet or a packet that requires relay support. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The IoT device of claim 1, the controller to switch a receiver IQ polarity of the transceiver when switching between an upstream relay mode and a downstream relay mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The IoT device of claim 1, the controller to identify receipt of a packet to be relayed, and in response to the receipt of the packet to be relayed, to construct a relayed transmit packet, to control the transceiver to relay the packet, and to switch a relay direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The IoT device of claim 1, wherein the IoT device is an edge relay device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The IoT device of claim 1, wherein the IoT device is to relay data packets between a fog controller and an edge device. ### Claim 10 A machine-implemented method for relaying data packets in an Internet of Things (IoT) network, comprising: transmitting and receiving data packets that require upstream or downstream relay support; switching a receiver polarity when switching between an upstream relay mode and a downstream relay mode; and alternating between upstream and downstream relaying of received data packets that require upstream or downstream relay support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The machine-implemented method of claim 10, comprising: entering an upstream mode to identify packets that require upstream relay support; and entering a downstream mode to identify packets that require downstream relay support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The machine-implemented method of claim 10, comprising determining if a received packet is a normal packet or a packet that requires relay support. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The machine-implemented method of claim 10, comprising switching a receiver IQ polarity when switching between an upstream relay mode and a downstream relay mode. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, direct a processor to: transmit and receive Internet of Things (IoT) network data packets that require upstream or downstream relay support; switch a receiver polarity when switching between an upstream relay mode and a downstream relay mode; and alternate between upstream and downstream relaying of received data packets that require upstream or downstream relay support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions that, when executed, direct a processor to: transmit and receive the data packets using long range low power wireless transmission. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions that, when executed, direct a processor to: enter an upstream mode to identify packets that require upstream relay support; and enter a downstream mode to identify packets that require downstream relay support. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions that, when executed, direct a processor to determine if a received packet is a normal packet or a packet that requires relay support. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions that, when executed, direct a processor to switch a receiver IQ polarity when switching between an upstream relay mode and a downstream relay mode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions that, when executed, direct a processor to: identify receipt of a packet to be relayed; and in response to the receipt of the packet to be relayed: construct a relayed transmit packet; relay the packet; and switch a relay direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the IoT network is an edge/fog network. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions that, when executed, direct a processor to relay the data packets between a fog controller and an edge device. ### Claim 22 An Internet of Things (IoT) network, comprising: a first IoT device; a second IoT device; and a third IoT device, comprising: a transceiver to transmit data packets to the first IoT device and the second IoT device, and to receive data packets from the first IoT device and the second IoT device; and a controller to alternate between upstream and downstream relaying of data packets between the first IoT device and the second IoT device via the transceiver, and to switch a polarity of the transceiver when switching between an upstream relay mode and a downstream relay mode. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The IoT network of claim 22, the controller to control the transceiver to enter an upstream mode to identify packets that require upstream relay support and to control the transceiver to enter a downstream mode to identify packets that require downstream relay support. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The IoT network of claim 22, the controller to determine if a received packet is a normal packet or a packet that requires relay support. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The IoT network of claim 22, the controller to identify receipt of a packet to be relayed, and in response to the receipt of the packet to be relayed, to construct a relayed transmit packet, to control the transceiver to relay the packet, and to switch a relay direction.