System for extending vehicle Wi-Fi range
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDmitry Ogorodnikov, Steven Anthony Chapekis, Harald Christian Martinez
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Abstract
A wireless network having a plurality of nodes include a main device at a starting location and configured to operate as a starting node; and a plurality of node devices serving as communication relays and connected in series forming a connection branch, the plurality of node devices including a first node device configured to deploy to a first location at a first distance from the starting location and wirelessly connect to the main device, and a second node device configured to deploy to a second location at a second distance from the first location and wirelessly connect to the first node device, wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance.
Claims16
A wireless network having a plurality of nodes comprising:
- a main device at a starting location and configured to operate as a starting node;
- and
- a plurality of node devices serving as communication relays and connected in series forming a connection branch, the plurality of node devices including:
- a first node device configured to deploy to a first location at a first distance from the starting location and wirelessly connect to the main device via a first direct connection without an intermediary node in-between, and
- a second node device configured to deploy to a second location at a second distance from the first location and wirelessly connect to the first node device via a second direct connection without an intermediary node in-between, wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance,
- wherein each node device of the plurality of node devices is provided with propulsion capability, and the main device is further configured to instruct each node device to deploy to a corresponding location.
A wireless communication system, comprising:
- a plurality of node devices each serving as a node and connected in series forming a connection branch, the plurality of node devices including:
- a first node device configured to deploy to a first location at a first distance from a starting location and directly wirelessly connect to a main device located at the starting location,
- a second node device configured to deploy to a second location at a second distance from the first location and directly wirelessly connect to the first node device, wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance, and
- a third node device configured to deploy to a third location at a third distance from the second location and wirelessly connect to the second node device, wherein the third distance is shorter than the second distance,
- wherein each node device is integrated with an aerial device, and one or more of the node devices are configured to, responsive to detecting a loss of connection, relocate to a new location closer to the starting location.
A vehicle comprising:
- a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with one or more of a plurality of node devices provided with moving capability;
- and
- one or more controllers, programmed to:
- responsive to arriving at a parking location, command a first node device of the plurality of node devices to deploy to a first location at a first distance from a parking location and directly connect to the wireless transceiver, and command a second node device of the plurality of node devices to deploy to a second location at a second distance from a first location and directly connect to the first node device, wherein the second distance is half of the first distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.