System and method for updating location information for distributed communication devices

A method operating a plurality of communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:

• at a particular device randomly selected from the plurality of communication devices and at multiple instances over a period of time, alternatively operating in a coordinating mode for coordinating communication activity among the plurality of communication devices, and a non-coordinating mode, in which coordination for communication activity is provided by another of the plurality of the communication devices, and while operating in the coordinating mode, collecting and storing location determining information received from others of the plurality of communication devices;
• determining that one of the plurality of communication devices has changed location by comparing location determining information collected during different instances of operation in the coordinating mode;
• and
• updating location determining information for selected devices of the plurality of communication devices device based on location determining information collected by the particular device for at least two instances of operation in the coordinating mode.

A method operating a plurality of communication devices, the method comprising the steps of, at a particular device selected from the plurality of communication devices:

• operating in a coordinating role for communication activity for others of the plurality of communication devices during a first period of time;
• receiving a first communication from each of the other devices of the plurality of communication devices;
• recording signal quality information pertaining to each of the first communication received;
• operating in a role other than a coordinating role for a second period of time subsequent to the first period of time;
• operating in a coordinating role for communication activity for others of the plurality of communication devices during a third period of time;
• receiving a second communication from each of the other devices of the plurality of communication devices;
• comparing the signal quality information for the second communication to that of the corresponding first communication for each of the second communication received;
• determining that a particular device has a change in location when the signal quality information for the corresponding first communication is significantly different from that of the second communication;
• and
• transmitting location determining information for the particular device.

A method of operating a plurality of communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:

• at a particular device selected from the plurality of communication devices:
• performing a coordinating role for communication activity among the plurality of communication devices during a first time period;
• collecting and storing location determining information regarding others of the plurality of communication devices during the first time period;
• suspending the coordinating role for the duration of a second time period subsequent to the first time period;
• communicating with the other communication device having the coordinating role during the second time period;
• resuming the coordinating role during a third time period subsequent to the second time period;
• collecting location determining information regarding others of the plurality of communication devices during the third time period;
• comparing location determining information collected by the particular device during the first and third time periods;
• detecting that the particular device has changed location relative to others of the plurality of communication devices when the location determining information collected during the third period for a substantial number of the plurality of communication devices is different from that collected during the first time period;
• and
• updating location information for the particular device in response to a detected change in location.

A method of operation of a plurality of communication devices of an asynchronous network, each of the plurality of communication devices being capable of operating in any one of a mediation communication mode for coordinating communication activity among others of the plurality of communication devices, a normal communication mode for non-coordinating communication activity, and a sleep mode for no communication activity, the method comprising the steps of:

• randomly selecting the mediation communication mode for each of the plurality of communication devices;
• at each of the plurality of communication devices, storing a compilation of location determining information based on communication received during each instance of operation in the mediation communication mode;
• detecting changes in relative location among the plurality of the communication devices by examining changes in location determining information collected by each of the plurality of communication devices during instance of operation in the mediation communication mode;
• and
• updating relative location information for at least some of the plurality of communication devices based on detected changes.