Routing in Selfish Networks
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorElan Pavlov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a method of operating a communications network having a plurality of selfish users. Each selfish user may send messages to a destination node with the messages being forwarded through intermediate nodes of a mesh network. Each selfish user may accumulate a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded through other nodes in the mesh network less the power consumed forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network. Each selfish user having greater than zero accumulated debt may be required to forward messages for other nodes.
Claims26
A method of operating a communication network having a plurality of nodes, at least some of the nodes being selfish users, the method comprising
- at least one selfish user sending messages that are forwarded through other nodes in a mesh network, wherein the selfish user saves power relative to sending messages without forwarding
- the at least one selfish user consuming power forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network
- the at least one selfish user accumulating a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded less the power consumed forwarding messages
- wherein the at least one selfish user is required to forward messages for other nodes if the accumulated debt is greater than zero.
A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising
- electing to join or to not join a mesh network
- if the election is made to join the mesh network
- saving power by having messages forwarded through other nodes in a mesh network and consuming power forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network
- accumulating a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded less the power consumed forwarding messages
- forwarding messages from other nodes if the accumulated debt is greater than zero.
A portable communications device, comprising:
- a transceiver to send and receive messages from other communications devices
- a processor coupled to the transceiver
- a storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the communications device to perform actions comprising
- electing to join or to not join a mesh network
- if the election is made to join the mesh network
- saving power by sending messages to a destination node using forwarding through intermediate nodes in the mesh network and consuming power forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network
- accumulating a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded less the power consumed forwarding messages
- forwarding messages for other nodes if the accumulated debt is greater than zero.
A storage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor in a communication device will cause the communications device to perform actions comprising:
- electing to join or to not join a mesh network
- if the election is made to join the mesh network
- saving power by sending messages to a destination node using forwarding through intermediate nodes in the mesh network and consuming power forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network
- accumulating a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded less the power consumed forwarding messages
- forwarding messages for other nodes if the accumulated debt is greater than zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.