# US 2014/0153421 A1 · Systems and methods for optimization of branch synchronization node determination in a peer-to-peer network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153421 A1 - Document ID: US20140153421A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/789,450 - Filed: 2013-03-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Qualcomm Incorporated - Inventors: Yan Zhou; Santosh Paul Abraham; George Cherian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153421A1 ## CPC - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 56/00: Synchronisation arrangements - H04W 56/0015: {one node acting as a reference for the others} - H04W 84/20: Leader-follower arrangements - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Methods, devices, and computer program products for optimization of branch synchronization node determination in a peer-to-peer network are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a higher-level node, such as a root node broadcasting master clock synchronization messages to other devices, may determine a dynamic signal strength threshold and send it in those synchronization messages. After receiving those messages, if finding the received signal strength of those messages is below the dynamic signal threshold, a receiving node will realize that it is relatively far away from the root node and hence may be a potential branch node to further relay those messages. This dynamic threshold may be determined to ensure that at least a certain percentage of receiving nodes are potential branch nodes, based on the received signal strengths of those nodes at the root node. This method can reduce device energy consumption by only requiring edge devices to relay the synchronization messages, and they can be dynamically identified based on the threshold. In addition, a branch node can also use the dynamic signal strength threshold to help the determination of its potential next-hop branch nodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device in an ad hoc wireless communication network configured to generate a signal strength threshold, the device comprising: a receiver configured to receive messages from other devices in the wireless communication network; a processor configured to determine a signal strength of the messages from the respective other devices and to identify the signal strength threshold to be used to determine a branch device; and a transmitter configured to transmit the signal strength threshold to the other devices in the wireless communication network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the signal strength threshold is identified based, at least in part, on a signal strength threshold that is larger than the signal strengths of the messages from a percentage of the respective other devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a root device and/or a branch synchronization device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a peer-to-peer wireless communication network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a Social-WiFi network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a potential branch device and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit instructions to the potential branch device that the device should become a branch device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the signal strength of the messages is a received signal strength indication (RSSI), and wherein the signal strength threshold is an RSSI threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the signal strength of the messages is a path gain, and wherein the signal strength threshold is a path gain threshold. ### Claim 9 A method for determining a signal strength threshold in an ad-hoc wireless communications network, the method comprising: receiving messages from other devices in the wireless communication network; determining signal strengths of the respective other devices in the wireless communication network, based at least in part on the received messages from the other devices in the wireless communication network; indentifying the signal strength threshold to be used to determine a branch device; and transmitting a signal strength threshold to the other devices in the wireless communication network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein indentifying the signal strength threshold comprises identifying a signal strength threshold that is larger than the signal strengths of the messages from a percentage of the other devices in the wireless communication network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a peer-to-peer wireless communication network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a Social-WiFi network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying a potential branch device and transmitting instructions to the potential branch device that the device should become a branch device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the signal strengths of the respective other devices are received signal strength indications (RSSI), and wherein the signal strength threshold is an RSSI threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the signal strengths of the respective other devices are path gains, and wherein the signal strength threshold is a path gain threshold. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor in a device to perform a method for determining a signal strength threshold in an ad-hoc wireless communications network, the method comprising: receiving messages from other devices in the wireless communication network; determining signal strengths of the respective other devices in the wireless communication network, based at least in part on the received messages from the other devices in the wireless communication network; indentifying the signal strength threshold to be used to determine a branch device; and transmitting a signal strength threshold to the other devices in the wireless communication network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a peer-to-peer wireless communication network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein indentifying the signal strength threshold comprises identifying a signal strength threshold that is larger than the signal strengths of the messages from a percentage of the other devices in the wireless communication network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a Social-WiFi network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises identifying a potential branch device and transmitting instructions to the potential branch device that the device should become a branch device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the signal strengths of the respective other devices are received signal strength indications (RSSI), and wherein the signal strength threshold is an RSSI threshold. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the signal strengths of the respective other devices are path gains, and wherein the signal strength threshold is a path gain threshold. ### Claim 23 A device in an ad hoc wireless communication network configured to receive a signal strength threshold, the device comprising: a receiver configured to receive messages from one or more other devices in the wireless communication network containing the signal strength threshold; and a processor configured to compare the signal strength threshold received in the messages to a signal strength of the messages, and further configured to determine whether the device may be a potential branch node based at least on the comparison of the signal strength threshold to the signal strength of the messages. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The device of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a presence of one or more branch nodes in the vicinity of the device. ### Claim 25 A method for receiving a signal strength threshold in a ad-hoc wireless communications network, the method comprising: receiving messages from one or more other devices in the wireless communication network containing the signal strength threshold; determining a signal strength of the received messages; comparing the signal strength of the received messages to the signal strength threshold, to determine whether or not a wireless device may be a potential branch node; and transmitting the messages from one or more other devices, based at least in part on the determination of whether or not the wireless device may be a potential branch node. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising determining a presence of one or more branch nodes in the vicinity of the wireless device. ### Claim 27 A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor in a device to perform a method for receiving a signal strength threshold in a ad-hoc wireless communications network, the method comprising: receiving messages from one or more other devices in the wireless communication network containing the signal strength threshold; determining a signal strength of the received messages; comparing the signal strength of the received messages to the signal strength threshold, to determine whether or not a wireless device may be a potential branch node; and transmitting the messages from one or more other devices, based at least in part on the determination of whether or not the wireless device may be a potential branch node. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising determining a presence of one or more branch nodes in the vicinity of the wireless device.