US 6,385,174 B1 · Method and apparatus for transmission of node link status messages throughout a network with reduced communication protocol overhead traffic

Abstract

A wireless network includes a plurality of nodes arranged into clusters with each cluster having cluster member nodes and a designated cluster head node. The nodes communicate with each other via an intranet protocol, while the network may communicate with other external networks in accordance with an internetworking protocol (e.g., a Radio Open Shortest Path First (ROSPF) protocol). A database within each network node contains link information for that node, while ROSPF Link-State Advertisement (LSA) type packets or database update messages contain information to update the node databases. The ROSPF LSA type packets are transmitted to neighbors of each node to enable each database to maintain current information. In order to reduce overhead of transmitting numerous LSA type packets, the present invention transmits the ROSPF LSA type packet within an intranet protocol beacon type or node status packet that is periodically broadcasted within the network.

Claims37

Dependent claims

In a communications network, a communication unit to transmit and receive messages within said network comprising:

a transmitter to transmit an outgoing message to at least one other communication unit within said network;
a receiver to receive an incoming message from at least one other communication unit within said network;
and
a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming messages, wherein said processor includes:
a broadcast module to facilitate periodic transmission of a unit message to said at least one other communication unit, wherein said unit message includes information relating to a status of said communication unit;
and
a message module to insert a broadcast message within said unit message to facilitate transmission of said broadcast message to said at least one other communication unit in conjunction with transmission of said unit message.

4 more elements

A communication network comprising:

a plurality of clusters each having a plurality of communication units, wherein one of said communication units of each said cluster is designated as a head unit with remaining communication units of that cluster being designated as member units, wherein head units of said clusters communicate with each other and with corresponding member units of that cluster to facilitate communications between and within said clusters;
wherein each said head unit includes:
a head unit transmission module to periodically transmit a unit message within said network, wherein said unit message includes information relating to a status of that head unit;
and
a message broadcast module to insert a broadcast message within said unit message to facilitate transmission of said broadcast message within said network in conjunction with transmission of said unit message;
wherein each said member unit includes:
a member unit transmission module to transmit said broadcast message directly to a corresponding head unit to facilitate transmission of said broadcast message throughout said network via said corresponding head unit.

4 more elements

In a communication network including a plurality of clusters each having a plurality of communication units, wherein one of said communication units of each said cluster is designated as a head unit with remaining communication units of that cluster being designated as member units, wherein head units of said clusters communicate with each other and with corresponding member units of that cluster to facilitate communications between and within said clusters, a method of transmitting messages within said network comprising the steps of:

(a) periodically transmitting a unit message within said network from each said head unit, wherein said unit message includes information relating to a status of that head unit;
(b) inserting a broadcast message within said unit message by said each head unit receiving said broadcast message to facilitate transmission of said broadcast message within said network in conjunction with transmission of said unit message;
and
(c) transmitting said broadcast message from each said member unit receiving that message directly to a corresponding head unit to facilitate transmission of said broadcast message throughout said network via said corresponding head unit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for transmission of node link status messages throughout a network with reduced communication protocol overhead traffic

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for transmission of node link status messages throughout a network with reduced communication protocol overhead traffic

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37