Implementation of power control in a wireless overlay network

A communication system comprising:

• a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes;
• an overlay network including a second plurality of wireless nodes;
• a first dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first dual-power node including:
• means for receiving when operative in a low-power mode, information transmitted at a first power level by one of said first plurality of wireless nodes;
• means for transmitting said information, at a second power level substantially greater than said first power level, to at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes when operative in a high-power mode;
• and
• means for transitioning between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode;
• and
• a third wireless network containing said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes and a third plurality of wireless nodes, said at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes including:
• means for transmitting information, at a third power level, to said third plurality of wireless nodes;
• and
• means for transmitting information, at a fourth power level substantially greater than said third power level, to said first dual-power node.

A communication system comprising:

• a first wireless network including a first dual-power node and a first plurality of low-power wireless nodes said first dual-power node toggling between operation in a high-power mode and in a low-power mode such that said first dual-power node communicates with said first plurality of low-power wireless nodes while operative in said low-power mode;
• an overlay network including at least one node disposed to communicate with said first dual-power node while said first dual-power node is operative in said high-power mode, said first dual-power node transmitting information received from one of said first plurality of low-power nodes to said at least one node;
• and
• a third wireless network having a dual-power node and a second plurality of low-power wireless nodes, said dual-power node communicating with said overlay network while operative in a higher-power mode and with said second plurality of low-power wireless nodes while operative in a lower-power mode.

In a communication system including a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a low-power mode and an overlay network having a second plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a high-power mode, a dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said dual-power node comprising:

• a transceiver operative to receive information within a first range of power levels from said first plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in said low-power mode and operative to transmit said information within a second range of power levels to said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in said high-power mode, said second range of power levels being distinct from said first range of power levels;
• and
• a controller for transitioning said dual-power node between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode;
• wherein said first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within the first range of power levels and said second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within the second range of power levels.

A communication system comprising:

• a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a low-power transmission range;
• an overlay network including a second plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a high-power transmission range;
• and
• a first dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first dual-power node including:
• a first transceiver module configured to receive information within the low-power transmission range from said first plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a low-power mode;
• a second transceiver module configured to transmit said information within the high-power transmission range to said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a high-power mode, said high-power transmission range being distinct from said low-power transmission range;
• and
• a controller for transitioning between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode.

In a communication system including a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a low-power mode and an overlay network having a second plurality of wireless nodes configured for communication in a high-power mode, a method for communicating message information comprising:

• receiving, at one of said first plurality of wireless nodes, network connectivity information relating to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes;
• transmitting, in response to said network connectivity information and at a low-power level consistent with said low-power mode, said message information from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to a dual-power node wherein said first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate at the low-power level;
• and
• transmitting, at a high-power level consistent with said high-power mode, said message information to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, wherein said second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate at the high-power level.

A communication system comprising:

• a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the first plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a low-power transmission range;
• an overlay network including a second plurality of wireless nodes, wherein the second plurality of wireless nodes intercommunicate within a high-power transmission range;
• and
• a first dual-power node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first dual-power node including:
• a first transceiver module configured to receive information transmitted within the high-power transmission range by said second plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a high-power mode;
• and
• a second transceiver module configured to transmit said information within the low-power transmission range to said first plurality of wireless nodes during operation of said dual-power node in a low-power mode, said low-power transmission range being distinct from said high-power transmission range;
• a controller for transitioning between operation in said low-power mode and said high-power mode.