# US 7,466,664 B2 · Methods, apparatus, and program products for applying a visibility function to networked information > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,466,664 B2 - Document ID: US7466664B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/219,234 - Filed: 2005-09-02 - Published: 2007-03-08 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-02 - Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated - Inventors: Arpita Ghosh; Daniel H Greene; Qingfeng Huang; Juan Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466664B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/189: {in combination with wireless systems (selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06)} - H04L 12/1854: {with non-centralised forwarding system, e.g. chaincast} - H04L 12/1895: {for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates} - H04L 47/15: {in relation to multipoint traffic (arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18)} - H04W 8/04: Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server] - H04W 40/20: based on geographic position or location - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract The disclosed technology uses a visibility function within a network environment that includes a set of nodes. At least one of nodes can directly transmit to one or more of a subset of the set of nodes. The visibility function characterizes a non-uniform resolution profile within the network environment that extends over at least one node outside the subset of nodes. The sent situation information is conditioned to propagate through the network environment according to the visibility function. The node can also receive situation information that includes a visibility parameter. Once the situation information is received, the node can evaluate the visibility parameter to determine whether the situation information is eligible for continued propagation through the network environment. If situation information is eligible for continued propagation the node then prepares to transmit the situation information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: using a visibility function in a network environment, said network environment comprising a plurality of nodes, at least one of said plurality of nodes able to directly transmit to one or more of a subset of said plurality of nodes; said visibility function characterizing a resolution profile within said network environment, said resolution profile extending over at least one node outside said subset of said plurality of nodes, said resolution profile being non-uniform; and transmitting a first situation information that is conditioned to propagate through said network environment in accordance with said visibility function. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said resolution profile is responsive to one or more of the group consisting of a distance, an update granularity, a precision, a nodal density, an information utility function, and a ‘packet loss’ visibility function. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting said first situation information further comprises transmitting a second situation information in accordance with said visibility function, said first situation information containing a first visibility parameter and said second situation information containing a second visibility parameter, said first visibility parameter comprising a propagation distance component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said first situation information comprises event information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting said visibility function responsive to a network characteristic of said network environment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving said first situation information by a visibility protocol layer from an application protocol layer; including a visibility parameter, responsive to said visibility function, with said first situation information; and providing said first visibility parameter and said first situation information to a protocol stack. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving one or more utility parameters by said visibility protocol layer from said application protocol layer; and determining said visibility function responsive to said one or more utility parameters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: optimizing, both individually and in combination to achieve an optimal utility, a plurality of utility-aware applications with respect to their individual utilities. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein instructions provided by a computer-usable data carrier are capable, if executed by a computer, of causing said computer to perform the method. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: receiving a first situation information by one of a plurality of nodes in a network environment, said network environment comprising a plurality of nodes, said first situation information comprising a visibility parameter, said visibility parameter responsive to a visibility function that characterizes a resolution profile within said network environment; determining, responsive to said visibility parameter, whether said first situation information is eligible for continued propagation through said network environment; and preparing to transmit said first situation information responsive to the determination that said first situation information is eligible for continued propagation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting said first situation information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising providing said first situation information for processing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising altering a broadcast storm control parameter responsive to a network characteristic of said network environment to achieve said resolution profile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the determination that said first situation information is eligible for continued propagation further comprises: receiving, by a visibility protocol layer, said first situation information from a protocol stack; and evaluating said visibility parameter responsive to a network characteristic of a local portion of said network environment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: transmitting an information probe request, said information probe request comprising a second visibility parameter and a situation information query; and receiving a query response comprising requested information responsive to said situation information query. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving an information probe request, said information probe request comprising a second visibility parameter and a situation information query; and transmitting a query response comprising requested information responsive to said situation information query. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein said query response includes said second visibility parameter, a modification of said second visibility parameter, or a transformation of said second visibility parameter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising preparing to process said first situation information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein instructions provided by a computer-usable data carrier are capable, if executed by a computer, of causing said computer to perform the method. ### Claim 20 An apparatus comprising: a data source configured to provide a first situation information; a visibility assignment logic configured to include a visibility parameter with said first situation information provided by the data source, said visibility parameter responsive to a visibility function; a network interface, responsive to the visibility assignment logic, configured to transmit said first situation information to one or more of a subset of a plurality of nodes in a network environment; and said visibility function characterizing a resolution profile within said network environment, said resolution profile being non-uniform and extending over at least one node outside said subset of said plurality of nodes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said resolution profile is responsive to one or more of the group consisting of a distance, an update granularity, a precision, a nodal density, an information utility function, and a ‘packet loss’ visibility function. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the data source is also configured to provide a second situation information, the visibility assignment logic is also configured to include a second visibility parameter with said second situation information, and wherein said visibility parameter comprises a propagation distance component. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said first situation information comprises event information. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a visibility adjustment logic configured to adjust said visibility function responsive to a network characteristic of said network environment. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising: an optimization logic, responsive to the nodal density determination logic, configured to achieve an optimal utility by optimizing a plurality of utility-aware applications with respect to their individual utilities both individually and in combination. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: a visibility protocol stack comprising: an application protocol layer; a visibility protocol layer configured to receive said first situation information from the application protocol layer and to include a visibility parameter, responsive to said visibility function, with said first situation information; and a protocol stack configured to receive said first situation information with said visibility parameter from the visibility protocol layer. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising: a visibility determination logic configured to receive one or more utility parameters from the application protocol layer and to determine said visibility function responsive to said one or more utility parameters. ### Claim 28 An apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive a first situation information from one of a plurality of nodes in a network environment, said network environment comprising a plurality of nodes, said first situation information comprising a visibility parameter, said visibility parameter responsive to a visibility function that characterizes a resolution profile within said network environment; a decision logic configured to determine, responsive to said visibility parameter, whether said first situation information is eligible for continued propagation through said network environment; and a transmission preparation logic configured to prepare said first situation information for transmission responsive to the decision logic. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a network interface, responsive to the transmission preparation logic, configured to transmit said first situation information to the network environment. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising data processing logic configured to process said first situation information. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising an anti-storm adjustment logic configured to alter a broadcast storm control parameter responsive to said visibility parameter. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the decision logic further comprises: a visibility protocol layer configured to receive said first situation information from a protocol stack; and an retransmission evaluation logic configured to evaluate said visibility parameter responsive to a network characteristic of a local portion of said network environment. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising: an information query logic configured to transmit an information probe request, said information probe request comprising a second visibility parameter and a situation information query; and an information query processing logic configured to process a query response comprising requested information responsive to said situation information query. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising: an information query receipt logic configured to receive an information probe request, said information probe request comprising a second visibility parameter and a situation information query; and an information query response logic configured to transmit a query response comprising requested information responsive to said situation information query. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said query response includes said second visibility parameter, a modification of said second visibility parameter, or a transformation of said second visibility parameter. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising data processing logic configured to process said first situation information. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the apparatus is a component of a vehicle, a robot, or a warehouse.