System and method for device discovery in a wireless network of devices having directional antennas

A method of operation of a wireless network including a plurality of wireless devices, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a second wireless device in the wireless network, a first device table generated by a first wireless device in the wireless network, the first device table containing a list of the wireless devices in the wireless network and directions of the wireless devices with respect to the first wireless device;
• updating, by the second wireless device, a second device table, based at least partly on the first device table, the second device table containing a list of the wireless devices in the wireless network and directions of the wireless devices with respect to the second wireless device;
• and
• determining a direction of a third wireless device in the wireless network with respect to the second wireless device,
• wherein each of the first to third wireless devices comprises an antenna including a plurality of sectors,
• wherein the first device table indicates that the second wireless device is positioned in a first sector of the first wireless device, and that the third wireless device is positioned in a second sector of the first wireless device.

A first wireless device for use in a wireless network, the first wireless device comprising:

• a first device table including a list of wireless devices in a wireless network, and directions of the wireless devices in the wireless network with respect to the first wireless device;
• wherein the first wireless device determines the direction of a second wireless device with respect to the first wireless device;
• wherein the first wireless device determines a direction of a third wireless device in the wireless network with respect to the second wireless device;
• wherein the first wireless device updates the first device table with the determined direction of the second wireless device;
• wherein the first wireless device transmits the updated first device table to at least one of the wireless devices in the wireless network,
• wherein each of the first to third wireless devices comprises an antenna including a plurality of sectors,
• wherein the first device table indicates that the second wireless device is positioned in a first sector of the first wireless device,
• wherein the third wireless device is positioned in a second sector of the first wireless device, and
• wherein the first wireless device receives a second device table from the third wireless device, the second device table including a list of the wireless devices in the wireless network and directions of the wireless devices in the wireless network with respect to the third wireless device, and updates the first device table, based at least partially on the second device table.

A first wireless device for use in a wireless network, the device comprising:

• a first device table including a list of wireless devices in a wireless network, and directions of the wireless devices in the wireless network with respect to the first wireless device;
• wherein the first wireless device receives a second device table from a second wireless device, the second device table including a list of the wireless devices in the wireless network and the directions of the wireless devices in the wireless network with respect to the second wireless device, and wherein the first wireless device updates the first device table, based at least partially on the second device table,
• wherein the first wireless device determines a direction of a third wireless device in the wireless network with respect to the second wireless device,
• wherein each of the first to third wireless devices comprises an antenna including a plurality of sectors,
• wherein the first device table indicates that the second wireless device is positioned in a first sector of the first wireless device, and that the third wireless device is positioned in a second sector of the first wireless device;
• and
• wherein the first wireless device determines the direction of the third wireless device based on determining if the first sector is in an opposite direction to the second sector.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless devices forming a wireless network, the plurality of wireless devices wirelessly communicate with one another, each of the wireless devices including a device table including a list of one or more of the wireless devices and directions of the one or more of the wireless devices with respect to a wireless device including the device table,
• wherein any one of the plurality of wireless devices performs device discovery directly with a new wireless device entering the wireless network,
• wherein a first wireless device updates the device table therein and transmits the updated device table to other wireless devices in the wireless network,
• wherein a first device table indicates that the first wireless device is positioned in a first sector of a second wireless device, and that a third wireless device is positioned in a second sector of the first wireless device, and
• wherein the first device determines the direction of the third wireless device based on determining if the first sector is in an opposite direction to the second sector.

A method of device discovery for a wireless network including a plurality of wireless devices, the method comprising:

• determining, by a first wireless device in the wireless network, a direction of a second wireless device with respect to the first wireless device, wherein a first device table indicates that the second wireless device is positioned in a first sector of the first wireless device, and that a third wireless device is positioned in a second sector of the first wireless device;
• determining a direction of a third wireless device in the wireless network with respect to the second wireless device based on determining if the first sector is in an opposite direction to the second sector;
• and
• updating, by the first wireless device, the first device table with the determined direction of the second wireless device, the first device table containing a list of the wireless devices in the wireless network and directions of the wireless devices with respect to the first wireless device.

A method of operation of a wireless network including a plurality of wireless devices, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a second wireless device in the wireless network, a first device table generated by a first wireless device in the wireless network, the first device table containing a list of the wireless devices in the wireless network and directions of the wireless devices with respect to the first wireless device;
• updating, by the second wireless device, a second device table, based at least partly on the first device table, the second device table containing a list of the wireless devices in the wireless network and directions of the wireless devices with respect to the second wireless device;
• and
• determining a direction of a third wireless device in the wireless network with respect to the second wireless device based on determining if a first sector is in an opposite direction to a second sector.