US 9,717,110 B1 · User equipment centric mobility management in a mesh network

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for efficient signaling between devices. A leaf device initiates association with chirp signals to relay devices. Relay devices respond with keep alive signals. The leaf device selects a relay (from those that responded) and associates with it. Alternatively, selection of the relay may be offloaded to a base station. In another embodiment, an available relay device transmits a discovery broadcast to leaf devices. A leaf device responds with a chirp signal to the relay and association occurs. After association, the leaf device periodically sends a chirp signal and the relay responds with a keep alive signal. If either device fails to send its signal, link breakage is assumed. The leaf device reverts to uplink communication with a base station while searching for another relay. Downlink paging may be synchronized with the chirp/keep alive signaling. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

sending, from a first wireless communications device, a chirp signal to one or more second wireless communications devices in a mesh network during a first wake-up period common to the first wireless communications device and to the one or more second wireless communications devices, the chirp signal indicating a request for a keep alive signal;
obtaining, at the first wireless communications device, a relay selection associated with a first relay wireless communications device;
receiving, at the first wireless communications device in response to the chirp signal, the keep alive signal from the first relay wireless communications device from among the one or more second wireless communications devices during the first wake-up period;
and
receiving, at the first wireless communications device, connection setup information from the first relay wireless communications device during the first wake-up period, the connection setup information comprising resource allocation information,
wherein the first wireless communications device is asleep at a time that overlaps a sleep time of the one or more second wireless communications devices.

3 more elements

A method, comprising:

receiving, at a first wireless communications device from a second wireless communications device in a mesh network, a chirp signal in a wake-up period, the chirp signal indicating a request for a keep alive signal;
sending, from the first wireless communications device to the second wireless communications device in response to the chirp signal, the keep alive signal during the wake-up period based on the first wireless communications device being a determined relay for the second wireless communications device;
and
sending, from the first wireless communications device to the second wireless communications device, connection setup information that comprises resource allocation information.

1 more element

An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to:
generate a chirp signal;
and
obtain a relay selection associated with a first relay wireless communication device;
and
a transceiver, coupled to the processor, configured to:
send the chirp signal to one or more second wireless communications devices in a mesh network during a first wake-up period common to each device, the chirp signal indicating a request for a keep alive signal;
receive, in response to the chirp signal, the keep alive signal from the first relay wireless communications device from among the one or more second wireless communications devices during the first wake-up period;
and
receive connection setup information from the first relay wireless communications device during the first wake-up period, the connection setup information comprising resource allocation information.

7 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to generate a keep alive signal;
and
a transceiver configured to:
receive, from a second wireless communications device in a mesh network, a chirp signal in a wake-up period, the chirp signal indicating a request for the keep alive signal;
send, to the second wireless communications device in response to the chirp signal, the keep alive signal during the wake-up period based on the apparatus being a determined relay for the second wireless communications device;
and
send, to the second wireless communications device, connection setup information that comprises resource allocation information.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

User equipment centric mobility management in a mesh network

Life of this patent

User equipment centric mobility management in a mesh network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30