Patent ID: 7699234
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting between a multi-hop transmission route and a single-hop transmission route for transmitting data from a smart item in a network of smart items to a base station, the method comprising: receiving signals at the smart item from neighboring smart items in a vicinity of the smart item; measuring a density of neighboring smart items around the smart item based on information in the received signals; parameterizing a loss of energy in a signal transmitted between a neighboring smart item and the smart item as a function of distance between the neighboring smart item and the smart item, wherein the parameterization is based on information in the received signals; and selecting, based on the measured density and on the parameterization of the loss of energy, a multi-hop transmission route or a single-hop transmission route for transmitting data from the smart item to the base station.