Patent ID: 6144900
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: B61L

Abstract:
A linking process for establishing a sequence of linked nodes at a head-node of an array of nodes, each of said nodes being equipped with a wireless communication device of limited range, the linking process comprising the steps of:transmitting packets including a unique identification from each of said nodes, each said communication device modeling a phase-variable oscillator i such that when phase .theta..sub.i =1, the i.sup.th oscillator ""fires"", transmitting the packet, and .theta..sub.i jumps back to zero and, on receiving a packet, changes phase according to a phase-response curve, thereby setting up a wave pattern of transmission of packets;updating a local map at each node based on received packets from adjacent nodes;periodically transmitting from each node a current local map; andcompiling, at the head node, a network map of the sequence of the nodes in the network from the local maps received.