Abstract:
A communication device facilitates a multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) mesh network and includes a processor that executes a media independent mesh function (MIMF), the MIMF configured to exchange media independent mesh information between peer mesh entities. At least two physical network links of the communication device support different radio access technologies (RATs). The MIMF is further configured to determine a RAT-agnostic link quality estimate for a signal routing, to selectively activate or deactivate each RAT-based physical network link to conserve power and control bandwidth; and to determine a multi-RAT mesh capability of a peer device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/782,851, filed Jul. 25, 2007, which will issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,411,651 on Apr. 2, 2013, and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/820,519, filed on Jul. 27, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/908,099, filed on Mar. 26, 2007, all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is related to communication networks. More particularly, the present invention is related to the use of multiple radio technologies in a mesh network. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A trend in the telecommunications industry is the development of wireless devices that support multiple functions, such as, voice communication, music downloads, video and movie downloads, photography, location mapping, game playing, and the like. Wireless devices that support multiple functions with multiple radio access technologies (RATs) are referred to herein as multi-RAT converged devices (CDs). 
         [0004]    Another trend in the telecommunications industry is the development of devices that support multiple access technologies and networks that support multiple devices. More specifically, work is in progress so that technologies such as wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) or IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.3, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Evolution Data Only (EV-DO) will work together in a single network. Multiple devices can be grouped into networks with spontaneous network connectivity. These networks are referred to as mesh networks. IEEE group 802.11 (WLAN) has extended the 802.11 specification (802.11s) to include a WLAN mesh network. Similarly, IEEE group 802.15 has extended their specification to 802.15.5 for a mesh wireless personal area network (WPAN) and IEEE 802.16 has been extended to 802.16a to support a WiMAX mesh. Theses mesh architectures strive to provide robust network access with extended range, low cost and quick, easy deployment. However, each of these extensions supports only a single radio technology. 
         [0005]    It would be desirable to have a multi-RAT mesh network wherein CDs can be used to dynamically route data from nodes, whether fixed or mobile, using the most appropriate RAT towards a destination that otherwise may not have been reached. The CD could be used as a relay for multi-RAT, multi-hop communication. 
         [0006]    A challenge for a CD is to be able to provide consistent mesh services while utilizing multiple RATs. Mesh related functions are preferably generic and Layer 1 (L1) signaling agnostic, while selection of the radio to use for the next hop communication should be optimal, based on quality-of-service (QoS), battery level, next hop capability and the like. It would therefore be desirable to incorporate an intermediate functional layer between the radio layer and the mesh network layer that can abstract the RAT messages, the mesh-related upper layers and share mesh related information with its peers in the mesh network. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention is related to a communication device configured to facilitate a mesh network. The device includes a media independent mesh function (MIMF) configured to exchange media independent mesh information between peer mesh entities. The device preferably has multiple physical network links that communicate with the MIMF.The device preferably includes a media dependant mesh function and a plurality of upper layer functions. The MIMF is configured to communicate with, monitor and configure multiple radio access technologies in a single mesh network. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of example and to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing(s) wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of device equipped with multi-radio access technology in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a typical multi-RAT mesh communication network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a typical Multi-RAT home network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of signal flow for adding a device to a typical Multi-RAT network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a mesh network with a Multi-RAT convergence device proxy is accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a mesh network in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    When referred to hereafter, the terminology “wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU)” includes but is not limited to a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, or any other type of user device capable of operating in a wireless environment. When referred to hereafter, the terminology “base station” includes but is not limited to a Node-B, a site controller, an access point (AP), or any other type of interfacing device capable of operating in a wireless environment. 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a block diagram of a device equipped with multi-radio access technology in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The device  100  preferably includes a physical layer  102  that may include multiple radio technologies, such as, 802.3, 802.11 and the like. The physical layer communicates with the media independent multi-RAT function  104 . The MIMF  104  preferably provides multiple functions and abstracts mesh functions from the RAT technology. Mesh function  106  resides between the MIMF  104  and multiple applications  108 . The mesh function  106  includes, for example, mesh routing, mesh forwarding, and the like. An application layer  108  includes a number of applications that the device uses to perform its upper level functions. 
         [0017]    The MIMF  104  preferably provides a number of functions. The MIMF  104  may provide support for multi-RAT physical links, such as IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.11, WLAN, Bluetooth, and WiMAX, for example. The MIMF  104  preferably provides an interface between the different radio formats and the mesh network. 
         [0018]    The MIMF  104  preferably determines the multi-RAT mesh capability of a peer node. This may include, for example, a peer&#39;s active RATs, network identities, and levels of connectivity, such as wide-area and local-area. This may also include determining a peer node&#39;s routing capabilities, administrative and security requirements and power-saving techniques. 
         [0019]    The MIMF  104  may monitor individual RATs in order to detect and report changes in the status of neighboring mesh nodes. The MIMF  104  may also compare individual RAT links and provide a coherent link cost estimate for each RAT. The comparison may be transmitted to mesh upper layer functions and used as input for various decision making processes. By way of example, the MIMF  104  may abstract the metrics that are specific to each RAT in a network to determine a RAT-agnostic link quality estimate that may be used, for example, for signal routing. 
         [0020]    The MIMF  104  may handle data scheduling duties for data that is exchanged between the different RATs. Furthermore, the MIMF  104  may control power to each RAT, turning each RAT on or off as needed to conserve power and increase bandwidth. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a multi-RAT peer protocol in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Multi-RAT device A  202  may communicate with Multi-RAT device B  204  across the peer-to-peer communication link  206 . The link  206  may be compliant with IEEE 802.21 and may use, for example, media independent handover (MIH) Information Service or some other Internet Protocol (IP)-type protocol. The medium access control (MAC) layer  208  preferably is compliant with legacy systems such as 802.11, 802.15 or 802.16. Preferably, the MAC layer  208  is a mesh capable MAC, such as 802.11s, 802.15.5 or 802.16a. The MIMF  210  may communicate with both mesh and non-mesh MACs. 
         [0022]    A typical home network may be configured as a multi-RAT mesh network.  FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a typical multi-RAT mesh home network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In a first bedroom  316  is a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliant handset  312 . In a second bedroom  320  is a land-line telephone  326  and a personal computer (PC)  324 . In the home office  328  is a video camera  308 , a desktop PC  306  and a wireless Multiple Input/Multiple Output (MIMO) router  304 . The land-line phone  326 , the bedroom PC  324 , the video camera  308  and the office PC  306  are networked over a Bluetooth network. The home also has a WiFi network that includes the bedroom PC  324  the entertainment system  322  in the living room  330 , the laptop PC  314  in the living room  330 , the PC  312  in bedroom  1   314 , the office PC  306  and the wireless MIMO router  304 . The entertainment system  322  communicates internally over a Wireless-Universal Serial Bus (W-USB bus). The wireless handset  318  also communicates with the laptop PC  314  over W-USB bus. Lastly, the wireless MIMO router  304  is in communication with the Internet  302  over a WiMax connection. As shown in  FIG. 3 , there are four (4) different RATs functioning in 10 different devices. Using multi-RAT mesh technology, all these devices can be networked without additional cabling. The network can be extended easily, and can survive the loss of a node. Lastly, the network can provide high data throughput. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of signal flow for adding a device to a typical multi-RAT network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. For example, when the handset ( 312  of  FIG. 3 ) is powered on, it detects both a 3GPP network and a WLAN network. In the handset  312 , a WLAN entity  404  and a 3GPP entity  406  generate an event service  408 . The PC in the bedroom ( 314  of  FIG. 3 ) detects WLAN activity and its WLAN entity  410  generates an event service  412 . The PC  314  provides WLAN mesh details to the 3GPP handset  312  over information service (IS)  414 . The media independent mesh function  416  in the PC  314  sends a media independent mesh function IS  414  to the MIMF  418  of the handset  312  . The information in the information service signal may include mesh network availability, mesh routing, quality of service requirements, and the like. The MIMF  418  of the handset  312  transmits the information to the mesh function  420 . The handset  312  decides to join the network and the MIMF  418  configures the WLAN links accordingly. The command service link  422  can be configured in order to, for example, power down the 3GPP function for power savings. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a mesh network with a Multi-RAT Convergence Device proxy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. A multi-RAT device  502  serves as a portal for mesh network A  504  and mesh network B  506 . Mesh network A  504  is compatible with a single radio. Mesh network B  506  is compatible with a single radio that is different from the radio used in mesh network A  504 . A multi-RAT device  502  can act as a bridge between the two networks. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a mesh network  600  in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Each node on the network is a multi-RAT device. A MIMF in each device enables the multi-RAT connections. The MIMF has the flexibility to configure the network in multiple ways. In  FIG. 6 , device CD 1   602  is compatible with radio  1  and radio  2 . Device CD 2   604  is also compatible with radio  1  and radio  2 . CD 1   602  and CD 2   604  communicate over link  606  and link  608 . Device CD 4   610  is compatible with radio  2  and radio  3 . CD 4   610  communicates with CD 1  over link  612  and CD 2   604  over link  614  using radio  2 . Device CD 3   616  is compatible with radio  1  and radio  3 . CD 3   616  communicates with CD 1   602  over link  618  and CD 2  over link  620  using radio  1 . CD 3   616  communicates with CD 4   610  over link  622  using radio  3 . The media independent mesh function informs each of the mesh functions in each of the mesh devices about the other mesh devices in the network, including the active radios for each mesh device. 
         [0026]    Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention. The methods or flow charts provided in the present invention may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmware tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium for execution by a general purpose computer or a processor. Examples of computer-readable storage mediums include a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digital versatile disks (DVDs). 
         [0027]    Suitable processors include, by way of example, a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), and/or a state machine. 
         [0028]    A processor in association with software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU), user equipment (UE), terminal, base station, radio network controller (RNC), or any host computer. The WTRU may be used in conjunction with modules, implemented in hardware and/or software, such as a camera, a video camera module, a videophone, a speakerphone, a vibration device, a speaker, a microphone, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, a keyboard, a Bluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser, and/or any wireless local area network (WLAN) module.