Mote networks using directional antenna techniques
View Patent ↗A mote network having and/or using one or more directional antennas.
1. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the field of regard through at least two angles at a quasi-randomly selected rate of movement;
monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the monitored one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
rotating the field of regard at a rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the first-mote directional antenna and/or the second-mote directional antenna.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the field of regard for a quasi-randomly selected period of time.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:
selectively varying one or more relative dielectric constants respectively associated with the one or more antenna elements.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:
selectively switching one or more delay elements respectively associated with the one or more antenna elements.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein said selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements comprises:
selectively displacing the one or more antenna elements.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively displacing at least a part of the first-mote directional antenna.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said selectively displacing at least a part of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively adjusting a feed of a horn antenna.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively tuning the first-mote directional antenna.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
logging one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the monitored one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively varying a reception frequency.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said selectively varying a reception frequency further comprises:
maintaining a first reception frequency during a first rate of movement.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
maintaining a second reception frequency during a second rate of movement.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the monitored one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
determining a substantially maximum signal power associated with a beacon signal; and
determining a direction of the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna associated with the substantially maximum signal power.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna to orient toward the determined direction associated with the second mote.
17. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the beam through at least two angles at a quasi-randomly selected rate of movement; and
transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively forming the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively switching the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively steering the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively adapting the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein said moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
rotating the beam at a rate of rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the second-mote directional antenna and/or the first-mote directional antenna.
23. The method of claim 17 , wherein said moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the beam for a quasi-randomly selected period of time.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein said selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:
selectively varying one or more relative dielectric constants respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein said selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:
selectively switching one or more delay elements respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein said selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:
selectively displacing one or more antenna elements.
28. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively displacing at least a part of the second-mote directional antenna.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said selectively displacing at least a part of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively adjusting a feed of a horn antenna.
30. The method of claim 17 , wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively tuning the second-mote directional antenna.
31. The method of claim 17 , wherein said transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively varying a transmission frequency.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein said selectively varying a transmission frequency further comprises:
maintaining a first transmission frequency during a first rate of movement.
33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising:
maintaining a second transmission frequency during a second rate of movement.
34. The method of claim 17 , wherein said transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
detecting an initiation signal; and
initiating at least one of said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna or said transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna, in response to said detecting.
35. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
rotating the field of regard at a rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the first-mote directional antenna and/or the second-mote directional antenna;
monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the monitored one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.
36. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said moving the field of regard such that the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the field of regard for a quasi-randomly selected period of time;
monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the monitored one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.
37. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna;
monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the monitored one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna, wherein said determining a direction associated with a second mote in response to the monitored one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively varying a reception frequency, wherein said selectively varying a reception frequency further comprises:
maintaining a first reception frequency during a first rate of movement.
38. The method of claim 37 , further comprising:
maintaining a second reception frequency during a second rate of movement.
39. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
rotating the beam at a rate of rate of rotation varied by a quasi-random amount from a nominal rate of rotation of the second-mote directional antenna and/or the first-mote directional antenna; and
transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.
40. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said moving the beam such that the beam of the second-mote directional antenna will likely operably align with a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
moving the beam for a quasi-randomly selected period of time; and
transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.
41. A mote method comprising:
adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna; and
transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna, wherein said transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
selectively varying a transmission frequency, wherein said selectively varying a transmission frequency further comprises:
maintaining a first transmission frequency during a first rate of movement.
42. The method of claim 41 , further comprising:
maintaining a second transmission frequency during a second rate of movement.