Anchor selection in distributed networks
View Patent ↗Various embodiments are described relating to selecting anchor nodes among nodes in a wireless network. In an example embodiment, a topological arrangement of a first wireless node and one or more other wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node in a wireless network may be determined by the first wireless node. A second wireless node may be selected to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on the determined topological arrangement. For example, the first wireless node may select itself to perform the anchor node operations based on the determined topological arrangement.
1. A method comprising:
determining by a first wireless node a topological arrangement of the first wireless node and one or more other wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node in a wireless network,
wherein a basis for determination of the topological arrangement includes:
receiving at least one beacon transmission from each of the one or more other wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node,
wherein the beacon transmission includes information identifying the neighboring wireless node originating the beacon transmission and other nodes of the wireless network known to said neighboring wireless node with indications of nodes determined as anchor nodes performing anchor node operations; and
selecting a second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on the determined topological arrangement;
wherein the determining the topological arrangement comprises:
determining by the first wireless node a first set of one or more wireless nodes other than the first wireless node that is in a receiving range of the first wireless node, the first set including a first neighboring anchor node, and
receiving from the first neighboring anchor node by the first wireless node one or more indicators indicating a second set of one or more wireless nodes that is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node;
wherein receiving from the first neighboring anchor node by the first wireless node one or more indicators indicating a second set of one or more wireless nodes that is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node comprises receiving by the first wireless node a beacon from the first neighboring node; and
wherein the beacon includes a beacon period occupancy information element (BPOIE) including one or more indicators of wireless nodes that are in a receiving range of the first neighboring node.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein: the second wireless node comprises one of the wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein: the second wireless node comprises the first wireless node.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein: the selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on the determined topological arrangement comprises: the first wireless node selecting itself as the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on the determined topological arrangement.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein: the wireless network comprises a WiNet network.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein: the beacon includes one or more indicators of wireless nodes that are in a receiving range of the first neighboring node.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein: selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node comprises: selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on comparing the first and second sets.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein: determining the topological arrangement comprises: determining by the first wireless node a first set of one or more wireless nodes other than the first wireless node that is in a receiving range of the first wireless node, the first set including a plurality of neighboring anchor nodes; and receiving from each of the plurality of neighboring anchor nodes by the first wireless node one or more indicators indicating a corresponding anchor node set of one or more wireless nodes that is in a receiving range of the corresponding neighboring anchor node.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein: selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node comprises: selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on comparing the first set with the corresponding anchor node sets.
10. A method comprising:
determining by a first wireless node that a first set of one or more other wireless nodes including a first neighboring anchor node is in a receiving range of the first wireless node in a wireless network;
receiving from the first neighboring anchor node by the first wireless node one or more indicators indicating that a second set of one or more wireless nodes is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node,
wherein receiving from the first neighboring anchor node includes receiving at least one beacon transmission from each of the first neighboring anchor node,
wherein the beacon transmission includes:
information identifying the first neighboring wireless node originating the beacon transmission and other nodes of the wireless network known to said first neighboring wireless node with indications of nodes determined as anchor nodes performing anchor node operations, and
a beacon period occupancy information element (BPOIE) including one or more indicators of wireless nodes that are in a receiving range of the first neighboring node; and
selecting a second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on comparing the first and second sets.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein: selecting the second wireless node comprises the first wireless node selecting itself as the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on comparing the first and second sets.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein: selecting the second wireless node comprises selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on determining whether each of the wireless nodes included in the first set is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node based on comparing the first and second sets.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein: selecting the second wireless node comprises selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on determining whether each of the wireless nodes included in the first set other than the first neighboring node is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node based on comparing the first and second sets.
14. The method of claim 10 further comprising: receiving from a second neighboring anchor node by the first wireless node one or more indicators indicating that a third set of one or more wireless nodes is in a receiving range of the second neighboring anchor node, wherein the second neighboring anchor node is in a receiving range of the first wireless node, and wherein the selecting the second wireless node comprises selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on comparing the first, second, and third sets.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein: selecting the second wireless node comprises selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on determining whether each of the wireless nodes included in the first set is in a receiving range of the first or second neighboring anchor nodes based on comparing the first, second, and third sets.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising: receiving from a third neighboring anchor node by the first wireless node one or more indicators indicating that a fourth set of one or more wireless nodes is in a receiving range of the third neighboring anchor node, wherein the third neighboring anchor node is in a receiving range of the first wireless node, and wherein the selecting the second wireless node comprises selecting the second wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on determining whether each of the wireless nodes included in the first set is in a receiving range of the first, second, or third neighboring anchor nodes based on comparing the first, second, third, and fourth sets.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein: the second wireless node includes the first neighboring anchor node.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein: the second wireless node includes the first wireless node.
19. The method of claim 10 wherein: the wireless network includes a distributed wireless network, wherein control of the wireless network is distributed among the wireless nodes included in the wireless network.
20. The method of claim 10 wherein: the selecting the second wireless node comprises the first wireless node selecting itself to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on: making a determination by the first wireless node to not select a wireless node neighboring to the first wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the first wireless node based on comparing the first and second sets.
21. An apparatus for wireless communications, the apparatus comprising:
a controller;
a memory coupled to the controller; and
a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller;
the apparatus configured to:
determine a topological arrangement of the apparatus and one or more other wireless nodes neighboring to the apparatus in a wireless network
wherein a basis for determination of the topological arrangement includes:
receiving at least one beacon transmission from each of the one or more other wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node,
wherein the beacon transmission includes information identifying the neighboring wireless node originating the beacon transmission and other nodes of the wireless network known to said neighboring wireless node with indications of nodes determined as anchor nodes performing anchor node operations, and
select a wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the apparatus based on the determined topological arrangement;
wherein the apparatus is configured to determine the topological arrangement based on:
determining a first set of one or more wireless nodes other than the apparatus that is in a receiving range of the apparatus, the first set including a first neighboring anchor node, and
receiving from the first neighboring anchor node one or more indicators indicating a second set of one or more wireless nodes that is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node;
wherein the apparatus is configured to receive from the first neighboring anchor node one or more indicators indicating a second set of one or more wireless nodes that is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node based on receiving a beacon from the first neighboring node; and
wherein the beacon includes a beacon period occupancy information element (BPOIE) including one or more indicators of wireless nodes that are in a receiving range of the first neighboring node.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the selected wireless node comprises one of the wireless nodes neighboring to the first wireless node.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the selected wireless node comprises the apparatus.
24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the wireless network comprises a WiNet network.
25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the beacon includes one or more indicators of wireless nodes that are in a receiving range of the first neighboring node.
26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the apparatus is adapted to determine the topological arrangement based on: determining a first set of one or more wireless nodes other than the apparatus that is in a receiving range of the apparatus, the first set including a plurality of neighboring anchor nodes, and receiving from each of the plurality of neighboring anchor nodes one or more indicators indicating a corresponding anchor node set of one or more wireless nodes that is in a receiving range of the corresponding neighboring anchor node.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein: the apparatus is adapted to select the wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the apparatus based on comparing the first set with the corresponding anchor node sets.
28. An apparatus for wireless communications, the apparatus comprising:
a controller;
a memory coupled to the controller; and
a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller;
the apparatus configured to:
determine that a first set of one or more wireless nodes including a first neighboring anchor node is in a receiving range of the apparatus in a wireless network,
receive from the first neighboring anchor node one or more indicators indicating that a second set of one or more wireless nodes is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node, and
wherein the apparatus is configured to receive from the first neighboring anchor node by receiving at least one beacon transmission from each of the first neighboring anchor node,
wherein the beacon transmission includes:
information identifying the first neighboring wireless node originating the beacon transmission and other nodes of the wireless network known to said first neighboring wireless node with indications of nodes determined as anchor nodes performing anchor node operations, and
a beacon period occupancy information element (BPOIE) including one or more indicators of wireless nodes that are in a receiving range of the first neighboring node; and
select one of the wireless nodes included in the first or second sets to perform anchor node operations for the apparatus based on comparing the first and second sets.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein: the selected wireless node comprises the apparatus.
30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein: the apparatus is adapted to select the wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the apparatus based on determining whether each of the wireless nodes included in the first set is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node based on comparing the first and second sets.
31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein: the apparatus is adapted to select the wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the apparatus based on determining whether each of the wireless nodes included in the first set other than the first neighboring node is in a receiving range of the first neighboring anchor node based on comparing the first and second sets.
32. The apparatus of claim 28 further adapted to: receive from a second neighboring anchor node one or more indicators indicating that a third set of one or more wireless nodes is in a receiving range of the second neighboring anchor node, wherein the second neighboring anchor node is in a receiving range of the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus is adapted to select the wireless node to perform anchor node operations for the apparatus based on comparing the first, second, and third sets.