Mote networks using directional antenna techniques
View Patent ↗A mote network having and/or using one or more directional antennas.
1. A mote system comprising:
means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for 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 means for 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:
means for sweeping the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna at a rate of sweep likely to be different from a rate of sweep of the beam of the second-mote directional antenna;
means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
means for 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 system of claim 1 , wherein said means for sweeping the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna at a rate of sweep likely to be different from a rate of sweep of the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for 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 the second-mote directional antenna.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for sweeping the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna at a rate of sweep likely to be different from a rate of sweep of the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for moving the field of regard through at least two angles at a quasi-randomly selected rate of movement.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for sweeping the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna at a rate of sweep likely to be different from a rate of sweep of the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for moving the field of regard for a quasi-randomly selected period of time.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:
means for selectively varying one or more relative dielectric constants respectively associated with the one or more antenna elements.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:
means for selectively switching one or more delay elements respectively associated with the one or more antenna elements.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements comprises:
means for selectively displacing the one or more antenna elements.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for selectively displacing at least a part of the first-mote directional antenna.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said means for selectively displacing at least a part of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for selectively adjusting a feed of a horn antenna.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for selectively tuning the first-mote directional antenna.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for logging one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for 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:
means for selectively varying a reception frequency.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said means for selectively varying a reception frequency further comprises:
means for maintaining a first reception frequency during a first rate of movement.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for maintaining a second reception frequency during a second rate of movement.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for 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:
means for determining a substantially maximum signal power associated with a beacon signal; and
means for determining a direction of the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna associated with the substantially maximum signal power.
17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
means for adjusting the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna to orient toward the determined direction associated with the second mote.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.
19. 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:
means for sweeping the field of regard of the first-mote directional antenna at a rate of sweep likely to be different from a rate of sweep of the beam of 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.
20. A mote system comprising:
means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for 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 means for 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:
means for 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 the second-mote directional antenna;
means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
means for 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.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.
22. A mote system comprising:
means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for 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 means for 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:
means for moving the field of regard through at least two angles at a quasi-randomly selected rate of movement;
means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
means for 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.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.
24. A mote system comprising:
means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for 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 means for 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:
means for moving the field of regard for a quasi-randomly selected period of time;
means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
means for 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.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.
26. A mote system comprising:
means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna;
means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
means for 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 means for 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:
means for selectively varying a reception frequency, wherein said means for selectively varying a reception frequency further comprises:
means for maintaining a first reception frequency during a first rate of movement.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.
28. A mote system comprising:
means for adjusting a field of regard of a first-mote directional antenna;
means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna; and
means for 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 means for 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:
means for selectively varying a reception frequency, wherein said means for selectively varying a reception frequency further comprises:
means for maintaining a first reception frequency during a first rate of movement; and
means for maintaining a second reception frequency during a second rate of movement.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein said means for monitoring one or more indicators of a received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:
means for monitoring at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.