Mote networks using directional antenna techniques

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 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 responsive to said means for monitoring the 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 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.

3. The system of claim 1 , 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.

4. 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.

5. The system of claim 4 , 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.

6. The system of claim 4 , 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.

7. The system of claim 4 , 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.

8. 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.

9. The system of claim 8 , 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. The mote system of claim 11 , wherein said means for logging one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for logging at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio or other signal characteristic associated with a received signal strength.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said means for determining a direction associated with a second mote responsive to said means for monitoring the 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 responsive to said means for monitoring the 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 mote 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 system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for 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 means for 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:

means for moving the beam through at least two angles at a quasi-randomly selected rate of movement;

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively forming the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively switching the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively steering the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively adapting the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for 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:

means for 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 the first-mote directional antenna.

25. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for 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:

means for moving the beam for a quasi-randomly selected period of time.

26. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements.

27. The system of claim 26 , 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 one or more antenna elements.

28. The system of claim 26 , 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 one or more antenna elements.

29. The system of claim 26 , wherein said means for selectively varying one or more relative phases respectively associated with one or more antenna elements further comprises:

means for selectively displacing one or more antenna elements.

30. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively displacing at least a part of the second-mote directional antenna.

31. The system of claim 30 , wherein said means for selectively displacing at least a part of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively adjusting a feed of a horn antenna.

32. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively tuning the second-mote directional antenna.

33. The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively varying a transmission frequency.

34. The system of claim 33 , wherein said means for selectively varying a transmission frequency further comprises:

means for maintaining a first transmission frequency during a first rate of movement.

35. The system of claim 34 , further comprising:

maintaining a second transmission frequency during a second rate of movement.

36. The system of claim 19 wherein said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for detecting an initiation signal; and

means for initiating at least one of said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna or said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna, in response to said detecting.

37. 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/or 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 one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.

38. The mote system of claim 37 , 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.

39. 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 one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna.

40. The mote system of claim 39 , 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.

41. 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 one or more indicators of the received signal strength of the first-mote directional antenna, wherein said direction associated with a second mote in response to the 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.

42. The system of claim 41 , further comprising:

means for maintaining a second reception frequency during a second rate of movement.

43. The mote system of claim 41 , 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.

44. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for 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 means for 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:

means for rotating the beam at a 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

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

45. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for 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 means for 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:

means for moving the beam for a quasi-randomly selected period of time; and

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna.

46. A mote system comprising:

means for adjusting a beam of a second-mote directional antenna; and

means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna, wherein said means for transmitting a signal over the beam of the second-mote directional antenna further comprises:

means for selectively varying a transmission frequency, wherein said means for selectively varying a transmission frequency further comprises:

means for maintaining a first transmission frequency during a first rate of movement.

47. The system of claim 46 , further comprising:

means for maintaining a second transmission frequency during a second rate of movement.