WAKE-UP BROADCAST INCLUDING NETWORK INFORMATION IN COMMON DESIGNATION AD HOC WIRELESS NETWORKING
A data communication device includes both a two-way communications component having a first receiver and transmitter, and a second receiver. The second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device. A method of providing information via the second receiver—which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component—includes transmitting a wake-up broadcast capable of being received by the second receiver. The wake-up broadcast includes a data construct including a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information. The wake-up identifier may or may not be a wake-up identifier of the data communication device. Nevertheless, the auxiliary information is received and recorded by the data communication device via the second receiver with the two-way communications component remaining in the dormant state.
1 . In the operation of an ad hoc wireless network utilizing a data communication device as a node of the network, the data communication device including both,
a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter, and
a second receiver,
wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device,
a method of providing information via the second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component, characterized by,
transmitting a wake-up broadcast, which the second receiver is capable of receiving, the wake-up broadcast including a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a node identification from which the wake-up broadcast is transmitted.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a transmission count regarding wake-up broadcasts transmitted by a node.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an encryption key.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises application specific data.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an indication of the status of a sensor.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver draws substantially less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver draws less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast, the difference in current draw being at least an order of magnitude (such as milliamps versus microamps).
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver utilizes a stepped wake-up sequence based on at least two criteria, and wherein the last criteria before awakening the two-way communications component comprises identifying a wake-up identifier of the data communication device in the wake-up broadcast.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver is part of a wake-up transceiver, the wake-up transceiver further comprising a second transmitter of the data communication device that is configured to transmit a wake-up broadcast for receipt by another wake-up receiver of another data communication device.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a common designation wireless ad hoc sensor network.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a class based wireless ad hoc network.
13 . In the operation of an ad hoc wireless network utilizing a data communication device as a node of the network, the data communication device including both,
a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter, and
a second receiver,
wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device,
a method of receiving information by the data communication device via the second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of two-way communications component, characterized by,
receiving a wake-up broadcast, the wake-up broadcast including a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information,
recording the auxiliary information, and
activating the two-way communications component from a dormant state, in response to receipt of the wake-up broadcast, if a wake-up identifier of the data communications device is found in the wake-up broadcast, and not activating the two-way communications component from a dormant state, in response to receipt of the wake-up broadcast, if a wake-up identifier of the data communications device is not found in the wake-up broadcast.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a node identification from which the wake-up broadcast is transmitted.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a transmission count regarding wake-up broadcasts transmitted by a node.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an encryption key.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises application specific data.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an indication of the status of a sensor.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second receiver draws substantially less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast.
20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second receiver draws less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast, the difference in current draw being at least an order of magnitude (such as milliamps versus microamps).
21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second receiver utilizes a stepped wake-up sequence based on at least two criteria, and wherein the last criteria before awakening the two-way communications component comprises identifying a wake-up identifier of the data communication device in the wake-up broadcast.
22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second receiver is part of a wake-up transceiver, the wake-up transceiver further comprising a second transmitter of the data communication device that is configured to transmit a wake-up broadcast for receipt by another wake-up receiver of another data communication device.
23 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a common designation wireless ad hoc sensor network.
24 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a class based wireless ad hoc network.
25 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising using the auxiliary information by the data communication device for facilitating network communications by the two-way communications component.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises network information that is reviewed by the data communication device when determining network paths for communicating with a desired node, whereby network communications are facilitated.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of one or more nodes that are within direct communication range of the data communication device.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of a gateway node that is within direct communication range of the data communication device.
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of one or more nodes from which wake-up broadcasts have been received, either directly or indirectly, by the second wake-up receiver.
30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of one or more common designations from which wake-up broadcasts have been received, either directly or indirectly, by the second wake-up receiver.
31 . An ad hoc wireless network system, comprising:
an ad hoc wireless network utilizing a plurality of data communication devices as nodes of the network;
wherein each data communication device includes both,
a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter, and
a second receiver, wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device; and
wherein information is provided via each second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component, by transmitting a wake-up broadcast, which the second receiver is capable of receiving, that includes a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information.
32 . A data communication device for utilization as a node in an ad hoc wireless network, comprising:
a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter; and
a second receiver, wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device;
wherein information is provided via the second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component, by transmitting a wake-up broadcast, which the second receiver is capable of receiving, that includes a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information.