Systems and methods for self-configuring nodes and modes of communication in a network of moving things

1. A method of operating a network device of a wireless network comprising a plurality of network devices configured to wirelessly communicate with one another, the method comprising:

receiving, via the wireless network by a first network device of the plurality of network devices, configuration information defining a set of operating modes of the first network device and one or more conditions in which the first network device is to transition between operating modes of the set of operating modes;

analyzing wireless network context information and node context information collected by the first network device;

determining whether to transition from a first operating mode of the set of operating modes to a second operating mode of the set of operating modes, based on the analysis and the one or more conditions;

transitioning from the first operating mode of the set of operating modes to the second operating mode of the set of operating modes, based upon the determining;

receiving a message requesting a transition of the first network device from a current operating mode to a requested operating mode of the set of operating modes; and

wirelessly broadcasting changes of operating mode of the first network device to neighboring network devices of the plurality of network devices.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of operating modes is representative of a primary operating mode in which the first network device operates immediately following receipt of the configuration information, and is representative of any alternative operating modes in which the first network device is operable.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a primary operating mode of the first network device functions as a vehicle-mounted mobile network device.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first network device directly communicates with at least one vehicle system via a bus for communication between components of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration information is received from a shared, cloud-based system that manages operation of the wireless network.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the message requesting the transition of operation of the first network device from the current operating mode to the requested operating mode originates from a second network device of the plurality of network devices, and wherein the second network device issues the message requesting the transition of operation of the first network device based upon behavior of the first network node observed by the second network device.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of operating modes for the first network device comprises one or more primary operating modes selected from a set of primary operating modes comprising a primary operating mode of a network device that is located at a fixed physical location in a service area of the wireless network and a primary operating mode of a network device that is transported by a vehicle that moves about the service area of the wireless network.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a plurality of code sections, wherein each code section comprises a plurality of instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform the actions of a method of operating a network device of a wireless network comprising a plurality of network devices configured to wirelessly communicate with one another, the actions of the method comprising:

receiving, via the wireless network by a first network device of the plurality of network devices, configuration information defining a set of operating modes of the first network device and one or more conditions in which the first network device is to transition between operating modes of the set of operating modes;

analyzing wireless network context information and node context information collected by the first network device;

determining whether to transition from a first operating mode of the set of operating modes to a second operating mode of the set of operating modes, based on the analysis and the one or more conditions;

transitioning from the first operating mode of the set of operating modes to the second operating mode of the set of operating modes, based upon the determining;

receiving a message requesting a transition of the first network device from a current operating mode to a requested operating mode of the set of operating modes; and

wirelessly broadcasting changes of operating mode of the first network device to neighboring network devices of the plurality of network devices.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the set of operating modes is representative of a primary operating mode in which the first network device operates immediately following receipt of the configuration information, and is representative of any alternative operating modes in which the first network device is operable.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein a primary operating mode of the first network device functions as a vehicle-mounted mobile network device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the first network device directly communicates with at least one vehicle system via a bus for communication between components of the vehicle.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the configuration information is received from a shared, cloud-based system that manages operation of the wireless network.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the message requesting the transition of operation of the first network device from the current operating mode to the requested operating mode originates from a second network device of the plurality of network devices, and wherein the second network device issues the message requesting the transition of operation of the first network device based upon behavior of the first network node observed by the second network device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the set of operating modes for the first network device comprises one or more primary operating modes selected from a set of primary operating modes comprising a primary operating mode of a network device that is located at a fixed physical location in a service area of the wireless network and a primary operating mode of a network device that is transported by a vehicle that moves about the service area of the wireless network.

15. A system for a network device of a wireless network comprising a plurality of network devices configured to wirelessly communicate with one another, the system comprising:

in a first network device of the plurality of network devices,

one or more processors operably coupled to at least one wireless communication interface configurable to communicate with other network devices of the plurality of network devices of the wireless network, the one or more processors operable to, at least:

receive, via the wireless network by a first network device of the plurality of network devices, configuration information defining a set of operating modes of the first network device and one or more conditions in which the first network device is to transition between operating modes of the set of operating modes;

analyze wireless network context information and node context information collected by the first network device;

determine whether to transition from a first operating mode of the set of operating modes to a second operating mode of the set of operating modes, based on the analysis and the one or more conditions;

transition from the first operating mode of the set of operating modes to the second operating mode of the set of operating modes, based upon the determining;

receive a message requesting a transition of the first network device from a current operating mode to a requested operating mode of the set of operating modes; and

wirelessly broadcast changes of operating mode of the first network device to neighboring network devices of the plurality of network devices.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the set of operating modes is representative of a primary operating mode in which the first network device operates immediately following receipt of the configuration information, and is representative of any alternative operating modes in which the first network device is operable.

17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein a primary operating mode of the first network device functions as a vehicle-mounted mobile network device.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the first network device directly communicates with at least one vehicle system via a bus for communication between components of the vehicle.

19. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the configuration information is received from a shared, cloud-based system that manages operation of the wireless network.

20. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the message requesting the transition of operation of the first network device from the current operating mode to the requested operating mode originates from a second network device of the plurality of network devices, and wherein the second network device issues the message requesting the transition of operation of the first network device based upon behavior of the first network node observed by the second network device.

21. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the set of operating modes for the first network device comprises one or more primary operating modes selected from a set of primary operating modes comprising a primary operating mode of a network device that is located at a fixed physical location in a service area of the wireless network and a primary operating mode of a network device that is transported by a vehicle that moves about the service area of the wireless network.