Ad-hoc network and method of routing communications in a communication network

1. An ad-hoc network comprising:

an ad-hoc network coordinator comprising:

a first processor,

a first memory,

a first communication interface;

a plurality of ad-hoc network devices, each of said ad-hoc network devices comprising:

a second processor,

a second memory,

a second communication interface for communication with the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator or with the second communication interface of another one of said ad-hoc network devices,

wherein said first memory stores for at least some of said ad-hoc network devices a complete communication route for messages from said ad-hoc network coordinator through at least one of said ad-hoc network devices to a corresponding one of said at least some of said ad-hoc network devices,

wherein said second memory of each of said ad-hoc network devices stores an identification of another one of said ad-hoc network devices to forward a message from the second communication interface of a corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices toward the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator and through the second communication interface of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

wherein said second processor includes means for providing said identification of another one of said ad-hoc network devices to forward a message based upon quality information associated with communications between said second communication interface of said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices and said second communication interface of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices; and

wherein said quality information is positively correlated with a quality value associated with a communication link between said second communication interface of said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices and said second communication interface of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices, and is negatively correlated with a count of hops from said second communication interface of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices to said ad-hoc network coordinator.

2. A method of routing communications in an ad-hoc network, said method comprising:

employing an ad-hoc network coordinator including a first communication interface;

employing a plurality of ad-hoc network devices;

employing with each of said ad-hoc network devices a second communication interface for communication with the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator or with the second communication interface of another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

storing a plurality of complete communication routes for at least some of said ad-hoc network devices for messages from said ad-hoc network coordinator through at least one of said ad-hoc network devices to a corresponding one of said at least some of said ad-hoc network devices;

for each of said ad-hoc network devices, storing an identification of another one of said ad-hoc network devices to forward a message from the second communication interface of a corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices toward the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator and through the second communication interface of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

employing routing information with each of said ad-hoc network devices to forward said message from said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices to said ad-hoc network coordinator; and

including with said routing information at least one entry comprising a network address of another one of said ad-hoc network devices other than said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices, a quality value corresponding to a communication link between said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices and said another one of said ad-hoc network devices, a count of hops from said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices through said another one of said ad-hoc network devices toward said ad-hoc network coordinator, and an indication whether said another one of said ad-hoc network devices is mains-powered.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising

employing as said another one of said ad-hoc network devices a mains-powered ad-hoc network device having a rechargeable power capability.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising

for each of at least some of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices, determining a quality function based upon said routing information; and

determining a maximum value of said quality function and responsively starting a communication route for said message from said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices toward said ad-hoc network coordinator and through the corresponding one of said at least some of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices having said maximum value.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising

updating said routing information based upon changes in said ad-hoc network.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising

employing as said message a first message;

receiving a second message from one of said ad-hoc network devices at said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices;

determining that said second message was acknowledged; and

increasing the quality value for said one of said ad-hoc network devices.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising

employing said quality value having a predetermined maximum value.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising

employing as said message a first message;

receiving a second message from one of said ad-hoc network devices at said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices;

determining that said second message was not acknowledged; and

decreasing the quality value for said one of said ad-hoc network devices.

9. A method of routing communications in an ad-hoc network, said method comprising:

employing an ad-hoc network coordinator including a first communication interface;

employing a plurality of ad-hoc network devices;

employing with each of said ad-hoc network devices a second communication interface for communication with the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator or with the second communication interface of another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

storing a plurality of complete communication routes for at least some of said ad-hoc network devices for messages from said ad-hoc network coordinator through at least one of said ad-hoc network devices to a corresponding one of said at least some of said ad-hoc network devices;

for each of said ad-hoc network devices, storing an identification of another one of said ad-hoc network devices to forward a message from the second communication interface of a corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices toward the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator and through the second communication interface of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

broadcasting a plurality of request messages from said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices to at least some of other ones of said ad-hoc network devices;

employing routing information with each of said ad-hoc network devices to forward said message from said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices toward said ad-hoc network coordinator;

including with said muting information at least one entry comprising a count of hops from said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices through at least one of said ad-hoc network devices toward said ad-hoc network coordinator, and an indication whether said at least one of said ad-hoc network devices has a communication route to said ad-hoc network coordinator and is mains-powered;

receiving a response message from one of said ad-hoc network devices;

entering an entry for said one of said ad-hoc network devices in said routing information;

obtaining said indication and said count of hops from said response message; and

entering said indication and said count of hops in said routing information for said entry for said one of said ad-hoc network devices.

10. A method of routing communications in an ad-hoc network, said method comprising:

employing an ad-hoc network coordinator including a first communication interface;

employing a plurality of ad-hoc network devices;

employing with each of said ad-hoc network devices a second communication interface for communication with the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator or with the second communication interface of another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

storing a plurality of complete communication routes for at least some of said ad-hoc network devices for messages from said ad-hoc network coordinator through at least one of said ad-hoc network devices to a corresponding one of said at least some of said ad-hoc network devices;

for each of said ad-hoc network devices, storing an identification of another one of said ad-hoc network devices to forward a message from the second communication interface of a corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices toward the first communication interface of said ad-hoc network coordinator and through the second communication interface of said another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

employing as said message a first message;

employing a first ad-hoc network device as said corresponding one of said ad-hoc network devices;

employing a second ad-hoc network device as another one of said ad-hoc network devices;

employing routing information with said first ad-hoc network device to forward said first message from said first ad-hoc network device toward said ad-hoc network coordinator,

including with said routing information at least one entry comprising a count of hops from said first ad-hoc network device through at least one different one of said ad-hoc network devices toward said ad-hoc network coordinator, and an indication whether said different one of said ad-hoc network devices is mains-powered;

receiving a second message from said second ad-hoc network device; and

entering an winy for said second ad-hoc network device in said routing information.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising

obtaining said indication from said second message;

entering said indication in said entry for said second ad-hoc network device in said routing information; and

setting said count of hops in said entry for said second ad-hoc network device in said routing information to a predetermined count.