IP Library Granted Patent US 7,277,672
Granted Patent B2
US 7,277,672 · App. 10/970,166 · Granted Oct 2, 2007

System and method for selecting repeaters

Assignee: Echelon Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,277,672
App. No.
10/970,166
Granted
Oct 2, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is described for selecting repeaters comprising: transmitting a first signal from a first node to a second node; measuring signal strength of the first signal at the second node; transmitting a second signal from the second node to the first node; measuring signal strength of the second signal at the first node; and selecting the second node as a repeater based on the signal strength of the first signal and/or the signal strength of the second signal. Another embodiment of the method comprises: calculating signal strength of a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of nodes (the signal strength being measured at each node of the plurality); and selecting one or more of the nodes to be a repeater if the signal strength is below a maximum threshold value and above a minimum threshold value.

Claims (29)

1. A method of a master node selecting a repeater, comprising:

transmitting a first signal to a repeater candidate node;

receiving a second signal from said repeater candidate node;

determining signal strength of said second signal and/or receiving a signal strength indication of said first signal determined at said repeater candidate node; and

selecting said repeater candidate node as a repeater based on said signal strength of said first signal and/or said signal strength of said second signal.

2. An article of manufacture including a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a master node, cause said master node to:

transmit a first signal to a repeater candidate node;

receive a second signal from said repeater candidate node;

determine signal strength of said second signal and/or receive a signal strength indication of said first signal determined at said repeater candidate node; and

select said repeater candidate node as a repeater based on said signal strength of said first signal and/or said signal strength of said second signal.

3. A master node comprising a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code, the program causing the processor to perform the operations of:

transmit a first signal to a repeater candidate node;

receive a second signal from said repeater candidate node;

determine signal strength of said second signal and/or receive a signal strength indication of said first signal determined at said repeater candidate node; and

select said repeater candidate node as a repeater based on said signal strength of said first signal and/or said signal strength of said second signal.

4. A method for a first node to become a repeater, comprising:

receiving a first signal from a second node;

transmitting a second signal to said second node;

receiving a selection indication from said second node based on signal strength of said first signal measured at said first node and/or signal strength of said second signal measured at said second node; and

becoming a repeater based on said selection.

5. An article of manufacture including a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a first node, cause said first node to:

receive a first signal from a second node;

transmit a second signal to said second node;

receive a selection indication from said second node based on signal strength of said first signal measured at said first node and/or signal strength of said second signal measured at said second node; and

become a repeater based on said selection.

6. A repeater candidate comprising a memory for storing program code and a processor for processing the program code, the program causing the processor to perform the operations of:

receive a first signal from a second node;

transmit a second signal to said second node;

receive a selection indication from said second node based on signal strength of said first signal measured at said first node and/or signal strength of said second signal measured at said second node; and become a repeater based on said selection.

Assignments (2)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2019
From: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ECHELON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050480/0865 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2018
From: ECHELON CORPORATION
To: OBSIDIAN AGENCY SERVICES, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047205/0018 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 0961067000 · Jul 5, 2000
Related Publication 20050053025A1 · Mar 10, 2005