Abstract: A method and apparatus for operation of a node within a mobile ad hoc cognitive radio network is provided. The method includes sensing at least one assigned communications channel. Sensing at least one assigned communications channel includes measuring a value of at least one parameter corresponding to the communications channel. The method further includes comparing the measured value of the at least one parameter with a set of stored values of the at least one parameter to determine a change in the measured values. Finally a sleep mode of the node is activated for a time period, wherein the time period is determined using the change in the measured values.

Abstract: A method for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network is provided. The method includes communicating at least one message among the plurality of nodes, wherein the at least one message comprises: an ad hoc zone, wherein the ad hoc zone comprises at least one channel selected from a group of channels comprising: at least one synchronization channel for synchronizing out of coverage nodes, at least one access channel for peer-to-peer communications, and at least one ad hoc relay data/traffic channel for exchanging data during data sessions between one or more nodes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sensing device (200) can include a transceiver (202) to monitor a communication signal, and a controller (203) communicatively coupled to the transceiver to receive from a Cluster Head (140) a schedule comprising a listening period and an active sensing period. During the listening period, the sensing device can monitor an occupied communication channel of the communication signal. During the active sensing period the sensing device can transmit in the occupied communication channel a test signal. The sensing device can increase a duty cycle of the test signal during repeated transmission, and calculate a correlation between a duration of the occupancy caused by an incumbent transmitting a communication signal in the communication channel and a duration of the test signal. A negative correlation can indicate the presence of an incumbent Carrier Sensing Multiple Access (CSMA) node transmitting a communication signal in the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for channel assignment within an ad-hoc communication system utilizing multiple channels is provided herein. Individual nodes receive and send route-request (RREQ) packets on all channels rather than a single channel. Each route-request packet comprises a first and a second table. The first table comprises a channel state for the link and the second table comprises a channel quality metric for the link. Each node updates the channel state and channel quality tables and forwards them in the RREQ packet as part of the route-discovery process. When channel selection is made, the channel selection is based on the channel state and the channel quality tables.

Abstract: A method of communicating in and around a localized wireless coverage area according to the present invention provides cellular coverage to a neighborhood cell (18) in which service might otherwise not be possible or in which a high percentage of calls would otherwise end up being dropped. Specifically, a neighborhood cell (18) is defined by either one or more fixed last hop nodes (20) or mobile last hop nodes (120). If a source mobile subscriber unit (12) communicates with a destination unit through wide area wireless network coverage, the source mobile subscriber unit (12) is handed over to ad hoc wireless network coverage either automatically or upon the occurrence of a high frame error rate when it enters the neighborhood cell (18) to maintain communication with the destination unit.

Abstract: A system and method of resource allocation within a communication system is provided. A communication system comprises a plurality of nodes operating in a first architecture network mode, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are reconfigured to operate in a second architecture network mode in response to a change in one or more network performance requirements. When the plurality of nodes are operating in a distributed architecture network mode, at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are reconfigured to operate in a clustered architecture network mode in response to an increase in one or more network performance requirements. When the plurality of nodes are operating in a clustered architecture network mode, at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are reconfigured to operate in a distributed architecture network mode in response to a decrease in one or more network performance requirements.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communication device (200) capable of functioning as a node in an ad hoc network, including switching packet data, received from a source node, to a destination node, determining a switching capacity utilization of the wireless communication device, and re-allocating at least a portion of the packet switching performed by the wireless communication device with another switching node based upon the switching capacity utilization of the wireless communication device.

Abstract: An overlay communication system (120) aides determining a route between nodes (101-103) in an underlay communication system (110). In particular, when a first node (102) wishes to discover a route to a second node (103), the first node notifies the overlay communication system, which notifies all nodes in the underlay communication system of the desire. Both the first and the second nodes begin flooding the underlay system simultaneously. When a node in the underlay system hears both the flood messages from the first and the second node, the overlay communication system is notified and stops all flooding. The route information is then provided to the first and the second nodes via the overlay communication system.

Abstract: A communication system (100) is provided that comprises an overlay communication system and an underlay ad-hoc communication system. Route discovery in the ad-hoc communication system takes place by notifying the overlay communication system of the source and destination nodes. The overlay communication system instructs all base stations between the source and destination nodes to instruct all nodes to participate in route discovery.

Abstract: Nodes (103a-d, 105, 107, 109a-c, 111a-c) in an ad hoc communication network are coordinated. The network includes the node (111b) and one or more neighbor nodes (103a-d, 105, 107, 109a-c, 111a,c). The node (111b) can sleep in a low duty cycle. Further, the node (111b) can awaken, responsive to a schedule; and register with a cluster head (101); listen for one or more neighbors, wherein the at least one neighbor can be active (103a-d, 105, 107) or idle (109a-c, 111a,c); and/or listen for one or more requests from the cluster head (101) or active neighbor(s) (103a-d, 105, 107). Responsive to the request(s), the idle node (111b) can become active on a communication link.

Abstract: A method of establishing a cooperative ad hoc network of phone extensions is implemented by the cellular devices within the ad hoc network. First, a first cellular device receiving an incoming call or placing an outgoing call is designated as the master of the ad hoc network and the remaining cellular devices are designated as slaves of the ad hoc network. Second, each cellular device is operated to facilitate a multi-party connection to the incoming call or outgoing call, the multi-party connection including the master and one or more slaves.

Abstract: A network reconfiguration protocol is provided that is initiated by the congested communication node (300). When a node (300) determines it is a bottleneck node, it will then analyze complaints from other nodes to determine which nodes are being affected by the bottleneck. The congested node will request the reconfiguration of select neighboring communication nodes in the ad hoc network to use an alternate channel (e.g., frequency) for future communications. Because nodes experiencing poor transmission/reception due to a bottleneck node are reconfigured to operate on a different channel, congestion is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A method and system for positioning a relay in a wide area communication network can enable improved operating efficiency of the network. The method includes processing a plurality of requests, received from a plurality of wireless communication devices, for connections to the network, where each device in the plurality of wireless communication devices can operate using a wide area networking standard and can operate using an ad hoc networking standard (step 305). A location in the network of each device in the plurality of wireless communication devices is then determined (step 310). An operating position for the relay is then determined based on an evaluation of the location in the network of each device in the plurality of wireless communication devices (step 315).

Abstract: A system and method for data transmission in an ad hoc wireless communication network is useful for improving network efficiency. The method includes determining whether both high priority data and low priority data are queued for transmission from a sending node to a receiving node (step 620). When both high priority data and low priority data are queued for transmission, the high priority data and the low priority data are aggregated in an aggregated data frame (step 625). Finally, the aggregated data frame is transmitted to the receiving node (step 630).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing a node (200) within an ad-hoc communication system (100) is described herein. During operation all nodes periodically broadcast a synchronization beacon for other nodes to utilize for synchronization when a coordinating access point (node) is unavailable. A particular node's synchronization beacon will have an associated “tier” number that is incremented from the tier number of the beacon used to synchronize the particular node. In the absence of an access point, a node that joins the ad-hoc communication system will listen for synchronization beacons transmitted by other nodes. If synchronization beacons are heard, the node will synchronize with a beacon having a lowest tier. The node will then broadcast its own beacon having its tier number incremented from the lowest tier beacon heard.

Abstract: A system and method for using an ad hoc surrogate device (103, 103?) for reporting a service abnormality where the surrogate mobile device operates on a second communications system, such as a cellular telephone system, to collect and deliver diagnostic or other service abnormality information from a first communications system using Bluetooth, WiFi or the like. Any device utilizing Bluetooth or WiFi can be modified to fulfill the need for reporting service problems without the use of telemetry or other continuous monitoring systems.

Abstract: A method for supporting rescue channels in a communications system. The rescue channel feature supports the use of pre-allocated radio resources at neighboring BSs 104, 106 in order to attempt to recover a voice call in danger of being dropped. The MS 114 disables its transmitter upon detection of a loss of forward frames from the network. Once the source BS 102 detects a loss of transmission from the MS 114, it may attempt to re-establish communication with the MS 114 by performing soft handoff additions to rescue cells at neighboring BSs. The neighboring BSs are the MS's neighbor list, last reported Extended Pilot Strength Measurement Message (EPSMM), and possibly other factors.

Abstract: Remote units within a first communication system (121) utilizes frequencies (channels) from a second communication system (120) when placing a call. When a first remote unit (106) wants to call a second remote unit (107) using the channels, the first remote unit sends a base station (103) a list of top N traffic channel blocks from the second communication system along with the identity of the second remote unit. The base station then pages the second remote unit using a signaling channel reserved by second system. The second remote unit responds to the page with its list of best traffic channel blocks/chunks. The base station then picks the best overlap of idle channels from the list received by the remote units, and sends the list to the remote units instructing them use those traffic channels. Once the remote units receive the available channels, they can begin their call.

Abstract: A method of selecting one or more active slave wireless devices from a plurality of active/parked slave wireless devices is implemented by a master wireless device. The master wireless device initially assigns sequential weights to each active/parked slave wireless device, and subsequently designates one or more of the active/parked slave wireless devices as active slave wireless device(s) based partially or entirely on the assigned sequential weights. The assignment of sequential weights can be accomplished by assigning each active/parked slave wireless device to one of a plurality of ranked groups collectively representative of various traffic types between a base site and the active/parked slave wireless devices. Each active/parked slave wireless device is then sorted within its respective group.

Abstract: A method of automatically prioritizing cells in a neighbor list of a communications system. The priority is defined as the number of times a cell in the neighbor list has been added to the active set. Cells that have been added to the active set more often are given a higher priority. Such higher priority cells are considered first for addition to the monitored set because they are more likely to successfully move from the monitored set to the active set.