Abstract: An apparatus and power saving methods are disclosed. The apparatus includes a radio communication device including at least one hardware component configured to operate in a normal mode and a power saving mode. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to monitor operations of the radio communication device and to determine whether to set the at least one hardware component to operate in the normal mode or in the power saving mode. The apparatus further includes a control mechanism associated with the at least one hardware component. The control mechanism is configured to change the operation of the at least one hardware component between the normal mode and the power saving mode based on a command received from the controller.

Abstract: A method of communicating in a wireless ad-hoc network is disclosed. The network has a plurality of nodes, including a requesting node, configured for wireless communication therebetween. Each node transmits a situational awareness message to adjacent nodes. The message informs other nodes of a geographic location of the transmitting node. Each adjacent node, upon receiving the message, re-transmits the message to nodes adjacent the adjacent nodes when the transmitting node is within a predetermined re-transmitting distance. The requesting node transmits a situational awareness request to the nodes in the network. Each node in the set of nodes transmits a situational awareness response to the situational awareness request. The situational awareness response provides a geographic location of said each node in the set of nodes. Each node in the network that receives the situational awareness response re-transmits the situational awareness response along a transmission path toward the requesting node.

Abstract: A method of communicating in a wireless ad-hoc communications network is disclosed. The network includes a plurality of nodes configured for wireless communication therebetween. According to the method, a receiving node receives a message originating from a source node. The receiving and source nodes are included in the network. It is determined whether the receiving node is of a node type intended to process the message. It is determined whether the receiving node is less than a predetermined distance from the source node. The message is processed by the receiving node when the receiving node is of the node type intended to process the message and when the receiving node is less than a predetermined distance from the source node.