|Publication number||US7848757 B2|
|Application number||US 10/977,043|
|Publication date||Dec 7, 2010|
|Priority date||Oct 29, 2004|
|Also published as||CN1770719A, EP1653680A2, EP1653680A3, US20060092939|
|Publication number||10977043, 977043, US 7848757 B2, US 7848757B2, US-B2-7848757, US7848757 B2, US7848757B2|
|Inventors||Mohan R. Duggi, Gowri Shankar Ramanarayanan|
|Original Assignee||Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (26), Non-Patent Citations (3), Classifications (24), Legal Events (3)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates generally to wireless networks and, more specifically, to a mobile ad hoc network (MANET).
Wireless network topologies that enable wireless nodes (i.e., mobile stations, wireless terminals) to communicate with each other and with fixed networks generally fall into two categories: i) infrastructure-based and ii) infrastructureless. Infrastructure-based networks have traditionally been based on the cellular concept and require a high level of infrastructure support. In an infrastructure-based network, wireless nodes communicate through access points (e.g., base stations) connected to the fixed network (e.g., Internet). Typical infrastructure-based networks include GSM networks, UMTS networks, CDMA networks, WLL networks, WLAN, and the like.
In an infrastructureless network, wireless nodes (i.e., mobile stations, wireless terminals) communicate directly rather than through access points or other base stations. One common and increasingly popular infrastructureless network topology is the mobile ad hoc network (MANET). A MANET is a group of wireless nodes that dynamically form a network with each other and without using any pre-existing fixed network infrastructure. In most cases, wireless nodes of a MANET are small mobile devices that are relatively limited in term of CPU capability, memory size, and power consumption.
Mobile ad hoc networks are expected to continue to grow over the next 2-3 years to become the dominant peer-to-peer communication technology. Cell phones are being equipped with IEEE-802.11 and other wireless LAN technologies. The proliferation of cell phones and the ubiquity of economical IEEE-802.11 networks will create a new kind of mobile, ad-hoc and peer-to-peer network.
As noted above, a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) can be set up without using a pre-existing network infrastructure. This can be done anywhere and at anytime. The wireless nodes of a MANET are connected by wireless links and are free to move randomly. The wireless nodes also act as routers. A MANET supports traffic types that are different from the traffic types typically found in an infrastructure-based wireless network. MANET traffic types include: 1) peer-to-peer traffic; 2) remote-to-remote traffic; and 3) dynamic traffic.
In peer-to-peer traffic, there is only one hop between the communicating wireless nodes (i.e., direct communication). In this instance, the network traffic (in bits/second) is usually constant. In remote-to-remote traffic, there are two or more hops between communicating wireless nodes, but a stable route is maintained between the source and destination nodes. This often occurs if several nodes stay within range of each other in one area or if the nodes move as a group. Dynamic traffic results when the MANET nodes move around and communication routes must be reconstructed. This often causes poor connectivity and network traffic occurs in short bursts.
Each MANET node is autonomous and may function as both a host and a router. Thus, each wireless node performs basic host processing and performs router switch functions. Thus, endpoints and switches are indistinguishable in a MANET. Since there is no central network to control network operations, control and management of a MANET is distributed among the wireless nodes. The MANET nodes cooperate to implement security and routing functions.
A MANET may implement different types of routing. Basic types of ad hoc routing algorithms are single-hop and multi-hop. These are based on different link layer attributes and routing protocols. A single-hop MANET is simpler than a multi-hop MANET, but lacks the functionality and flexibility of a multi-hip MANET. When delivering data packets from a source to its destination out of the direct wireless transmission range, the packets should be forwarded via one or more intermediate nodes.
Since MANET nodes are mobile, the radio frequency (RF) links may change rapidly and unpredictably over time. In order to compensate for traffic and propagation conditions, the MANET nodes dynamically modify routing information between each other as the nodes move, thereby forming new network topologies.
Advantageously, a MANET node may operate not only within the mobile ad hoc network, but also may access a public fixed network (e.g., cellular network). This ability to access public fixed networks presents the possibility of extended mobility of MANET nodes, because the fixed networks can be used to maintain contact with MANET nodes that have traveled far from the remaining nodes of the MANET.
In the prior art, mobility-supporting features of the IPv6 protocol have been utilized to maintain contact with traveling MANET nodes via public fixed networks. However, these approaches have required at least some modification of the IPv6 protocol, which is not always desirable, and is sometimes not possible.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved support of extended mobility in mobile ad hoc networks. In particular, there is a need for improved support of extended mobility that can avoid modification of the IPv6 protocol.
The present invention introduces an apparatus and related method for supporting extended mobility in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) by utilizing mobility-supporting features of the IPv6 protocol. Exemplary embodiments can exploit mobility-supporting features of the IPv6 protocol over a fixed network, without requiring any modification of the IPv6 protocol.
Accordingly, to address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for extending mobility in a MANET comprising: 1) an IPv6 controller for producing IPv6 proxy Neighbor Advertisements; and 2) a MANET controller coupled to the IPv6 controller for recognizing when the IPv6 controller produces an IPv6 proxy Neighbor Advertisement on behalf of a traveling MANET node. The MANET controller is responsive to the recognizing for (a) performing proxy communication with the MANET on behalf of the traveling MANET node, and (b) transmitting on the MANET information from the IPv6 proxy Neighbor Advertisement.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus operates as a gateway apparatus and further comprises a first interface to a wired network and a second interface to a wireless network, the first interface coupled to the IPv6 controller and the second interface coupled to the MANET controller.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the MANET controller is responsive to the recognizing by both (a) performing proxy communication with the MANET on behalf of the traveling MANET node, and (b) transmitting on the MANET information from the IPv6 proxy Neighbor Advertisement.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the information further comprises destination address information which the MANET is to use for proxy communication with the traveling MANET node.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the MANET controller is responsive to the recognizing for encapsulating the IPv6 proxy Neighbor Advertisement in a MANET-level packet.
Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:
The MIPv6 controller within the home agent processes the binding update in conventional fashion, which includes broadcasting an IPv6 proxy Neighbor Advertisement on behalf of the traveling MANET node. As shown in
The proxy Neighbor Advertisement produced at step 53 by the MIPv6 controller of the home agent operates to advertise that the home agent's link layer address is the traveling MANET node's home address. When the MARP controller in the home agent performs the MANET-level broadcast of the proxy Neighbor Advertisement at step 56, each of the remaining MANET nodes in the home network is provided with the updated home address for the traveling MANET node. This is illustrated generally in
Referring again to
At step 95, the MARP controller at the home agent receives the MANET-level broadcast of the Neighbor Advertisement. At step 96, the MARP controller at the home agent inspects the Neighbor Advertisement to determine therefrom the IP address of the (formerly) traveling node, and removes that IP address from its MARP proxy list. Thus, the home agent is disengaged as a proxy for the formerly traveling MANET node which has now returned to the MANET for conventional operation therein.
Referring again to
As demonstrated in the foregoing description, the present invention exploits the operation of the conventional MIPv6 protocol to provide extended mobility in a MANET, without requiring any modification of the MIPv6 protocol.
Although the present invention has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
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|U.S. Classification||455/445, 370/338, 709/245, 455/410, 709/238, 709/239, 709/236, 370/349, 455/438, 455/439, 370/466, 370/400, 370/328, 709/242, 370/401, 455/414.1, 455/437|
|Cooperative Classification||H04W48/14, H04W88/182, H04W80/04, H04W92/02|
|European Classification||H04W48/14, H04W88/18F|
|Feb 21, 2003||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY, COLORADO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CHANDRAMOULESSWARAN, ASWIN;ROTH, STEVEN T.;REEL/FRAME:013775/0911
Effective date: 20011012
|Oct 29, 2004||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DUGGI, MOHAN R.;RAMANARAYANAN, GOWRI SHANKAR;REEL/FRAME:015948/0672
Effective date: 20041028
|May 20, 2014||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4