System and method for clustering wireless devices in a wireless network

Abstract

Described are a system and method for clustering wireless devices in a wireless network. The system comprises a wireless access point and a plurality of wireless computing units grouped into a cluster as a function of a predetermined parameter. The cluster includes a cluster head unit and at least one cluster member unit. The at least one cluster member unit utilizes a first power level when wirelessly communicating with the cluster head unit, and the cluster head unit utilizes a second power level when communicating with the AP.

1 . A system, comprising: 
 a wireless access point (“AP”); and    a plurality of wireless computing units grouped into a cluster as a function of a predetermined parameter, the cluster including a cluster head unit and at least one cluster member unit,    wherein the at least one cluster member unit utilizes a first power level when wirelessly communicating with the cluster head unit, the cluster head unit utilizing a second power level when communicating with the AP.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the wireless computing units includes at least one of a laser-based scanner, an image-based scanner, an RFID reader, a laptop, a cell phone, a PDA and a network interface card.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first power level is approximately 2 mW.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter includes at least one of a distance between the cluster head unit and the at least one cluster member unit, an internal load level, a battery level, a hardware configuration and a radio frequency range between the wireless computing units.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cluster head unit is the selected from the wireless computing units as a function of a respective amount of data to transmit by each of the wireless computing units.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the cluster head unit is the wireless computing unit with a greatest amount of data to transmit than the remaining wireless computing units of the cluster.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the cluster member unit acts as the cluster head unit after a predetermined time period expires, the time period corresponding to a period of time necessary to transmit corresponding data by each of the at least one cluster member unit.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first power level is determined as a function of the predetermined parameter.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cluster head unit at least one of aggregates data transmissions from the at least one cluster member unit to the AP and disaggregates data transmissions from the AP to the at least one cluster member unit.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the cluster head unit performs the at least one of the aggregation and the disaggregation as a function of at least one of a type of the data transmissions, a clustering efficiency and a power-saving efficiency.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the cluster head unit refrains from the at least one of the aggregation and the disaggregation when the type is at least one of voice and video data transmissions.  
   
   
       13 . A method, comprising: 
 determining a location of each of a plurality of wireless computing units;    selecting at least two units of the plurality as a function of a first predetermined parameter;    creating a cluster of the at least two units, the cluster including a cluster head unit and at least one cluster member unit;    designating one of the at least two units as the cluster head unit as a function of a second predetermined parameter; and    conducting wireless communications between the cluster head unit and the at least one cluster member unit at a predetermined power level.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the wireless computing units includes at least one of a laser-based scanner, an image-based scanner, an RFID reader, a laptop, a cell phone, a PDA and a network interface card.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 conducting wireless communications between the cluster head unit and an access point at a further predetermined power level, the further predetermined power level being greater than the predetermined power level.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined power level is approximately 2 mW.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first predetermined parameter includes at least one of a geographical range of the wireless computing units relative to each other, an internal load level, a battery level, a hardware configuration and a radio frequency range between the wireless computing units.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second predetermined parameter is a respective amount of data to transmit by each of the at two units.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the cluster head unit is the wireless computing unit with a greatest amount of data to transmit than the remaining wireless computing units of the cluster.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 when a predetermined time period expires, designating one of the at least one cluster member unit as a next cluster head unit, the time period corresponding to a period of time necessary to transmit corresponding data by each of the at least one cluster member unit.    
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the conducting step includes the following substeps: 
 aggregating, by the cluster head unit, data transmissions from the at least one cluster member unit into a single transmission; and    transmitting the single transmission to the AP.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the conducting step includes the following substeps: 
 disaggregating, by the cluster head unit, a data transmission from the AP to the at least one cluster member unit into multiple transmissions; and    transmitting each of the multiple transmissions to the corresponding cluster member unit.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the aggregating step is performed as a function of at least one of a type of the data transmissions, a clustering efficiency and a power-saving efficiency.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein, when the type is at least one of voice and video data transmission, bypassing the aggregating step by the cluster head unit.  
   
   
       25 . An arrangement, comprising: 
 a processor selecting at least two wireless computing units from a plurality of wireless computing units as a function of a first predetermined parameter, the processor creating a cluster of the at least two units, the cluster including a cluster head unit and at least one cluster member unit, the processor designating one of the at least two units as the cluster head unit as a function of a second predetermined parameter, the cluster head unit conducting wireless communications with the at least one cluster member unit at a first power level; and    a communications arrangement conducting wireless communications with the cluster head unit at a second power level.    
   
   
       26 . The arrangement according to  claim 25 , wherein the arrangement includes at least one of an access point and a switch.  
   
   
       27 . An arrangement, comprising: 
 a locationing means determining a location of each of a plurality of wireless computing units;    a clustering means selecting at least two units of the plurality as a function of a first predetermined parameter, the clustering means creating a cluster of the at least two units, the cluster including a cluster head unit and at least one cluster member unit, the clustering means designating one of the at least two units as the cluster head unit as a function of a second predetermined parameter; and    a communication means conducting wireless communications with the cluster head unit at a predetermined power level.