Low-latency multi-hop ad hoc wireless network

Abstract

A multi-radio sensor node is provided that includes two or more communication devices. The communication devices include radio frequency (RF) devices like radios. Each communication device supports simultaneous communications among multi-radio sensor nodes of respective independent network clusters. A network structure is provided that includes two or more local network clusters. Each local network cluster includes numerous multi-radio sensor nodes. Each communication device of a multi-radio sensor node supports communication among the multi-radio sensor nodes of a different one of the local network clusters so that simultaneous communications are supported among the multi-radio sensor nodes of the local network clusters. The multi-radio sensor nodes of the local network clusters determine their locations relative to the other multi-radio sensor nodes of the independent network clusters with which they communicate. The location determination includes performing timing synchronization via synchronization signals communicated among the local network clusters, and acoustic signaling.

1 . A network comprising a plurality of local network clusters, wherein each local network cluster includes a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the nodes includes a plurality of communication radios, wherein each of the communication radios supports communication among the nodes of one of the local network clusters so that simultaneous communications are supported among the sensor nodes of the local network clusters, wherein each of the nodes include at least one network discovery and self-assembly module that automatically forms the local network clusters via the plurality of communication radios, wherein the network discovery and self-assembly module determines with which other nodes of the plurality of local network clusters it can communicate.  
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nodes further comprise: 
 at least one time synchronization subsystem that collects timing synchronization information from the plurality of nodes of the local network clusters via synchronization signals communicated among the plurality of nodes of the network clusters; and    at least one acoustic ranging subsystem including two or more microphones and two or more speakers, wherein the acoustic ranging subsystem collects data of acoustic signaling including time-of-flight data to determine a relative location of each node among local network clusters with which the node communicates.    
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein each of the nodes further comprise a subsystem for providing shared resource access management among two or more applications, wherein the resources include the communication radios, comprising: 
 a routing module that fuses user space and kernel space of the node; and    a radio driver interface residing in user space of the node, wherein the radio driver interface comprises components including at least one application programming interface and at least one computation component corresponding to each of the communication devices;    wherein the routing module receives radio access requests from the applications and generates and routes calls representative of the received requests to the radio driver interface;    wherein the radio driver interface, upon receipt of the calls, determines radio availability using resource status information received in response to queries transferred among the components;    wherein the radio driver interface generates schedules for granting access to the requested resources in accordance with the status information, and controls access to the radios by the applications in accordance with the generated schedules.    
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein a first communication radio of a remote node of a first local network cluster communicates among other nodes of the first local network cluster via a first independent channel, and wherein a second communication radio of the remote node communicates among nodes of a second local network cluster via a second independent channel, wherein a link is established among the first and second local network clusters by transferring communication packets between the first and second communication radios, wherein the first and second communication radios support low-latency multi-hop communications among nodes of the first and second local network clusters.  
     
     
         5 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the communication radios include at least one communication device selected from among radio frequency (RF) devices and radio modems, wherein each communication radio has an assigned radio frequency (RF) address.  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A node comprising two or more communication devices, wherein each communication device supports simultaneous communications among nodes of two or more respective independent network clusters, wherein the communication devices include radio frequency (RF) devices, wherein the node includes at least one network discovery and self-assembly module coupled to the two or more communication devices, the network discovery and self-assembly module configured to automatically form the network clusters via the two or more communication devices and determine with which other nodes of the network clusters it can communicate.  
     
     
         8 . The node of  claim 7 , further comprising a node interface that provides shared access among communication device drivers of the communication devices, the node interface comprising: 
 a routing module that fuses kernel space and user space of the node; and    a communication device driver interface that couples to the routing module, wherein the communication device driver interface resides in user space of the node, wherein the communication device driver interface comprises at least one application programming interface and at least one computation component corresponding to each of the communication devices.    
     
     
         9 . The node of  claim 8 , wherein the communication device driver interface: 
 receives calls representative of communication device requests from the routing module, wherein the routing module generates the calls in response to communication device access requests from applications of the node;    generates queries to determine availability of the requested communication devices;    receives status information in response to the queries;    generates schedules for granting access to the requested communication devices in accordance with the status information; and    provides requesting applications with shared direct access among the requested communication devices in accordance with the generated schedules.    
     
     
         10 . The node of  claim 7 , wherein the node includes an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 media access control (MAC) sublayer.  
     
     
         11 . The sensor node of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one ranging component that determines a location of the node relative to nodes of the independent network clusters with which the node communicates.  
     
     
         12 . The node of  claim 11 , wherein the location determination comprises: 
 receiving timing synchronization information from the nodes of the independent network clusters via synchronization signals communicated among the nodes of the network clusters; and    generating range and angle information to the nodes of the network clusters from time of flight information of acoustic signaling.    
     
     
         13 . The node of  claim 7 , further comprising an acoustic ranging subsystem that uses data of acoustic signaling to determine a location of the node relative to nodes of the independent network clusters with which the node communicates.  
     
     
         14 . The node of  claim 13 , wherein the acoustic ranging subsystem includes two or more microphones and two or more speakers.  
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a network, comprising: 
 establishing a first communication channel among a first radio of a node and a first network of nodes, wherein the first network includes the node;    establishing a second communication channel among a second radio of the node and a second network of nodes;    supporting simultaneous communication among the nodes of the first and second networks via the first and second communication channels, wherein each node of the first and second network automatically determines with which other nodes of the first and second networks the node can communicate;    receiving timing synchronization data from the nodes of the first and second networks via synchronization signals communicated among the plurality of nodes of the network clusters using the first and second communication channels;    receiving acoustic signaling data including time-of-flight data to determine a relative location of each node of the first and second networks; and    determining a relative location of each node of the first and second network using the timing synchronization data and acoustic signaling data.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising designating one node of the first network and one node of the second network as base nodes, wherein each of the base nodes: 
 collects the timing synchronization data and acoustic data of the nodes for which the base coordinated timing synchronization and acoustic ranging;    generates a relative coordinate table for the nodes for which the base node coordinated timing synchronization and acoustic ranging using the collected data; and    transmits the relative coordinate table to a plurality of neighbor nodes.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the nodes of the first and second networks: 
 receive relative coordinate tables from base nodes with which the nodes communicate;    merge the received relative coordinate tables to form a position table including position information of neighboring nodes.    
     
     
         18 . A network comprising at least one wired network coupled to a plurality of local network clusters via at least one gateway, wherein each local network cluster includes a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the nodes includes at least two communication radios operating under a first wireless communication protocol that supports communications between the nodes and the gateway and supports communications among the nodes of one of the local network clusters so that simultaneous communications are supported among the nodes of the local network clusters, wherein each of the nodes includes at least one communication radio operating under a second wireless communication protocol that supports communications among the nodes and a plurality of portable wireless devices, wherein each of the nodes includes at least one network discovery and self-assembly module that automatically forms the local network clusters via the communication radios, wherein the network discovery and self-assembly module determines with which other nodes of the plurality of local network clusters it can communicate.  
     
     
         19 . The network of  claim 18 , wherein one or more of the first wireless communication protocol and the second wireless communication protocol is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol.  
     
     
         20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a network, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of nodes that each include a plurality of communication radios;    transferring communication signals among at least one set of the plurality of nodes using each of the communication radios so that simultaneous communications are supported among the nodes of the at least one set;    automatically forming a plurality of local network clusters, the forming including each node determining with which other nodes of the plurality of local network clusters it can communicate.