Network association of communication devices based on attenuation information

Abstract

A client network device may associate with a service provider to receive a service. For example, a client network device may transmit a number of broadcast messages to one or more service providers. The number of broadcast messages may be determined based, at least in part, on a first communication parameter received from at least one of the service providers. The client network device may receive first attenuation information from a first service provider after transmitting the number of broadcast messages. The client network device may associate with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first attenuation information. In one example, a vehicle can associate with a charging station in a charging facility to securely communicate with and receive electric power from the charging station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for network association, the method comprising:
 transmitting a number of broadcast messages from a client network device to at least a subset of a plurality of service providers, the number of broadcast messages determined based, at least in part, on a first communication parameter received from at least one of the plurality of service providers;   receiving, at the client network device, first attenuation information from a first service provider of the plurality of service providers after transmitting the number of broadcast messages; and   associating with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first attenuation information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, from the client network device, a request for communication parameters; and   receiving the first communication parameter after transmitting the request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 initiating, after transmission of the request, a time interval for receiving at least one communication parameter;   determining the number of broadcast messages to transmit from the client network device in response to receiving the first communication parameter before the time interval elapses; and   retransmitting the request in response to not receiving any communication parameters before the time interval elapses.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication parameter includes at least one member of the group consisting of the number of broadcast messages to transmit to the first service provider, a maximum time interval for transmitting the number of broadcast messages, and an indication of whether the first service provider supports secure communications. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a request message from the client network device to the first service provider, the request message requesting a first network parameter to associate with the first service provider. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the client network device, a confirmation message from the first service provider, the confirmation message including the first network parameter; and   joining a network associated with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first network parameter.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first network parameter includes at least one member of the group consisting of a network identifier, a device address, and security information associated with the first service provider. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the client network device, a notification message from the first service provider, the notification message indicating that the client network device should associate with a second service provider of the plurality of service providers and including a second network parameter associated with the second service provider; and   joining a network of the second service provider based, at least in part, on the second network parameter.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a first amplitude map associated with the client network device to the first service provider;   receiving, at the client network device, a second amplitude map associated with the first service provider; and   determining a transmit power for transmissions to the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first amplitude map and the second amplitude map.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the number of broadcast messages comprising:
 transmitting a first set of broadcast messages at a first transmit power from the client network device to at least the subset of the plurality of service providers; and   transmitting a second set of broadcast messages at a second transmit power in response to not receiving a response message from any of the plurality of service providers, wherein the second transmit power is greater than the first transmit power.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the client network device, second attenuation information associated with the first service provider based, at least in part, on a transmission received at the client network device from the first service provider,   wherein associating with the first service provider is based, at least in part, on the first attenuation information and the second attenuation information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating, after transmission of the number of broadcast messages, a time interval for receiving attenuation information from at least one of the plurality of service providers;   associating with the first service provider in response to receiving the first attenuation information before the time interval elapses; and   retransmitting the number of broadcast messages in response to not receiving any attenuation information before the time interval elapses.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting security information associated with the client network device to the first service provider for validating the client network device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the client network device, that the first service provider supports secure communications based, at least in part, on the first communication parameter;   transmitting first security information associated with the client network device to the first service provider;   receiving, at the client network device, second security information associated with the first service provider;   signing, using the first security information, a first transmission from the client network device to the first service provider; and   receiving, at the client network device, a second transmission signed with the second security information from the first service provider.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client network device is a vehicle and the plurality of service providers are charging stations. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client network device is a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) and the plurality of service providers are electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) stations. 
     
     
         17 . A method for network association, the method comprising:
 transmitting a first communication parameter from a first service provider to a client network device after receiving a request for communication parameters from the client network device;   receiving, at the first service provider, one or more broadcast messages from the client network device;   determining first attenuation information associated with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the one or more broadcast messages;   transmitting the first attenuation information from the first service provider to the client network device; and   receiving, at the first service provider, a request message from the client network device after transmitting the first attenuation information, the request message requesting the first service provider to associate with the client network device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining, by the first service provider, whether the first attenuation information exceeds a threshold;   determining to transmit the first attenuation information to the client network device in response to determining that the first attenuation information does not exceed the threshold; and   determining not to transmit the first attenuation information to the client network device in response to determining that the first attenuation information exceeds the threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining, by the first service provider, second attenuation information associated with a second service provider;   determining, by the first service provider, that the client network device should associate with the second service provider based, at least in part, on comparing the first attenuation information and the second attenuation information;   determining, by the first service provider, a network parameter associated with the second service provider; and   providing the network parameter to the client network device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the first service provider, first security information associated with the client network device;   transmitting second security information associated with the first service provider from the first service provider to the client network device in response to receiving the first security information;   determining to sign, using the second security information, subsequent transmissions from the first service provider to the client network device; and   determining to encrypt, using the first security information, the subsequent transmissions.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first service provider, a confirmation message to the client network device, the confirmation message including a network parameter for associating with the first service provider; and   establishing a logical network with the client network device based, at least in part, on the network parameter.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 authenticating, by the first service provider, the client network device after establishing the logical network with the client network device; and   providing a service from the first service provider to the client network device after authenticating the client network device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining, by the first service provider, whether to associate with the client network device based, at least in part, on the first attenuation information;   in response to determining to associate with the client network device,
 transmitting, from the first service provider, a network parameter associated with the first service provider to the client network device; and 
 configuring the first service provider with the network parameter to form a logical network with the client network device. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 utilizing an out-of-band communication medium to validate the client network device and to determine whether to associate with the client network device.   
     
     
         25 . A client network device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the client network device to:
 transmit a number of broadcast messages to at least a subset of a plurality of service providers, the number of broadcast messages determined based, at least in part, on a first communication parameter received from at least one of the plurality of service providers; 
 receive first attenuation information from a first service provider of the plurality of service providers after transmitting the number of broadcast messages; and 
 associate with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first attenuation information. 
   
     
     
         26 . The client network device of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the client network device to:
 transmit a request for communication parameters; and   receive the first communication parameter after transmitting the request.   
     
     
         27 . The client network device of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the client network device to:
 initiate, after transmission of the number of broadcast messages, a time interval for receiving attenuation information from at least one of the plurality of service providers;   associate with the first service provider in response to receiving the first attenuation information before the time interval elapses; and   retransmit the number of broadcast messages in response to not receiving any attenuation information before the time interval elapses.   
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of a client network device, cause the client network device to:
 transmit a number of broadcast messages to at least a subset of a plurality of service providers, the number of broadcast messages determined based, at least in part, on a first communication parameter received from at least one of the plurality of service providers;   receive first attenuation information from a first service provider of the plurality of service providers after transmitting the number of broadcast messages; and   associate with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first attenuation information.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor of the client network device, cause the client network device to:
 transmit a request for communication parameters;   initiate, after transmission of the request, a time interval for receiving at least one communication parameter;   determine the number of broadcast messages to transmit from the client network device in response to receiving the first communication parameter before the time interval elapses; and   retransmit the request in response to not receiving any communication parameters before the time interval elapses.   
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor of the client network device, cause the client network device to:
 transmit a request message to the first service provider, the request message requesting a first network parameter to associate with the first service provider;   receive a confirmation message from the first service provider after transmitting the request message, the confirmation message including the first network parameter; and   join a network associated with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first network parameter.