Wake-up broadcast including network information in common designation ad hoc wireless networking

Abstract

A data communication device includes both a two-way communications component having a first receiver and transmitter, and a second receiver. The second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device. A method of providing information via the second receiver—which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component—includes transmitting a wake-up broadcast capable of being received by the second receiver. The wake-up broadcast includes a data construct including a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information. The wake-up identifier may or may not be a wake-up identifier of the data communication device. Nevertheless, the auxiliary information is received and recorded by the data communication device via the second receiver with the two-way communications component remaining in the dormant state.

1 . In the operation of an ad hoc wireless network utilizing a data communication device as a node of the network, the data communication device including both,
 a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter, and
 a second receiver, 
   wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device,   a method of providing information via the second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component, characterized by,   transmitting a wake-up broadcast, which the second receiver is capable of receiving, the wake-up broadcast including a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a node identification from which the wake-up broadcast is transmitted. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a transmission count regarding wake-up broadcasts transmitted by a node. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an encryption key. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises application specific data. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an indication of the status of a sensor. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second receiver draws substantially less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second receiver draws less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast, the difference in current draw being at least an order of magnitude (such as milliamps versus microamps). 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second receiver utilizes a stepped wake-up sequence based on at least two criteria, and wherein the last criteria before awakening the two-way communications component comprises identifying a wake-up identifier of the data communication device in the wake-up broadcast. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second receiver is part of a wake-up transceiver, the wake-up transceiver further comprising a second transmitter of the data communication device that is configured to transmit a wake-up broadcast for receipt by another wake-up receiver of another data communication device. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a common designation wireless ad hoc sensor network. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a class based wireless ad hoc network. 
   
   
       13 . In the operation of an ad hoc wireless network utilizing a data communication device as a node of the network, the data communication device including both,
 a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter, and   a second receiver,   wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device,   a method of receiving information by the data communication device via the second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of two-way communications component, characterized by,   receiving a wake-up broadcast, the wake-up broadcast including a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information,   recording the auxiliary information, and   activating the two-way communications component from a dormant state, in response to receipt of the wake-up broadcast, if a wake-up identifier of the data communications device is found in the wake-up broadcast, and not activating the two-way communications component from a dormant state, in response to receipt of the wake-up broadcast, if a wake-up identifier of the data communications device is not found in the wake-up broadcast.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a node identification from which the wake-up broadcast is transmitted. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises a transmission count regarding wake-up broadcasts transmitted by a node. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an encryption key. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises application specific data. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises an indication of the status of a sensor. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second receiver draws substantially less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second receiver draws less current while listening for a wake-up broadcast than the two-way communications component would draw while listening for a wake-up broadcast, the difference in current draw being at least an order of magnitude (such as milliamps versus microamps). 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second receiver utilizes a stepped wake-up sequence based on at least two criteria, and wherein the last criteria before awakening the two-way communications component comprises identifying a wake-up identifier of the data communication device in the wake-up broadcast. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second receiver is part of a wake-up transceiver, the wake-up transceiver further comprising a second transmitter of the data communication device that is configured to transmit a wake-up broadcast for receipt by another wake-up receiver of another data communication device. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a common designation wireless ad hoc sensor network. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data communication device is a node in a class based wireless ad hoc network. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using the auxiliary information by the data communication device for facilitating network communications by the two-way communications component. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the auxiliary information comprises network information that is reviewed by the data communication device when determining network paths for communicating with a desired node, whereby network communications are facilitated. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of one or more nodes that are within direct communication range of the data communication device. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of a gateway node that is within direct communication range of the data communication device. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of one or more nodes from which wake-up broadcasts have been received, either directly or indirectly, by the second wake-up receiver. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the network information includes the identification of one or more common designations from which wake-up broadcasts have been received, either directly or indirectly, by the second wake-up receiver. 
   
   
       31 . An ad hoc wireless network system, comprising:
 an ad hoc wireless network utilizing a plurality of data communication devices as nodes of the network;   wherein each data communication device includes both,
 a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter, and 
 a second receiver, wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device; and 
   wherein information is provided via each second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component, by transmitting a wake-up broadcast, which the second receiver is capable of receiving, that includes a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information.   
   
   
       32 . A data communication device for utilization as a node in an ad hoc wireless network, comprising:
 a two-way communications component comprising a first receiver and transmitter; and   a second receiver, wherein the second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device;   wherein information is provided via the second receiver, which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component, by transmitting a wake-up broadcast, which the second receiver is capable of receiving, that includes a data construct comprising a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information.