Discovery and acquisition methods for directional networking

摘要

A system and method of assisting a radio in finding a network is presented. A method first detects existing nodes. A message is received on a slow communication link in a slow network from a new node. One or more existing nodes are found that may connect to new node with a fast communication link in a fast network. The fast network has a data rate that is faster than the slow network. A message is transmitted over the slow network to the new node to provide the new node possible existing nodes that are near it that it may connect to. Based on that message the new node establishes a fast communications link on the fast network between the new node and an existing node. The fast communications link can be a directional link.

主权项

1. A method of assisting a radio in finding a network comprising:
establishing a search pattern and a variable search beamwidth based on distance between a plurality of existing nodes, and wherein the search pattern includes one of the plurality of existing nodes staring at one tile in the search pattern for N dwell times, wherein N is the number of tiles in the search pattern and N is greater than 1, and the search pattern includes one of the plurality of existing nodes scanning all tiles in the search pattern consecutively using one dwell time each; detecting a plurality of existing nodes at a discovery controller by receiving messages, including location and status information via short burst data (SBD) messages, from the plurality of existing nodes on slow communications links on a slow network; receiving a message on a slow communication link of the slow network from a new node; determining at least one node of the plurality of existing nodes for connecting to the new node with a fast communication link of a fast network; transmitting a message over the slow network to the new node to provide the new node at least one instruction on how to establish a fast communications link with the at least one node of the plurality of existing nodes for connecting the new node to the fast network; and based, at least in part, on the message establishing a fast communications link on the fast network between the new node and the existing node that the new node can establish the fast communication link with, wherein the last network has a data rate that is faster than the slow network.