British Telecommunications Public Limited Company

British Telecommunications Corporation

Fabrice T P Saffre

Mark A Shackleton

Richard E Tateson

Alexander L Healing

Jane E Tateson

Jessika Trancik

Michal Jakob

Methods and systems for obtaining a value indicative of resource-related activity in respect of a plurality of devices using a network of metering means arranged to be in communication with one another, the metering means being associated with resource-consuming or resource-providing devices and being arranged to obtain local resource-related activity data therefrom, the method comprising: a first metering means initiating a circulation procedure by sending a token to a downstream metering means, the token comprising an activity field for carrying a value indicative of resource-related activity data; the circulation procedure continuing, until the token has returned to the first metering means, by each downstream metering means in turn receiving the token, updating the activity field in dependence on its own locally-obtained resource-related activity data, and forwarding the token to a further downstream metering means; and once the token has returned to the first metering means, obtaining a value indicative of the combined level of resource-related activity in respect of devices associated with the metering means in said network in dependence on the value carried by the activity field.

Scheduling usage or provision of resources

Communications in a network with dynamic topology is provided in which data is carried by software agents which operate autonomously and independently of global network information.

Routing method and apparatus for communication in dynamic networks

Processing tasks are allocated between a plurality of processing resources. Each of the processing resources has associated therewith one or more queues for holding tasks awaiting processing. Each of the tasks has a task-type indication identifying the task as belonging to one of a plurality of predetermined task-types. At least one of the plurality of processing resources selects one of the plurality of task-types and transfers one or more tasks of that task-type to another of the processing resources.

Allocation of processing tasks between processing resources

The present invention relates to channel selection in ad hoc wireless networks. The present invention provides a method of selecting a channel for a node in an ad hoc network of nodes, the method comprising: increasing a preference score for a channel (E) in response to receiving a stimulatory control message (hoot x) associated with the channel from another node; decreasing the preference score for the channel (A) in response to receiving an inhibitory control message (hoot y) associated with the channel from another node; selecting a channel dependent on the preference score for the channel.

Channel selection in ad hoc wireless network

A peer-to-peer network operating in accordance with a service-oriented architecture is disclosed. The peers in the network request services from one another and each keep a record of the quality of service they receive from the other peers. The peers can operate in two modes of service provider selection. In a first mode, the selection is so as to favor service providers which have provided the peer with good service in the past. In a second mode, the selection is probabilistic and can therefore select service providers other than those that have provided good service in the past. Each device keeps track of the relative success of adopting the second mode of selection. By occasionally using the second mode of selection and adopting the second mode of selection more frequently should the relative success of adopting the second mode of selection rise, a more rapid adjustment by the network to changing network conditions is enabled. This leads to a better utilization of the resources of the computers of the network than has hitherto been achieved. The invention finds particular application in distributed applications which dynamically select a Web Service to perform a function at run-time.

Computer network

Methods and systems for allocating a network resource such as bandwidth between a plurality of network applications, comprising steps of obtaining, for each of said plurality of network applications, parameters defining a quality function indicative of quality of service obtainable as a function of the amount of said network resource available to that network application; and dividing a total available amount of said network resource into respective individual allocations to allocate to each respective network application such as to maximise a combined quality measure derived from a weighted sum of said quality functions.

Allocation of network resources

A virtual network has a plurality of nodes. Each node has the capability to provide a service to another node. Each node maintains a list for storing entries each representing a link to another node; each entry contains the address of the other node and a label identifying a service that that other node may provide. Each node also has a store for storing messages received from other nodes, these messages serving to propose a link and containing the identity of the node originating the message, a label identifying a service that that other node may provide and a label identifying a service that that other node requires. When a node needs a service that it is not itself able to provide, it searches the link list for a link having a label that matches the service needed, and in the event that such a link is found it transmits to the node identified by the link a message requesting the service. If, however, no such link is found, it searches the message store for a message identifying another node where the label identifying a service that that other node may provide matches the service needed and the label identifying a service that that other node requires matches the service that the node needing the service has the capability to provide. In the event that such a message is found it initiates the creation of a corresponding entry in the link list. If no such message is found, the node needing the service generates a message serving to propose a link and containing its own identity, a label identifying a service that it has the capability to provide and a label identifying the service that it needs.

Virtual networks

A method and apparatus are disclosed which incorporate a system for enabling the adaptive modification of the security level of a node in a network based on software use of nodes in the network. The system is particularly applicable to dynamic network i.e. networks in which nodes may be mobile and in which the network topology is not constant.

Method and apparatus for network security

Wireless devices in (etc) in an ad hoc network each select a channel on which to operate such that conflicts with neighbouring devices are avoided. Each device () has a normal power output, giving it a normal range () and an enhanced power output, giving it an extended 'inhibition' range (). Initially each device () transmits at the enhanced power level, such that it can be detected by devices () within the extended range (). If it detects other devices transmitting on the same channel, it may change to another channel. Once a channel has been identified on which no conflict is detected, the device () switches to the normal power level. By initiating the channel selection process at the enhanced level, conflicts between the transmissions of devices (), which would be detectable at a device () within the normal range of both, can be avoided despite the two devices () not be able to detect each other directly at the normal power level. To conserve battery power, the process is arranged to have the devices operate at the enhanced power for the minimum time necessary, by dropping to the normal level when a suitable channel has been identified with a reasonable degree of certainty.

Channel selection

The adaptive modification of the security level of a node in a network is enabled. For example, such modification may be achieved in a dynamic network i.e. networks in which nodes may be mobile and in which the network topology is not constant. The node receives beacon signals from other nodes in the network, the signals providing an indication of the alert level of the other nodes and an indication of whether the other nodes are trusted members of the network. The alert level of the node is determined based on the received signals.

Growing community of inventors

Ipswich, United Kingdom

Fabrice T P Saffre