International Business Machines Corporation

Hong Linh Truong

Urs Hunkeler

Clemens Lombriser

Marcel Graf

Bozidar Radunovic

Gabriel Dermler

Jens Jelitto

Claudio Fleiner

Yann Duponchel

Rainer Oechsle

Lukas Heusler

Claude R Galand

Edward Stanely Suffern

Gerald Lebizay

Victor Spagnol

Beat Eugen Weiss

Clement Y Poiraud

Ferdinand Gramsamer

Philippe Pierre Louis

Alexandru Caracas

Jean-Yves Le Boudec

Beat Liver

Xavier Jacquart

Lucas S Heusler

Wolfgang B Klein&ouml;der

Andre Noll Barreto

Lothar Mueller

Peter Micheal Klett

Eric S Georges

Jean-yves Leboudec

Wolfgang B Kleinoder

Methods and systems for discovery of a set of nodes in a network. The method includes selecting a node amongst nodes in a group of nodes to be processed, implementing a discovery procedure for the selected node, including broadcasting a neighbor discovery request from a node currently selected on a shared transmission medium of the network, receiving at the node currently selected replies sent by neighbor nodes on the shared transmission medium and adding the neighbor nodes to the group of nodes to be processed and repeating the steps of selecting and instructing for other nodes in the group of nodes to be processed, until all nodes of the set are discovered. Implementing a link probing procedure after the discovery procedure, including sending one or more link probing messages for a measure of link quality and receiving replies comprising data related to the measure of link quality.

Discovery of a set of nodes in a network

Methods and systems for discovery of a set of nodes in a network. The method comprises selecting a node amongst nodes in a group of nodes to be processed; and instructing to implement a discovery procedure for the selected node. The procedure comprises broadcasting a neighbor discovery request from a node currently selected on a shared transmission medium of the network; and receiving at the node currently selected replies sent by neighbor nodes on the shared transmission medium and adding the neighbor nodes to the group of nodes to be processed; and repeating the steps of selecting and instructing for other nodes in the group of nodes to be processed, until all nodes of the set are discovered.

A method for transmitting data to and from nodes of a multi-hop network with a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) scheme is suggested. The network is clustered into N clusters, wherein each cluster of the N clusters has at least one of the nodes. In a first step, the TDMA scheme is organized by periodic superframes. Each superframe of the periodic superframes has a number of frames including at least one broadcast frame and one collection frame for the N clusters. In a second step, one dedicated communication channel is shared by the N clusters within the broadcast frame. In a third step, N separate communication channels are used by the N clusters within the collection frame.

Transmitting data to and from nodes of a clustered multi-hop network with a TDMA scheme

Methods and systems for discovery of a set of nodes () in a network (). The method comprises

A sensor network has a plurality of wireless sensors which transmit to an intermediate receiving device which relays data to a central server. A method is provided for receiving data packets at the intermediate receiving device from a plurality of the transmitting devices. Data packets are sensed on a communication medium at the receiving device and the total traffic intensity of data packets from the transmitting devices is estimated. A detection threshold for data packets is provided and adapted as a function of the total intensity. The receiving device receives data packets with a signal strength above the current detection threshold.

Receiving data in a sensor network

A method for synchronizing nodes of a multi-hop network with a Time Division Multiplex Access scheme (TDMA), the nodes being hierarchically arranged in different levels, including a step of organizing the TDMA by periodic superframes, the respective superframe having a number of frames including at least a broadcast frame, a step of providing the respective broadcast frame with a number of slots, the number of slots being equal to a number of parent nodes in the multi-hop network, a step of assigning each parent node one slot in the broadcast frame in dependence on its level, and a step of distributing a synchronization information to the parent nodes by means of the broadcast frame, respectively.

Synchronizing nodes of a multi-hop network

A data network includes a plurality of source nodes, at least one sink node, and at least one intermediate node, wherein routing of a reverse message from the sink node to a source node via at least one intermediate node is performed by the intermediate node using reverse path routing information data comprising a combination of source routing information data and transparent bridging information data, wherein the reverse path routing information data is constructed during propagation of a forward message from the source node to the sink node via the intermediate node.

Method for routing of messages within a data network

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for adapting a transmission parameter in a transmitting node of a data communication system to the current link quality of a data communication channel. The adapted transmission parameter is selected by the transmitting node from a set of transmission parameters in dependence on a number of successful transmissions. The number of successful transmissions is compared in the transmitting node against one of a first threshold value corresponding to a first state of the transmitting node and a second threshold value corresponding to a second state of the transmitting node. The method comprises in the transmitting node the steps of (a) counting the number of successful transmissions; (b) selecting the adapted transmission parameter (b) in response to the number of successful transmissions equaling or exceeding the first threshold value when the transmitting node is in the first state, and (b) in response to the number of successful transmissions equaling or exceeding the second threshold value when the transmitting node is in the second state; and in dependence of the result of a following transmission, operating the transmitting node in one of the first state and the second state.

Link adaptation

Provides apparatus, systems and methods for adapting a first and second transmission parameter R, P in a transmitting node of a data communication system to the current link quality of a data communication channel. A method comprises in the transmitting node counting the number of successful transmissions s, each successful transmission bases on a receipt of an acknowledgment 'ACK', and comparing the number of successful transmissions s against a threshold value S. In the event of reaching the threshold value Sand operating with the first and second transmission parameter R, P in a predetermined parameter space, the method further comprises adapting at least one of the first and second transmission parameters R, P in dependence on a critical value that due to the current link quality corresponds to a temporarily unsupported value of one of the first and second transmission parameters R, P.

Adapting transmission parameters in a transmitting node of a data communication system to the current link quality of a data communication channel

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for maintaining an organized and automated archiving and retrieval system including a personal bibliography of original documents or other original real objects as well as an electronic archive containing copies of such original real objects with guaranteed access. Essentially this is done by establishing a machine and/or human readable 'unique identifier' (UID) distributed with each original real object, a so-called personal archive allowing a person (or a group of persons) to maintain a personal bibliography, a managed storage containing electronic copies of the distributed original real objects, and means for a controlled, but guaranteed access to the stored electronic copies. The unique identifier UID will be established and controlled, usually by a service provider, and attached to each original (document) when it is distributed, usually by the publisher, so that it can be read by the user, preferably with a simple reader for entering it electronically into his personal archive. The personal archive may be maintained either by the person or by another (or the same) service provider, but is personalized in the sense that the user determines the contents of his/her archive. A controlled access system with access certificates, which may be time-limited, issued to the requesting user guarantees user access to the stored electrinic copies. Access control will again be provided as service, be it by the publisher or any of the service providers mentioned.

Archiving and retrieval method and apparatus

The invention is directed to a method of making communication or information services via a telecommunication network available to service users. The method entails receiving from agent initiators registrations for service offer references, receiving from a service provider for a service a service offer notification comprising a service offer reference, making available to those agent initiators who have registered themselves under the received service offer reference, the service offer notification, which is usable for obtaining a service agent for the service, and in the case of initiation of the service agent, receiving from the service agent at least one registration for a service subscription reference, receiving from the service users service subscription notifications, comprising a service subscription reference, making available to those service agents who have registered themselves under the received service subscription reference, the service subscription notification, which is at least in part usable as input for the service agent for the service.

Service deployment architecture

A telephone session between a calling person and a called person uses a call-related information segment which has been prepared by the calling person to inform the called person of the calling person and the subject of the session. The call-related information is transmitted to the called person and outputted there by use of an output unit, alerting the called person of the nature of the telephone session without the called person entering into the telephone session.

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Adliswil, Switzerland

Hong Linh Truong