Over-the-air download (oad) methods and apparatus for use in facilitating application programming in wireless network devices of ad hoc wireless communication networks

Abstract

In one illustrative example, a wireless network device of a low data rate wireless personal area network (WPAN) or the like includes a controller, memory for storing one or more application programs, and a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller and operative for communications in the wireless network. The controller is adapted to receive, through the wireless transceiver, an instruction which causes the wireless device to operate as a client in performing an OAD procedure for receiving the program from another wireless device which is operated as a server in the wireless network, and to operate the wireless device as the client in performing the OAD procedure in response to such instruction. The controller is further adapted to receive, through the wireless transceiver, one or more instructions for the wireless device to operate as a server in performing the OAD procedure for sending the program to one or more other wireless devices which are operated as clients in the wireless network, and to operate the wireless device as the server in performing the OAD procedure in response to such instructions. A, commissioner device of the wireless network may coordinate the assignment of client and server roles of the wireless devices for OAD procedures based on a variety of different heuristic or algorithmic techniques for optimal results.