The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 04, 2013
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsinchu, TW;
James David Larsen, Woodinville, WA (US);
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsin-Chu, TW;
Abstract
The invention relates to a network, and a method of operating a network. The network includes a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data between stations via at least one selected intermediate station. Each station transmits probe signals in broadcast fashion to other stations to gather a list of neighbor stations. The stations transmit position data and/or position determining data in at least some of the probe signals. The position data includes data indicative of the absolute or relative position of a station transmitting a probe signal, and the position determining data includes data usable by a station receiving a probe signal to determine the absolute or relative position of the station and/or other stations. Each station maintains position data and/or position determining data received from selected probing stations, and utilizes the data to determine the absolute or relative position of itself and/or other stations. The stations can determine the relative or absolute position of other stations in direct communication with themselves, and also of other stations not in direct communication with themselves.