Wireless in-building communication using an array of microdevices

In this paper a new concept is proposed for routing communications between two terminals through a low level protocol utilizing a network of periodically deployed microdevices acting as autonomous nodes, without any supervising entity. Nodes are neither primary sources of information nor routers. They basically act as repeaters with very limited processing power. On-demand routing does not require frames: the communication protocol works at the symbol level. In a first step, to perform route discovery, the minimum propagation time between terminals is measured. Then, the nodes situated along the corresponding shortest route are activated. Finally, information is exchanged using a full-duplex scheme.