Time division protocol for an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio network having coordinating channel access to shared parallel data channels with separate reservation channel
First Claim
1. In an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of terminals where each said terminal is capable of making at least one of an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call, each said terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, the improvement comprising:
- said memory means comprising software means for creating connectivity messaging and data transfer plan messaging information for transmission to other said terminals, and for receiving similar said information from other said terminals from which said terminal can receive;
said software means comprising means for delivering said connectivity and data transfer plan information messaging to a configuration channel for transmission to said other terminals belonging to the same service group (SG);
said connectivity messaging comprising a utilization map, the power used for transmitting the messaging, and the level of the environmental noise at the transmission site of the transmitting terminal;
said data transfer plan information messaging comprising messaging for use in changing the transmit power level and for determining routing paths; and
said utilization map comprising information messaging on the availability of time slots of a previous time frame based on whether time slots were used in said previous time frame or were unavailable for use due to high-level noise.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel protocol for an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio network that provides collision-free channel access with an emphasis on improving geographic reuse of the frequency spectrum. The protocol of the invention is executed on the reservation or control channel, and provides a method for allocating data transactions on the data channels. The system of the invention utilizes multiple parallel data channels that are coordinated by a single reservation channel. The transceiver of the system employs two modems to solve the channel reliability issues with multiple channel designs, where one is dedicated as a receive-only modem for gathering channel usage information on the reservation channel. High quality voice, video and data may be transmitted. The reservation channel implements a time division multiple access algorithm with dynamic slot allocation. In a distributed manner, nodes determine geographic reuse of slots based on channel quality extracted from the modem. Signal quality calculations are used to determine the likelihood of a slot reuse causing destructive interference within a node'"'"'s neighborhood. Requests for slot usage are compared with the known traffic pattern and accepted or rejected by nodes within RF signal range based on the signal quality calculations.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. In an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of terminals where each said terminal is capable of making at least one of an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call, each said terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, the improvement comprising:
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said memory means comprising software means for creating connectivity messaging and data transfer plan messaging information for transmission to other said terminals, and for receiving similar said information from other said terminals from which said terminal can receive;
said software means comprising means for delivering said connectivity and data transfer plan information messaging to a configuration channel for transmission to said other terminals belonging to the same service group (SG);
said connectivity messaging comprising a utilization map, the power used for transmitting the messaging, and the level of the environmental noise at the transmission site of the transmitting terminal;
said data transfer plan information messaging comprising messaging for use in changing the transmit power level and for determining routing paths; and
said utilization map comprising information messaging on the availability of time slots of a previous time frame based on whether time slots were used in said previous time frame or were unavailable for use due to high-level noise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of terminals where each said terminal is capable of making at least one of an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call, each said terminal comprising computer means, and memory means for storing program software means therein, the improvement comprising:
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each said terminal of said series of terminals comprising a modem means for transmitting first communications information on at least one data channel (DC) at a first chosen power level, and for transmitting second communications information on a control channel (CC) at a second chosen power level;
said first power level being one of equal to or less than said second power level, whereby RF interference among said series of terminals is minimized. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A protocol for use in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of terminals where each said terminal is capable of making at least one of an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call, and where each said terminal comprising computer means, memory means for storing program software means therein, and where each said terminal is capable of being hop of a routing path connecting a call from a source to a destination, comprising:
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software means for said memory means of each said terminal, said software means comprising means for generating communications-information for transmission based on time-division messaging;
said communications-information comprising a series of time frames (TM) each divided into a series of time slots (TS);
said communications-information comprising at least one time slot in which control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information;
said at least one time slot transmitting said control-channel information at a first frequency of F0, and said other time slots (TS) transmitting said data-channel (DC) information at frequencies of F1, F2, and F3, respectively;
each said time frame (TF) comprising an inter-frame time gap (IFTG) at the end of each said time frame (TF) in which no communications-information is transmitted, whereby each said terminal is allowed time to perform necessary calculations.
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11. In a radio terminal for use in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, said radio terminal capable of making at least one of an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call, and comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, the improvement comprising:
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said memory means comprising software means for setting the power level of a transmission of control-channel messaging to be transmitted by said transceiver means;
said software means further comprising means for generating routing messaging including said power level set by said means for setting for use in determining the connection path of a call;
said software means further comprising means for determining the optimal connection path of an outgoing call based on least energy use, so that the least amount of energy over a selected route is chosen for completing the call. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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23. A method of routing a call in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system, which radio system comprising a series of radio terminals each capable of making at least one of an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call, and where each said terminal is capable of being a node to a call made from a source-terminal, said method comprising:
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(a) transmitting one of voice or data over a routing path of said terminals;
(b) determining the class of service (COS) of the call;
(c) said step (b) comprising determining which of said voice or data is being transmitted by the call;
(d) selecting a routing path based on said step (b);
(e) said step (c) comprising basing its decision of a routing path based on latency and bitter error rate of a routing path.
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24. A method of selecting an optimal routing path of a call in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, comprising:
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(a) creating a service group (SG) of said radio terminals where each said radio terminal of said service group may be connected to any other of said radio terminals of said service group via at least one connecting path;
(b) creating in each said radio terminal of said service group (SG) via said software means connectivity messaging and data transfer plan messaging information for transmission to other said radio terminals of said service group, and for receiving similar said information from said other radio terminals;
(c) delivering said connectivity and data transfer plan information messaging to a configuration channel for transmission to said other radio terminals belonging to the same service group (SG);
(d) said step (b) comprising developing by said software means a utilization map, the power used for transmitting the messaging, and the level of the environmental noise at the transmission site of the transmitting terminal;
(e) said step (b) further comprising using said data transfer plan information messaging for use in adjusting the transmit power level and for determining at least one routing path.
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33. A method of reducing radio interference in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals forming a service group, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, where a call for sending packet data from one radio terminal may be connected utilizing at least one other said radio terminal as a node in the routing connection of the call to a destination other said other radio terminal, comprising:
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(a) transmitting connectivity messaging from said one radio terminal to at least one other radio terminal of said service group;
(b) said step (a) comprising transmitting said connectivity messaging using time division signaling having a series of time frames (TF) with each said time frame consisting of a plurality of time slots (TS);
(c) said step (b) comprising dedicating one of said time slots (TS) of each said time frame (TF) as a configuration channel in which said connectivity messaging is transmitted;
(d) said step (b) comprising dedicating other of said time slots (TS) of each said time frame (TF) as data channels in which data information messaging is transmitted;
(e) said step (b) comprising transmitting said connectivity messaging of said configuration channel of at a power level equal to or greater than the power level at which said data information on said data channels is transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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34. A method of transmitting radio calls in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals forming a service group, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, comprising:
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(a) establishing a call from a said radio terminal based on time-division access;
(b) said step (a) comprising creating messaging consisting of a series of time frames (TF) with each said time frame consisting of a plurality of time slots (TS);
(c) said step (b) comprising dedicating one said time slot for use as a configuration channel for transmitting information useful in establishing a routing path of a call;
(d) said step (b) further comprising dedicating other of said time slots for use as a data channels for transmitting the actual call information based on the class of service(COS) of the call;
(e) step step (b) further comprising forming an inter-frame time gap (IFTG) between said time frames (TF) during which each radio terminal may process said data received from another terminal.
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35. In a method of transmitting radio calls in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, comprising:
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(a) said radio terminal monitoring said control channel for information about the power level at which other said terminals are transmitting over said control channel; and
(b) adjusting the power level of said terminal based on the information received on said control channel in said step (a).
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41. In an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means and memory means for storing program software means therein, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, the improvement comprising:
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said memory means of each said radio terminal storing registration information about any other said radio terminal serving as a node therefor through which it has been registered for forming a call-connection routing path; and
said memory means of each said radio-terminal also storing registration information about any other said radio terminal for which it serves as a node therefor through which said any other radio terminal has been registered.
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42. In a protocol for use in a network of terminals each having computer means, memory means for storing program, and software means therein, said software means of each said- terminal comprising means for generating communications-information for transmission based on time division messaging, said communications-information comprising a series of time frames (TM) each divided into a series of time slots (TS);
- said communications-information comprising at least one time slot in which control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information, the improvement comprising;
said at least one time slot transmitting said control-channel information at a first frequency of F0, and said other time slots (TS) transmitting said data-channel (DC) information at different respective frequencies;
each said time frame (TF) comprising an inter-frame time gap (IFTG) at the end of each said time frame (TF) in which no communications-information is transmitted, whereby each said terminal is allowed time to perform necessary calculations.
- said communications-information comprising at least one time slot in which control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information, the improvement comprising;
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43. A protocol for use in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of terminals where each said terminal is capable of making at least one of an outgoing call or receiving an incoming call, and where each said terminal comprising computer means, memory means for storing program software means therein, and where each said terminal is capable of being hop of a routing path connecting a call from a source to a destination, comprising:
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software means for said memory means of each said terminal, said software means comprising means for generating communications-information for transmission based on time-division messaging;
said communications-information comprising a series of time frames (TM) each divided into a series of time slots (TS);
said communications-information comprising at least one time slot in which control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information;
each said time frame (TF) comprising a last time slot;
said software means further comprising means for generating initial control communications-information in a respective said last time slot (LTS) of a respective said time frame (TF) indicating initial presence of a respective said terminal in order to start communicating with other said terminals.
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44. In a protocol for use in a network of terminals each having computer means, memory means for storing program, and software means therein, said software means of each said terminal comprising means for generating communications-information for transmission based on time division messaging, said communications-information comprising a series of time frames (TM) each divided into a series of time slots (TS);
- said communications-information comprising at least one time slot in which control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information, the improvement comprising;
each said time frame (TF) comprising a last time slot;
said software means further comprising means for generating initial control communications-information in a respective said last time slot (LTS) of a respective said time frame (TF) indicating initial presence of a respective said terminal in order to start communicating with other said terminals.
- said communications-information comprising at least one time slot in which control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information, the improvement comprising;
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45. A radio terminal for an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means, memory means for storing program software means therein, and software means, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, the improvement comprising:
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said software means comprising means for generating communications-information for transmission based on time-division messaging;
said communications-information comprising a series of time frames (TM) each divided into a series of time slots (TS);
said communications-information comprising at least one time slot in which control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information;
said software means further comprising sending means for sending out message-signaling toward other said radio terminals for finding and registering with at least one other of said other radio terminals;
said sending means comprising transmitting status messaging over said control channel;
said software means also comprising listening means for listening to a response to said status messaging from at least another said radio terminal on said control channel;
said software means further comprising random means for randomly selecting at least another said time slot of at least one subsequent said time frame for said sending means to transmit said status messaging when said listening means receives no response;
said software means comprising power-incrementing means for increasing the power of transmission of said status messaging over a subsequent, selected, respective said time slot as compared with a previous said time slot in which said status messaging was transmitted.
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46. In a radio terminal for an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means, memory means for storing program software means therein, and software means, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, the method comprising:
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(a) generating communications-information for transmission based on time-division messaging;
(b) said step (a) comprising generating a series of time frames (TM) each divided into a series of time slots (TS);
(c) said step (b) comprising dedicating at least one time slot for control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information;
(d) sending out message-signaling toward other said radio terminals for finding and registering with at least other radio terminal;
(e) said step (d) comprising transmitting status messaging over the control channel;
(f) listening to a response to said status messaging from at least another radio terminal on the control channel;
(g) randomly selecting at least another time slot of at least one subsequent time frame for retransmitting the status messaging when said step (f) did not hear a response from another terminal;
(h) incrementally increasing the power of transmission of the status messaging over a subsequent, selected, respective time slot as compared with a previous time slot in which said status messaging was transmitted, and repeating said step (e) using the new time slot in the new time frame.
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47. In an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means, and memory means for storing program software means therein, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, the method comprising:
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(a) generating communications-information for transmission based on time-division messaging;
(b) said step (a) comprising generating a series of time frames (TM) each divided into a series of time slots (TS);
(c) said step (b) comprising dedicating at least one time slot for control-channel (CC) messaging information is transmitted, and other time slots in which is transmitted channel data (CD) messaging information;
(d) when said transceiver is idle from transmitting or receiving messaging information in said step (a), sending out maintenance message-signaling toward other said radio terminals for maintaining a link with at least one other said radio terminal;
(e) said step (d) comprising transmitting said maintenance status messaging message-signaling over the control channel.
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48. In an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means, and memory means for storing program software means therein, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, the method comprising:
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(a) building a link between a source terminal and a destination radio terminal or gateway;
(b) said step (b) comprising sending out link message-signaling from said source terminal toward said destination over said control channel at a first power level;
(c) after said step (b), said source terminal listening to said control channel for a response to said step (b) by any other said radio terminal;
(d) if said step (c) indicated no response, increasing said power level;
(e) if said step (c) indicated a response, said destination adjusting its power of transmission in accordance with the length of the path from said source to said destination and the type of service;
(f) sending out a dummy Clear-to-Send (CTS) from said destination at the power set in said step (e);
(g) a terminal receiving said dummy CTS of said step (f), and which was part of said link to said destination, answering said destination with a Ready-to-Link (RTL) message; and
(h) selecting the first hop of the link for which a connecting routing path is to be formed.
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49. In an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means, and memory means for storing program software means therein, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, the method comprising:
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(a) establishing a permanent link between a source terminal and a destination terminal or gateway;
(b) transmitting data from said source terminal to the destination;
(c) establishing a temporary link between said source terminal and said destination when the data being transmitted by said source terminal surpasses a predetermined limit for said permanent link.
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50. A method of reducing the power loss between terminals in an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system comprising a series of radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving signals from other like terminals of said series of terminals, computer means, and memory means for storing program software means therein, said radio system based on time-dependent messaging having multiple parallel data channels and a control channel, the method comprising:
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(a) controlling the power of transmission of each said radio terminal of a service group of said terminals; and
(b) said step (a) comprising creating a relatively stable power-level state wherein each terminal of said plurality of terminals stabilizes at a power level reflective of the relative path loss between it and other terminals of said permanent link.
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Specification