Network channel access protocol - slot scheduling
First Claim
1. A method for communication slot allocation and assertion for a planned transmission, comprising:
- providing a node;
obtaining an array of communication slots;
locating at least one available communication slot within the array;
allocating the at least one communication slot;
determining if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override;
if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override, canceling a prior allocation of the at least one communication slot;
informing neighboring nodes of the node of cancellation of the prior allocation;
asserting usage of the at least one communication slot;
informing the neighboring nodes of assertion of the at least one communication slot;
determining whether the at least one communication slot is configured to receive or transmit; and
if the at least one communication slot is configured to receive, scheduling use of the at least one communication slot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for communication slot allocation and assertion for a planned transmission, comprising:
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providing a node;
obtaining an array of communication slots;
locating at least one available communication slot within the array;
allocating the at least one communication slot;
determining if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override;
if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override, canceling a prior allocation of the at least one communication slot;
informing neighboring nodes of the node of cancellation of the prior allocation;
asserting usage of the at least one communication slot;
informing the neighboring nodes of assertion of the at least one communication slot;
determining whether the at least one communication slot is configured to receive or transmit; and
if the at least one communication slot is configured to receive, scheduling use of the at least one communication slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A signal-bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor in response to a command to allocate at least one communication slot, causes execution of a method comprising:
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allocating the at least one communication slot;
determining if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override;
if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override, canceling a prior allocation of the at least one communication slot;
informing neighboring nodes of the node of cancellation of the prior allocation;
asserting usage of the at least one communication slot;
informing the neighboring nodes of assertion of the at least one communication slot;
determining whether the at least one communication slot is configured to receive or transmit; and
if the at least one communication slot is configured to receive, scheduling use of the at least one communication slot.
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9. A method for slot allocation acknowledgement by a node, comprising:
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providing slot allocation information;
determining if the slot allocation information has been superseded;
if the slot allocation information has not been superseded, determining whether the slot allocation information pertains to the node;
if the slot allocation information pertains to the node, determining a mode associated with the slot allocation information;
if the mode condition is transmit or receive, checking for conflicts and interference with the slot allocation information;
if the slot allocation information is not conflicted and not precluded by interference, scheduling use of a communication slot identified by the slot allocation information;
determining whether the mode condition of the slot allocation information involves activity within an interference area of the node; and
if the activity is within the interference area, advertising the slot allocation information to neighboring nodes of the node. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A signal-bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor in response to receiving slot allocation information, causes execution of a method comprising:
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determining if the slot allocation information has been superseded;
if the slot allocation information has not been superseded, determining whether the slot allocation information pertains to the node;
if the slot allocation information pertains to the node, determining a mode associated with the slot allocation information;
if the mode condition is transmit or receive, checking for conflicts and interference with the slot allocation information;
if the slot allocation information is not conflicted and not precluded by interference, scheduling use of a communication slot identified by the slot allocation information;
determining whether the mode condition of the slot allocation information involves activity within an interference area of the node; and
if the activity is within the interference area, advertising the slot allocation information to neighboring nodes of the node.
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Specification