Wireless communication

• US 20040162093A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Balnes, Steven, Bevan, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/502
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2678 Time synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method of synchronising transmission between two nodes in a wireless network. The method comprises the steps of obtaining an expected interference profile for each node; and agreeing a synchronised transmission schedule between the nodes, where the expected interference profile of the or each node meets predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A method of synchronising transmission between two nodes in a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:

Obtaining an expected interference profile for each node; and

Agreeing a synchronised transmission schedule between the nodes, where the expected interference profile of the or each node meets predetermined criteria;

2. A method of synchronising transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the expected interference profile is obtained by detecting interference received at each node.

3. A method of synchronising transmission as claimed in claim 1, where the interference profile is characterised according to transmission parameters.

4. A method of synchronising transmission as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transmission parameters include time and frequency.

5. A method of synchronising transmission as claimed in claim 4, wherein each node comprises a multiple beam antenna, and said transmission parameters further include the selected beam.

6. A node in a wireless network comprising:

a memory for storing an expected interference profile of the node;

a processor for determining where the expected interference profile of the node meets predetermined criteria; and

a transceiver for communicating with a second node to agree a synchronised transmission schedule according to the determination of the processor.

7. A wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes as claimed in claim 6.

8. A method of communication between two nodes in a wireless network, said method comprising the steps of:

Obtaining an expected interference profile for each node;

Agreeing a synchronised transmission schedule between the nodes, where the expected interference profile of the or each node meets predetermined criteria; and

Effecting communication in accordance with the synchronised transmission schedule.

9. A signal for agreeing a synchronised transmission schedule between a first and a second node, said signal comprising a reference to a transmission slot, where the expected interference profile at a node meets predetermined criteria.