Method of transmitting time-critical scheduling information between single network devices in a wireless network using slotted point-to-point links

• US 20050041613A1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Baatz, Simon, Scholz, Christoph, Kuhl, Carmen
• Granted Patent: US 7,974,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/320
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Timing control information, especially scheduling information, is transmitted between single network devices in a wireless network. Timing control information is usually time-critical information since communication parameters may be changing rapidly in wireless networks. The invention provides a method to transmit the time-critical and up-to-date timing control information to a recipient just-in-time.

Claims

1. Method of transmitting timing control information, especially time-critical scheduling control information, between network devices in a wireless network using slotted communication links between said network devices for data transmission, comprising

providing a data sequence defined by a header portion and a payload portion, wherein the header portion contains at least an address code of a network device and said payload portion contains said time-critical scheduling control information,

transmitting said data sequence via a specified channel in accordance with the contents, wherein said data sequence containing said timing control information is contained in a baseband packet and is transmitted in a time defined contact slot.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein, said header address code contains a dedicated address code.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the header contains additionally a status data sequence to signalize the presence of said timing control information.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said timing control information is used in a network operating as a scatternet.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said timing control information is used in a network operating with prioritized usage of slotted links by network devices for adapting to varying traffic loads, comprising:

pre-setting a distribution of priorities for using a link to predetermined values, monitoring current link usage,

adapting the priorities in accordance with the monitored usage.

6. Method to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is a short range radio network.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said timing control information is used in a network operating in an active mode of connection state.

8. Method according to claim 6, wherein said timing control information is used in a network operating in a sniff mode of connection state.

9. Computer program for transmitting timing control information in a wireless network using slotted links by network devices, comprising program code means for performing all the steps of claim 1 when said program is run on a computer or a network device.

10. Computer program product comprising program code stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 1 when said program product is run on a computer or network device.