Media Access Control Protocol for wireless sensor networks
First Claim
1. A media access control protocol for a network including a plurality of nodes connected to each by a single shared wireless communications channel, the protocol for each node comprising:
- monitoring, in each node, the channel for a period of time equal to at least a length of a frame;
partitioning the frame into a plurality of time slots;
marking a particular time slot as occupied if the channel has a carrier signal during the time slot and otherwise marking the time slot as available;
transmitting a packet only if the time slot is marked available.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A media access control protocol for a network including sensor nodes connected to each by a single shared wireless communications channel executes the following protocol in each node so that network access is managed in a distributed manner. The node monitors the channel for a period of time equal to at least a length of a frame. A frame length is predetermined and depends on network conditions. The frame is partitioned into time slots. A particular time slot is marked as occupied if the channel has a carrier signal during the time slot and otherwise the time slot is marked as available. The node only transmits a packet during available time slots. The frame structure is updated on a periodic basis if a configuration of the network changes over time.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A media access control protocol for a network including a plurality of nodes connected to each by a single shared wireless communications channel, the protocol for each node comprising:
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monitoring, in each node, the channel for a period of time equal to at least a length of a frame;
partitioning the frame into a plurality of time slots;
marking a particular time slot as occupied if the channel has a carrier signal during the time slot and otherwise marking the time slot as available;
transmitting a packet only if the time slot is marked available. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification