Methods and systems for network coordination

• US 20050169222A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ayyagari, Deepak, Chan, Wai-Chung
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0039 Frequency-contiguous, i.e. with no allocation of frequencies for one user or terminal between the frequencies allocated to another
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0041 Frequency-non-contiguous
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0046 Determination of how many bits are transmitted on different sub-channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for distributed network coordination and administration.

Claims

1. A method for distributed coordination of multiple interfering networks, said method comprising:

a) establishing a network controlling authority for a network;

b) searching for an interfering network;

c) receiving an interfering network list (INL) for said interfering network, said INL comprising an identification of said interfering network when said interfering network is present;

d) transmitting an INL for said network to said interfering network, said INL comprising identification of networks interfering with said network; and

e) communicating with an interfering network controlling authority for said interfering network to allocate specific bandwidth segments for exclusive use by one of said interfering network and said network.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said controlling authority is a Quality of Service Controller (QoSC).

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said searching comprises listening for a Beacon PDU from said interfering network.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said creating an INL comprises compiling data from at least one Beacon PDU.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said communicating comprises establishing a Contention Free Period (CFP) for exclusive use by one of said network or said interfering network.

6. A method for distributed coordination of a network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a beacon from an interfering network controller (INC);

b) requesting an interfering network list (INL) from said INC;

c) selecting a network identification and a beacon slot that is not used in said INL; and

d) coordinating communication with said INC.

7. A method for distributed coordination of multiple interfering networks, said method comprising:

a) establishing a network controlling authority (NCA) for a network;

b) performing a beacon detection process with said NCA to detect an interfering network;

c) requesting, via said NCA, an interfering network list (INL) comprising an identification of an interfering network when said interfering network is present;

d) receiving, via said NCA, said interfering network list (INL) when said interfering network is present;

e) coordinating network communication with said interfering network to reduce interference-related transmission losses.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said INL comprises beacon slot information and network identification information.

9. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said coordinating comprises establishing a contention-free period.

10. A method for distributed coordination of multiple interfering networks, said method comprising:

a) establishing a first network controlling authority (NCA) for a first interfering network;

b) establishing a second network controlling authority (NCA) for a second interfering network,

c) receiving a beacon message at said second NCA from said first NCA d) requesting, via said second NCA, a first interfering network list (INL) for said first network;

e) receiving, at said second NCA, said first interfering network list (INL);

f) establishing a transmission schedule for said first and second networks to reduce interference-related transmission losses.

11. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said establishing a transmission schedule comprises sending an add bandwidth request from said second NCA to said first NCA.

12. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said establishing a transmission schedule comprises sending a new network request from said second NCA to said first NCA.

13. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said establishing a transmission schedule comprises sending an add bandwidth request from said second NCA to said first NCA, sending an add bandwidth response from said first NCA to said second NCA and sending an add bandwidth confirmation from said second NCA to said first NCA.

14. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said establishing a transmission schedule comprises sending a new network request from said second NCA to said first NCA, sending a new network response from said first NCA to said second NCA and sending a new network confirmation from said second NCA to said first NCA.

15. A method for requesting exclusive bandwidth in a distributed network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a beacon from an interfering network controller (INC);

b) sending to said INC a request for a contention-free period;

c) receiving from said INC a request acceptance message; and

d) communicating on said distributed network during said contention-free period without interference from devices coordinated by said INC.

16. A method for reserving exclusive bandwidth in a distributed network, said method comprising:

a) receiving a beacon from an interfering network;

b) negotiating a unique network identification for said interfering network;

c) receiving a request from said interfering network for a contention-free time slot;

d) maintaining a schedule of contention-free periods; and

e) allocating a contention-free time slot to said interfering network.

17. A method for controlling interference-related transmission losses on a network, said method comprising:

a) establishing a controlling authority for a network;

b) receiving a beacon from an interfering device outside said network;

c) adding said interfering device to an interfering network list (INL) administered by said controlling authority; and

d) assigning a beacon slot to said interfering device thereby allowing said interfering device to contend for exclusive and non-exclusive time slots on said network.

18. A method as described in claim 17 wherein said interfering device is a controlling authority.

19. A method as described in claim 17 wherein said interfering device is a controlling authority.

20. A method for network coordination that allows simultaneous use of bandwidth by non-interfering devices, said method comprising:

a) establishing a first controlling authority that controls access to a communication medium for a first communication device, thereby creating a first base station set (BSS);

b) establishing a second controlling authority that controls access to said communication medium for a second communication device thereby creating a second BSS;

c) establishing a third controlling authority that controls access to said communication medium for a third communication device thereby creating a third BSS;

d) wherein said first BSS interferes with said second BSS and said third BSS interferes with said second BSS, but said first BSS does not interfere with said third BSS;

e) establishing a schedule for use of said communication medium, said schedule comprising intervals wherein said first BSS and said third BSS may use said communication medium at the same time, but said second BSS is precluded from using said communication medium during said intervals.