Systems and methods for network channel characteristic measurement and network management

• US 20050195968A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ayyagari, Deepak, Petranovich, James E., Peponides, George M., Park, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/406.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for detecting and applying network channel characteristic measurements.

Claims

1. A method for measuring network channel characteristics, said method comprising:

a) allocating network bandwidth to specific network devices for typical device communication;

b) broadcasting a communication transmission on said network from at least one of said devices;

c) receiving said communication transmission on a network device other than said broadcasting device; and

d) using said communication transmission to determine network channel characteristics.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the communication content of said communication transmission is not decoded by said receiving device.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said allocating bandwidth comprises allocating time slots.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said allocating bandwidth comprises allocating tones and time slots.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said broadcasting is performed during a contention period.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said broadcasting is performed during a contention-free period.

7. A method for monitoring network channel characteristics, said method comprising:

a) allocating network bandwidth to specific network devices such that a transmitting device can be identified by its time of transmission;

b) broadcasting typical communication transmissions between said devices on said network;

c) receiving said communication transmissions on a network device other than the device that broadcast the transmission; and

d) using said communication transmission to determine network channel characteristics between said broadcasting device and sad receiving device.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein the communication content of said communication transmission is not decoded by said receiving device.

9. A method for measuring network channel characteristics, said method comprising:

a) establishing a Central Coordinator (CCo) for a computer network;

b) accepting, at said CCo, requests for network bandwidth from specific network devices for typical device communication during a contention-free period;

c) allocating frequency tones and time slots to said network devices d) broadcasting a typical communication transmission from a transmitting device to an intended receiving device within allocated tones and time slots;

e) receiving said communication transmission on a network device other than said broadcasting device; and

f) using said communication transmission to determine network channel characteristics.

10. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising identifying said transmitting device by its allocated tone and time slot.

11. A method as described in claim 9 further comprising transmitting said network channel characteristics to said CCo.

12. A method for measuring network channel characteristics, said method comprising:

a) broadcasting a network communication message from a transmitting device to an intended recipient device;

b) receiving said broadcast communication message at a third device, which is not intended to receive the communication content of said communication message; and

c) using said communication message to determine network channel characteristics between said transmitting device and said third device.

13. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said third device cannot access said communication message content.

14. A method as described in claim 12 wherein said communication message content is encrypted, however said message can still be used to measure channel characteristics between said transmitting device and another device that receives the broadcast message.

15. A method for scheduling network channel characteristic measurement transmissions, said method comprising:

a) establishing a central network coordinator (CCo) that receives bandwidth requests from network devices and allocates bandwidth to said network devices;

b) implementing a priority system for bandwidth allocation wherein said CCo distinguishes between requests for network channel characteristic measurement (NCCM) transmissions and other transmissions; and

c) assigning a priority to said NCCM transmissions when a network condition is detected.

16. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a low priority and said network condition is a QoS requirement for an active connection.

17. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is a period of time since the last NCCM transmission.

18. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is a gross channel disruption.

19. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is a historical record of high channel dynamics.

20. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a low priority and said network condition is a historical record of low channel dynamics.

21. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a low priority and said network condition is a high QoS requirement for a pending bandwidth request.

22. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is an inability to combine NCCM transmissions with other transmissions.

23. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a low priority and said network condition is a successful completion of a combined NCCM transmission with another transmission.

24. A method as described in claim 15 wherein said assigned priority is a high priority and said network condition is a known periodic channel disruption.

25. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said priority is assigned before said known periodic channel disruption occurs and said priority remains in effect until said disruption subsides.

26. A method for reporting network channel measurement results, said method comprising:

a) broadcasting, from a first network device, a message on a network;

b) receiving said message at a second network device;

c) determining network channel characteristic measurements (NCCMs) using said message;

d) reporting, on said network, said NCCMs for only those channels that are available for allocation.

27. A method as described in claim 26 wherein said determining measures characteristics only for channels that are available for allocation.

28. A method for reporting network channel measurement results, said method comprising:

a) broadcasting, from a central network coordinator (CCo), a message on a network;

b) receiving said message at a network device;

c) determining network channel characteristic measurements (NCCMs) using said message;

d) reporting to said CCo, the NCCMs for only those channels that are available for allocation.

29. A method as described in claim 28 wherein said determining measures characteristics only for channels that are available for allocation.

30. A method for establishing a network connection with reduced latency, said method comprising:

a) receiving, at a network central coordinator (CCo), a request to join a network from a device that is not a part of said network;

b) receiving, at said CCo, network channel characteristic measurement data determined by said device only for network channels that are available for allocation;

c) granting network access to said device when said measurement data supports another connection; and

d) denying network access to said device when said measurement data does not support other connection.

31. A method as described in claim 30 wherein said measurement data comprises raw data that may be used by the CCo to calculate channel conditions.

32. A method as described in claim 30 wherein said measurement data comprises final channel condition data calculated at said device.

33. A method for establishing a network connection with reduced latency, said method comprising:

a) receiving a beacon transmission from a network central coordinator (CCo) at a potential network device;

b) sending, to said CCo, a request to join said network from said potential network device;

c) determining, at said potential network device, network channel characteristic measurement data only for network channels that are available for allocation;

d) sending, to said CCo, said network channel characteristic data;

e) receiving a grant of network access at said potential network device when said measurement data supports another connection; and

f) receiving a denial of network access at said device when said measurement data does not support other connection.

34. A method as described in claim 33 wherein said measurement data comprises raw data that may be used by the CCo to calculate channel conditions.

35. A method as described in claim 33 wherein said measurement data comprises final channel condition data calculated at said device.

36. A method as described in claim 33 wherein said network channel characteristic data is based on said beacon transmission.

37. A method for detecting changes in a network channel, said method comprising:

a) receiving a beacon transmission that is broadcast periodically from a network central coordinator (CCo);

b) determining network channel characteristic measurements (NCCMs) based on said beacon transmissions;

c) detecting a channel characteristic change by comparing NCCMs based on successive beacon transmissions; and

d) sending a channel characteristic change message to said CCo to allow said CCo to compensate for said channel characteristic change.

38. A method as described in claim 37 wherein said change message comprises instruction for reallocation of bandwidth.

39. A method for detecting changes in a network channel, said method comprising:

a) broadcasting a beacon transmission periodically from a network central coordinator (CCo);

b) receiving, from a network device, network channel characteristic measurements (NCCMs) based on said beacon transmissions;

c) receiving a channel characteristic change message from said network device, when said device has detected said change by comparing NCCMs based on successive beacon transmissions; and

d) compensating for said channel characteristic change.

40. A method as described in claim 39 wherein said compensating is achieved by increasing the frequency of NCCMs.

41. A method as described in claim 39 wherein said compensating is achieved by increasing the priority of NCCMs.

42. A method as described in claim 39 wherein said compensating is device specific based on the QoS level assigned to a device.