Device employment of multiple beacon slots in a distributed network

• US 20050249167A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Salokannel, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Multiple nodes communicate using repeating patterns of superframes, where each of the superframes includes a beacon period. A beacon slot in a first Media Access Slot (MAS) is reserved by the plurality of nodes. This reserved slot occurs in the beginning of the beacon period and is used for communicating information relating to the superframe configuration. This information may involve adjustments to the number of MASs reserved for beaconing.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

(a) joining a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network employing a repeating time interval within a transmission medium, wherein the repeating time interval includes a plurality of beacon slots designated for beacon transmissions;

(b) obtaining one of the plurality of beacon slots as an assigned beacon slot;

(c) transmitting a beacon message during the assigned beacon slot; and

(d) transmitting the beacon message also during a signaling slot of the repeating time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

discontinuing transmission of the beacon message during the signaling slot upon the occurrence of one or more events.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

discontinuing transmission of the beacon message during the signaling slot after a predetermined amount of time elapses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises transmitting the beacon message during the signaling slot upon a random occurrence of a predetermined probability.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising randomly selecting the signaling slot from among two or more predefined signaling slots within the repeating time interval.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling slot is reserved for sharing network information between devices of the wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling slot is reserved for increasing the number of beacon slots designated within the repeating time interval for beacon transmissions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling slot comprises a beacon slot in the beginning of the repeating time interval.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling slot comprises a beacon slot of a first media access slot (MAS).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first MAS includes three first occurring slots within the repeating time interval.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network is an MBOA network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (c) and (d) each comprise transmitting an ultra wideband (UWB) signal.

13. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions from a wireless communications network employing a repeating time interval within a transmission medium, the repeating time interval including a plurality of beacon slots designated for beacon transmissions;

a controller configured to obtain one of the plurality of beacon slots as an assigned beacon slot for the wireless communications device; and

a transmitter configured to send a beacon message during the assigned beacon slot and also during a signaling slot within the repeating time interval.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the transmitter to discontinue transmission of the beacon message during the signaling slot upon the occurrence of one or more events.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the transmitter to discontinue transmission of the beacon message during the signaling slot after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the transmitter to transmit the beacon message during the signaling slot upon a random occurrence of a predetermined probability.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to randomly select the signaling slot from among two or more predefined signaling slots within the repeating time interval.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the signaling slot is reserved for sharing network information between devices of the wireless network.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the signaling slot is reserved for increasing the number of beacon slots designated within the repeating time interval for beacon transmissions.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the signaling slot comprises a beacon slot in the beginning of the repeating time interval.

21. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the signaling slot comprises a beacon slot of a first media access slot (MAS).

22. The wireless communications device of claim 21, wherein the first MAS includes three first occurring slots within the repeating time interval.

23. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the wireless communications network is an MBOA network.

24. The wireless communications device of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit ultra wideband (UWB) signals.

25. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to control a wireless communications device, the computer program logic comprising:

program code for enabling the wireless communications device to participate in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network having a transmission medium designated for exchanging wireless signals in a first format associated with the wireless communications network;

program code for enabling the wireless communications device to join a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network employing a repeating time interval within a transmission medium, wherein the repeating time interval includes a plurality of beacon slots designated for beacon transmissions;

program code for enabling the wireless communications device to obtain one of the plurality of beacon slots as an assigned beacon slot;

program code for enabling the wireless communications device to transmit a beacon message during the assigned beacon slot; and

program code for enabling the wireless communications device to transmit the beacon message also during a signaling slot of the repeating time interval.

26. A system, comprising:

a plurality of nodes communicating wirelessly using repeating patterns of superframes, each of the superframes including a beacon period having a plurality of beacon slots and a plurality of signaling slots;

wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes reserves one of the plurality of beacon slots and transmits a beacon message in both the reserved beacon slot and in one of the signaling slots.

27. A wireless communications device, comprising:

means for joining a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network employing a repeating time period within a transmission medium, wherein the repeating time interval includes a plurality of beacon slots designated for beacon transmissions;

means for obtaining one of the plurality of beacon slots as an assigned beacon slot;

means for transmitting a beacon message during the assigned slot; and

means for transmitting the beacon message also during a signaling slot of the repeating time interval.