Adaptive beacon period in a distributed network

• US 20050249173A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Provenance Asset Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Reunamaki, Jukka, Salokannel, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 system, comprising:

a plurality of nodes communicating wirelessly using repeating patterns of superframes, each of the superframes including at least one beacon period;

wherein said plurality of nodes reserve at least one beacon slot in a first Media Access Slot (MAS) occurring in the beginning of the at least one beacon period, said at least one beacon slot for communicating information relating to the superframe configuration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beacon slot is reserved for increasing the number of the MASs allocated for beaconing in the superframes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beacon slot is reserved for increasing the number of beacon slots in the superframes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beacon slot is reserved for increasing the number of beacon slots in the at least one beacon period.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beacon slot is reserved for decreasing the number of the MASs allocated for beaconing in the superframes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beacon slot is reserved for decreasing the number of beacon slots in the superframes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beacon slot is reserved for decreasing the number of beacon slots in the at least one beacon period.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes communicate using wireless ultra wideband (UWB) signals.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the beacon slot is for dynamically adjusting the number of beacon slots in the superframes based on the quantity of the plurality of nodes.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the beacon slot is for dynamically adjusting the number of MASs allocated for beaconing in the superframes based on the quantity of the plurality of nodes.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes form an ad-hoc network.

12. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a plurality of beacon messages across a wireless transmission medium,

a controller configured to determine a number of beacon slots for a group of one or more devices based on the received beacon messages, the group including the wireless communications device; and

a transmitter configured to send a generated message to allocate the determined number of beacon slots to the group;

wherein the generated message is sent during a reserved beacon slot in a first Media Access Slot (MAS) occurring in the beginning of a beacon period.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 12, wherein the generated message specifies an increase in the number of beacon slots currently assigned to the group.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 12, wherein the generated message specifies an decrease in the number of beacon slots currently assigned to the group.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 12, wherein the receiver is configured to receive ultra wideband (UWB) signals, and the transmitter is configured to transmit UWB signals.

16. A method, comprising:

(a) receiving a plurality of beacon messages across a wireless transmission medium,

(b) determining a number of beacon slots for a group of one or more devices based on the received beacon messages; and

(c) sending a message to allocate the determined number of beacon slots to the group, wherein the message is sent during a reserved beacon slot in a first Media Access Slot (MAS) occurring in the beginning of a beacon period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the message specifies an increase in the number of beacon slots currently assigned to the group.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the message specifies an decrease in the number of beacon slots currently assigned to the group.

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

program code for receiving a plurality of beacon messages across a wireless transmission medium,

program code for determining a number of beacon slots for a group of one or more devices based on the received beacon messages, the group including the wireless communications device; and

program code for generating a beacon message to allocate the determined number of beacon slots to the group.