Redundant radio frequency network having a roaming terminal communication protocol

• US 20060062240A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1991
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovatio IP Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Meier
• Inventors: Meier, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/448
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/04 based on wireless node resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a redundant network and communication protocol at least including host computers, RF base stations, and roaming terminals. The network may utilize a polling communication protocol such that under heavy traffic conditions, a roaming terminal wishing to initiate communication may be required to determine whether the channel is clear by listening for an entire interpoll gap time. When a hidden terminal is communicating, the roaming terminal may conclude that the communication is taking place upon receiving a polling frame directed to the hidden terminal from the normally silent base station. Inherent redundancy techniques may be used with a spanning tree approach for determining the most efficient pathways from a source to a destination and ensuring that the network adapts to spatial changes or breakdowns within the network.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of beginning a data exchange over a wireless communication channel between a destination device and a sending device, the method comprising:

waiting, by the sending device, a period of time that is at least as long as a predetermined time period and detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel during the period of time, the predetermined time period being at least the maximum expected time span between transmissions from the destination device to a device communicating with the destination device;

attempting, by the sending device, to initiate communication with the destination device; and

if the attempt to initiate communication with the destination device proves successful, transmitting, by the sending device, at least one packet to the destination device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting, by the sending device, at least one packet to the destination device comprises transmitting a series of packets to the destination device, the duration of the series of packets being such that the destination device may transmit return packets to the sending device, the return packets being separated by no more than the predetermined time period.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting, by the sending device, at least one packet to the destination device comprises transmitting a series of packets to the destination device, the duration of the series of packets being such that the destination device may transmit return packets to the sending device, the return packets being separated by no more than the maximum expected time span between transmissions from the destination device to a device communicating with the destination device.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting, by the sending device, at least one packet to the destination device comprises transmitting a series of packets to the destination device, the duration of each of the series of packets being such that the destination device may transmit return packets to the sending device between each of the series of packets, the return packets being separated by no more than the predetermined time period.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one packet comprises a series of data packets, each of the series of data packets having a predetermined maximum length.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the destination device is a polling device.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising if the beginning of the period of time during which no communication is detected coincides with the end of a detected transmission, then attempting to avoid collisions by delaying a random period before attempting to initiate communication with the destination device.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising immediately attempting to initiate communication with the destination device if traffic on the wireless communication channel is below a predetermined level.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising immediately attempting to initiate communication with the destination device when the sending device does not sense activity on the wireless communication channel and if traffic on the wireless communication channel is below a predetermined level.

30. A method of beginning a data exchange over a wireless communication channel between a destination device and a sending device, the method comprising:

waiting, by the sending device, a period of time that is at least as long as a first predetermined time period and detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel during the period of time;

attempting, by the sending device, to initiate communication with the destination device; and

if the attempt to initiate communication with the destination device proves successful, transmitting, by the sending device and the destination device, at least one packet within a second predetermined time period that is less than the first predetermined time period.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one packet is a single packet.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one packet comprises a series of packets.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the second predetermined time period is an interpoll gap time.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the second predetermined time period is the maximum expected time span between transmissions by the destination device to another device.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the second predetermined time period is less than the first predetermined time period by at least the minimum duration of a data packet.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the second predetermined time period is less than the first predetermined time period by at least the minimum duration of a data packet and an inter-packet spacing interval.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one packet comprises a series of data packets having a predetermined maximum length.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one packet comprises a series of data packets having a maximum length, the maximum length being such that the time duration between packets that are sent by the destination device is less than the first predetermined time period.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein the destination device is a polling device.

40. The method of claim 30, further comprising if the beginning of the period of time during which no communication is detected coincides with the end of a detected transmission, then attempting to avoid collisions by delaying a random period before attempting to initiate communication with the destination device.

41. The method of claim 31, further comprising immediately attempting to initiate communication with the destination device if traffic on the wireless communication channel is below a predetermined level.

42. The method of claim 32, further comprising immediately attempting to initiate communication with the destination device when the sending device does not sense activity on the wireless communication channel, if traffic on the wireless communication channel is below a predetermined level.