Method and apparatus for multi-channel MAC protocol using multi-tone synchronous collision resolution

• US 20060114851A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Das, Sajal Kumar, Gupta, Rohit, Singh, Ravindra
• Granted Patent: US 7,466,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A multi-tone synchronous collision resolution system permits communication nodes within a MANET to contend simultaneously for a plurality of available channels. The communication nodes contend for access using a synchronous signaling mechanism that utilizes multiple tones in a synchronous manner to resolve contentions. Contentions are arbitrated locally, and a surviving subset of communication nodes is selected. The communication nodes of the surviving subset then transmit data packets simultaneously across the available communication channels.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) that includes a set of mobile wireless communication nodes which contend for communication resources of the MANET, comprising:

selecting some of the nodes of said set of contending nodes in response to a plurality of frequency tones signaled synchronously in the MANET;

removing the selected nodes from said set of contending nodes; and

after said removing step, transmitting data packets from a plurality of nodes that remain in said set of contending nodes to respectively corresponding destination mobile wireless communication nodes of the MANET on respectively different frequency channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step includes estimating a number of nodes in said set of contending nodes in response to said plurality of frequency tones.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said selecting step includes determining a target density based on the estimated number of nodes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said selecting step includes determining a probability value based on said target density.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said estimating step includes receiving at least some of the frequency tones and counting the received frequency tones.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said estimating step includes transmitting a frequency tone that is indicative of a number of received frequency tones counted in said counting step.

7. The method of claim 1, including transmitting the plurality of frequency tones respectively from the nodes of said set of contending nodes.

8. The method of claim 7, including selecting each of the transmitted frequency tones randomly from a predetermined set of available frequency tones.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the plurality of frequency tones simultaneously during a predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting step includes using the transmitted frequency tones to indicate respective addresses of desired destination mobile wireless communication nodes in the MANET.

11. The method of claim 10, including using the transmitted frequency tones to indicate respective frequency channels proposed for communication with the respective destination nodes.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting step includes receiving and recognizing at least some of the transmitted frequency tones, and thereafter transmitting the recognized frequency tones again.

13. The method of claim 7, including using the transmitted frequency tones to indicate respective frequency channels proposed for communication with respective desired destination mobile wireless communication nodes in the MANET.

14. A mobile wireless communication apparatus for use in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) as one of a set of mobile wireless communication nodes of the MANET which contend for communication resources of the MANET, comprising:

a wireless communication interface for supporting wireless communication with other nodes of the MANET;

a contention resolution controller coupled to said wireless communication interface and cooperable with other nodes of the MANET for determining in response to a plurality of frequency tones signaled synchronously in the MANET whether said mobile wireless communication apparatus should be removed from said set of contending nodes;

a communication controller coupled to said wireless communication interface and cooperable therewith for supporting wireless communication of data packets associated with a user communication application; and

said contention resolution controller coupled to said communication controller, said contention controller cooperable with said communication controller and said wireless communication interface in response to a determination that the mobile wireless communication apparatus should not be removed from said set of contending nodes for permitting wireless communication of said data packets on a first communication channel while other nodes of the MANET are simultaneously transmitting data packets on respective communication channels which are different from one another and which are different from said first communication channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said contention resolution controller is cooperable with said wireless communication interface for transmitting at least one of said frequency tones.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said contention resolution controller is cooperable with said wireless communication interface for receiving at least some of said plurality of frequency tones.

17. A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) comprising:

a plurality of mobile wireless communication nodes, including a set of said mobile wireless communication nodes which contend for communication resources of the MANET; and

a contention resolution system distributed among said plurality of mobile wireless communication nodes, said contention resolution system operable for selecting some of the nodes of said set of contending nodes in response to a plurality of frequency tone signaled synchronously in the MANET, and further operable for removing the selected nodes from said set of contending nodes; and

said contention resolution system operable after removing the selected nodes from said set of contending nodes for effectuating transmission of data packets from a plurality of nodes that remain in said set of contending nodes to respectively corresponding destination nodes of the MANET on respectively different frequency channels.

18. The mobile ad hoc network of claim 17, wherein said contention resolution system is further for estimating a number of nodes in said set of contending nodes in response to said plurality of frequency tones.

19. The mobile ad hoc network of claim 18, wherein said contention resolution system is further for determining a target density based on the estimated number of nodes.

20. The mobile ad hoc network of claim 19, wherein said contention resolution system is further for determining a probability value based on said target density.