Network channel access protocol - slot scheduling
First Claim
1. A method for slot allocation acknowledgement by a node, comprising:
- providing slot allocation information;
determining if the slot allocation information has been superseded;
if the slot allocation information has not been superseded, determining whether the slot allocation information pertains to the node;
if the slot allocation information pertains to the node, determining a mode associated with the slot allocation information;
if the mode condition is transmit or receive, checking for conflicts and interference with the slot allocation information;
if the slot allocation information is not conflicted and not precluded by interference, scheduling use of a communication slot identified by the slot allocation information;
determining whether the mode condition of the slot allocation information involves activity within an interference area of the node; and
if the activity is within the interference area, advertising the slot allocation information to neighboring nodes of the node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.
56 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for slot allocation acknowledgement by a node, comprising:
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providing slot allocation information;
determining if the slot allocation information has been superseded;
if the slot allocation information has not been superseded, determining whether the slot allocation information pertains to the node;
if the slot allocation information pertains to the node, determining a mode associated with the slot allocation information;
if the mode condition is transmit or receive, checking for conflicts and interference with the slot allocation information;
if the slot allocation information is not conflicted and not precluded by interference, scheduling use of a communication slot identified by the slot allocation information;
determining whether the mode condition of the slot allocation information involves activity within an interference area of the node; and
if the activity is within the interference area, advertising the slot allocation information to neighboring nodes of the node.
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13. The method of claim 20 wherein the advertising is only by point-to-point communication.
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14. The method of claim 20 wherein the advertising is only by point-to-multipoint communication.
- 15. The method of claim 20 wherein the advertising is only by broadcast communication.
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16. The method of claim 20 wherein the advertising is by one or more of point-to-point communication, point-to-multipoint communication and broadcast communication.
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17. A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor in response to receiving slot allocation information, causes execution of a method comprising:
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determining if the slot allocation information has been superseded;
if the slot allocation information has not been superseded, determining whether the slot allocation information pertains to the node;
if the slot allocation information pertains to the node, determining a mode associated with the slot allocation information;
if the mode condition is transmit or receive, checking for conflicts and interference with the slot allocation information;
if the slot allocation information is not conflicted and not precluded by interference, scheduling use of a communication slot identified by the slot allocation information;
determining whether the mode condition of the slot allocation information involves activity within an interference area of the node; and
if the activity is within the interference area, advertising the slot allocation information to neighboring nodes of the node.
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Specification