Distributed Scheduling
First Claim
1. In a network in which some data are transmitted between stations during time slots in contention free periods, a method for selecting the time slots, the method comprising:
- collecting timing information at some stations in the network, the timing information indicating the times of existing time slots used by stations whose transmissions can be reliably received by the station collecting the timing information;
distributing the timing information to other stations in the network; and
selecting a new time slot for transmission between a first and a second station based at least on timing information indicating the times of existing time slots used by stations whose transmissions can be reliably received by at least one of the first and second station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a network, some data are transmitted between stations during time slots in contention free periods. Selecting the time slots includes collecting timing information at some stations in the network. The timing information indicates the times of existing time slots used by stations whose transmissions can be reliably received by the station collecting the timing information. The timing information is distributed to other stations in the network. A new time slot for transmission between a first and a second station is selected based at least on timing information indicating the times of existing time slots used by stations whose transmissions can be reliably received by at least one of the first and second station.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. In a network in which some data are transmitted between stations during time slots in contention free periods, a method for selecting the time slots, the method comprising:
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collecting timing information at some stations in the network, the timing information indicating the times of existing time slots used by stations whose transmissions can be reliably received by the station collecting the timing information; distributing the timing information to other stations in the network; and selecting a new time slot for transmission between a first and a second station based at least on timing information indicating the times of existing time slots used by stations whose transmissions can be reliably received by at least one of the first and second station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for communicating among stations in a network, the method comprising:
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providing repeated beacon transmissions from a first station for coordinating transmissions among a plurality of the stations; retransmitting from at least one second station at least some information received at the second station, including at least a portion of a received beacon transmission; transmitting from the first station information that determines allocated time for the first station to transmit or receive transmissions; and transmitting from a third station information that determines allocated time for the third station to transmit or receive transmissions, wherein the third station reliably receives transmissions from the second station and does not reliably receive transmissions from the first station. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for communicating among stations in a network, the method comprising:
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from each of multiple stations in the network, transmitting information characterizing transmissions received by the station from other stations; at each of multiple stations in the network, determining allocated time for the station to transmit or receive transmissions based on at least some of the information characterizing transmissions, and transmitting information indicating the allocated time; and at each of multiple stations in the network, determining allocated time for the station to transmit or receive transmissions based on at least some of the information characterizing transmissions and based on at least some of the information indicating the allocated time from other stations. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method for communicating among stations in a network, the method comprising:
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at each of multiple stations in the network, collecting timing information about when transmissions from different stations are received or transmitted; distributing the timing information to multiple stations in the network; and using the distributed timing information at different stations to determine respective timing schedules for communicating with stations from which the station can reliably receive transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A system for communicating among multiple stations, comprising:
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a first station configured to provide repeated beacon transmissions for coordinating transmissions among a plurality of the stations, and to transmit information that determines allocated time for the first station to transmit or receive transmissions; at least one second station configured to retransmit at least some information received at the second station, including at least a portion of a received beacon transmission; and at least one third station configured to transmit information that determines allocated time for the third station to transmit or receive transmissions, wherein the third station reliably receives transmissions from the second station and does not reliably receive transmissions from the first station.
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Specification