METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE ACCESS WITHIN A NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method of discovering nodes to establish communication between a first master node and one or more nodes in a network medium used by a plurality of master nodes and slave nodes, wherein a slave node is an implantable medical device, wherein the plurality of master nodes contend for a carrier of the network medium, comprising:
- at a first master node, gaining use of the carrier;
sending out a plurality of discovery access codes from the first master node;
at the first master node, sending out a request for request to send message containing a first discovery access code of the plurality of discovery access codes, wherein the request for request to send message begins the communication sequence to obtain any available data from another node;
at the first master node, listening for a request to send message containing the first discovery access code and sending out a clear to send message upon receiving the request to send message;
upon receiving a data send message in response to the clear to send message at the first master node, when the data send message is from a second master node and includes a list of session access codes in use by the second master node, excluding the list of session access codes in use by the second master node from a list of potential session access codes at the first master node; and
upon receiving the data send message in response to the clear to send message at the first master node, when the data send message is from a first slave node that includes identification information for the first slave node, storing the first slave node identification information in preparation for associating with a session access code that is not excluded from the list of potential session access codes at the first master node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for media access control allow master and slave nodes of a network to communicate using the same carrier while avoiding collisions of transmissions. At least one slave node is an implantable device. Master nodes initiate all data exchange sequences, and slave nodes are responsive to the data exchange sequences. The exchange sequences begin by master nodes contending for use of the carrier through a countdown procedure. A set order of communications occurs between a master node who won the contention and a slave node being communicated with by the master node to transfer a data frame. Contention is then repeated to determine the next master node that is allowed to transfer a data frame. New master nodes entering the network employ a discovery process to poll for existing devices in the network.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of discovering nodes to establish communication between a first master node and one or more nodes in a network medium used by a plurality of master nodes and slave nodes, wherein a slave node is an implantable medical device, wherein the plurality of master nodes contend for a carrier of the network medium, comprising:
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at a first master node, gaining use of the carrier; sending out a plurality of discovery access codes from the first master node; at the first master node, sending out a request for request to send message containing a first discovery access code of the plurality of discovery access codes, wherein the request for request to send message begins the communication sequence to obtain any available data from another node; at the first master node, listening for a request to send message containing the first discovery access code and sending out a clear to send message upon receiving the request to send message; upon receiving a data send message in response to the clear to send message at the first master node, when the data send message is from a second master node and includes a list of session access codes in use by the second master node, excluding the list of session access codes in use by the second master node from a list of potential session access codes at the first master node; and upon receiving the data send message in response to the clear to send message at the first master node, when the data send message is from a first slave node that includes identification information for the first slave node, storing the first slave node identification information in preparation for associating with a session access code that is not excluded from the list of potential session access codes at the first master node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of discovering nodes to establish communication between a first master node and one or more nodes in a network medium used by a plurality of master nodes and slave nodes, wherein a slave node is an implantable device, and wherein contention for a carrier of the network medium occurs between the plurality of master nodes, comprising:
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at a second master node of the plurality, receiving a transmission of a set of discovery access codes; at the second master node, randomly choosing one of the discovery access codes from the set; upon receiving a request for request to send message at the second master node that contains the randomly chosen discovery access code, sending a request to send message from the second master node that contains the randomly chosen discovery access code; and upon receiving a clear to send message at the second master node, sending from the second master node a data send message containing a list of session access codes currently in use by the second master node. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of discovering nodes to establish communication between a first master node and one or more nodes in a network medium used by a plurality of master nodes and slave nodes, wherein a slave node is an implantable device, and wherein contention for a carrier of the network medium occurs between the plurality of master nodes, comprising:
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at the first slave node, receiving a transmission of a set of discovery access codes; at the first slave node, determining whether the first slave node is already in a session; when the first slave node detects that it is not already in a session, then at the first slave node randomly choosing one of the discovery access codes from the set; upon receiving a request for request to send message at the first slave node that contains the randomly chosen discovery access code, sending a request to send message from the first slave node that contains the randomly chosen discovery access code; and upon receiving a clear to send message at the first slave node, sending from the first slave node a data send message containing a node identifier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for discovering nodes to establish communication among a plurality of master and slave nodes in a network medium, wherein a first slave node includes an implantable device, wherein contention for a carrier of the network medium occurs between the plurality of master nodes, comprising:
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a first master node including a processing device configured to implement a first media access control subsystem, wherein the first media access control subsystem is configured to; provide discovery access codes to the plurality of master and slave nodes; and poll the master and slave nodes using the discovery access codes to obtain the node identifier of slave nodes not in a session and to obtain the session access codes in use by the master nodes; a plurality of second master nodes, each including a processing device configured to implement a second media access control subsystem, wherein the second media access control subsystem is configured to respond to the first master node when the discovery access code of each master node is polled by the first media access control subsystem, and wherein a response from the second media access control subsystem provides a session access code in use by the second master node; and a plurality of slave nodes, each including a processing device configured to implement a third media access control subsystem, wherein the third media access control subsystem is configured to respond to the first master node when the discovery access code of each slave node is polled by the first media access control subsystem, wherein the response from the third media access control subsystem provides a node identifier of each slave node to be associated by the first media access control subsystem with a session access code that has not been excluded. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of communicating between a first master node and a first slave node, wherein the first slave node is an implantable device, and wherein contention for a carrier of a network medium occurs between a plurality of master nodes, comprising:
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determining at the first master node, whether to send or receive data; at the first master node, gaining use of the carrier; and sending, from the first master node, a request to send message when the first master node determines to send data, or a request for request to send message when the first master node determines to receive data, wherein the request for request to send message requests another node to send data, and wherein a sent message includes an access code. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification