METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RF COMMUNICATION FREQUENCY ARBITRATION

• US 20100173594A1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Phonex Broadband Corp.
• Original Assignee: Phonex Broadband Corp.
• Inventors: Smith, Scott, Stettler, Alan
• Application Number:
  US12/652,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20100173594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/715 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/7154 with means for preventing interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 between access points

Abstract

The present invention relates to bandwidth management or Arbitration of RF spectrum in multiple dwelling units through over-the-air channels and/or over power line channels. In one embodiment, each communication system including a base unit and/or extension unit scanning the usable frequencies for their particular set of optimal channels. And then share their optimal set of channels with all other communication systems in the detectable vicinity. Ancillary communications channels are established between all communication systems allowing for the current frequency assignments or rotational assignments to be passed to all communication systems within the same local environment. All bad or unusable channels common to the local environment are tracked and logged in all communication systems.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a transceiver transmitting and receiving according to a frequency hopping sequence; and

a microcontroller connected to the transceiver, the microcontroller configured to;

analyze available channels to determine which channels are used by an adjacent communication system; and

set the frequency hopping sequence to avoid using the channels used by the adjacent communication system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller is further configured to predict which channels are used by the adjacent communication system, and the corresponding times which the channels are used by the adjacent communication system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the microcontroller sets the frequency hopping sequence to avoid using the channels used by the adjacent communication system at a same time as the adjacent communication system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller is further configured to determine a frequency hopping sequence for the adjacent communication system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the microcontroller is further configured to

temporally offset the frequency hopping sequence for the adjacent communication system, and

set the frequency hopping sequence to the temporally offset frequency hopping sequence for the adjacent communication system.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive an advertisement of channels used by the adjacent communication system.

7. A method for selecting channel usage by a first communication system with a second communication system adjacent the first communication system, the method comprising:

analyzing available channels to determine which channels are used by the second communication system; and

setting a frequency hopping sequence for the first communication system to avoid using the channels used by the second communication system.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising predicting which channels are used by the second communication system, and the corresponding times which the channels are used by the second communication system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of setting a frequency hopping sequence for the first communication system to avoid using the channels used by the second communication system includes setting the frequency hopping sequence to avoid using the channels used by the second communication system at a same time as the second communication system.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of analyzing available channels to determine which channels are used by the second communication system includes determining a frequency hopping sequence for the second communication system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of setting a frequency hopping sequence for the first communication system to avoid using the channels used by the second communication system includes

temporally offsetting the frequency hopping sequence for the second communication system, and

setting the frequency hopping sequence for the first communication sequence to the temporally offset frequency hopping sequence for the second communication system.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of analyzing available channels to determine which channels are used by the second communication system includes receiving an advertisement of channels used by the second communication systems.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of analyzing available channels to determine which channels are used by the second communication system includes communicating with the second communication systems to determine the channels used by the second communication system.

14. A method for selecting channel usage by a first communication system with a second communication system adjacent the first communication system, the method comprising:

communicating with the second communication system to determine channels used by the first communication system and the second communication system; and

uniquely assigning channels to the first communication system and the second communication system.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of determining a master base unit and slave base unit between the first communication system and the second communication system.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of uniquely assigning channels to the first communication system and the second communication system includes using the master base unit to uniquely assign channels to the first communication system and the second communication system.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting a frequency hop for a master synchronization or a slave synchronization.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting a frequency hop for arbitration communications.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising formulating arbitration tables.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising logging unusable channels in an error table.