COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR WIRELESS ENHANCED CONTROLLER AREA NETWORKS

• US 20100260102A1
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Liu, Yong, Ngo, Chiu
• Granted Patent: US 8,780,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1657 Implicit acknowledgement of correct or incorrect reception, e.g. with a moving window
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1848 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0097 Relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A method and system for communication in a wireless enhanced control area network including wireless station nodes is provided. One implementation involves each wireless station node employing a wireless communication protocol for wireless communication of control area network (CAN) messages among the wireless station nodes on a wireless communication medium, wherein each CAN message comprises a content-identified data message or an error message. The wireless communication protocol including a medium access control protocol for controlling access to the wireless communication by the wireless station nodes.

Claims

1. A method of communication in a wireless enhanced control area network including wireless station nodes, the method comprising:

each wireless station node employing a wireless communication protocol for wireless communication of control area network (CAN) messages among the wireless station nodes on a wireless communication medium, wherein each CAN message comprises a content-identified data message or an error message, each content-identified CAN message including an identification indicating the content type of the message for message filtering to determine processing of the message;

the wireless communication protocol including a medium access control protocol for controlling access to the wireless communication medium by the wireless station nodes, including;

a transmitting node transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium, and upon a receiving node receiving the data message correctly, then the receiving node utilizing a message filter to determine processing of the message based on the message identification.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the protocol further includes:

upon a receiving node receiving the data message incorrectly, then the receiving node backing off the wireless medium a random time period and then transmitting an error message on the wireless communication medium, wherein an error message from a node suppresses error messages from all other nodes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the protocol further includes:

upon completing a data message transmission, a transmitting node entering a silent period during which if the transmitting node receives an error message, then after the silent period the transmitting node retransmits the data message over the wireless communication medium, otherwise the transmitting node deciding that the data message was received correctly by receiving nodes.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the protocol further includes:

a transmitting node retransmitting a data message until all other nodes receive the message correctly;

wherein upon completing a data message transmission and deciding that all other nodes received the data message correctly, a transmitting node may transmit a new data message after a silent period.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the network comprises a hierarchical network wherein the nodes include coordinator nodes and basic nodes, the protocol further including:

a basic node associating with a coordinator node; and

upon receiving a message from an associated basic node, said coordinator retransmitting the message to other nodes in the network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the protocol further includes:

said coordinator node selecting a backup coordinator node; and

said coordinator passing information of each associated basic node to the backup coordinator.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the CAN message may further comprise an acknowledgement (ACK) message, the protocol further including:

a transmitting basic node transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium; and

upon the associated coordinator node correctly receiving the data message, the coordinator node transmitting an ACK message on the wireless communication medium, otherwise the basic node retransmitting the data message.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the protocol further includes:

upon the associated coordinator node incorrectly receiving the data message after multiple retransmission attempts, the transmitting basic node requesting the backup coordinator node for the associated coordinator node to acknowledge the data message.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the protocol further includes:

a transmitting coordinator node transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium; and

upon correctly receiving the data message from said coordinator node, the backup coordinator node for the coordinator node transmitting an ACK message on the wireless communication medium.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the protocol further includes:

upon a coordinator node correctly receiving a data message from an associated basic node, the coordinator node caching the data message in memory, and retransmitting the data message to other nodes; and

the coordinator node performing a message retransmission upon receiving an error message.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the protocol further includes:

a basic node registering a desired data message identification with the associated coordinator node;

upon said coordinator node receiving a data message with such identification, the coordinator node caching the data message in memory and transmitting the data message to the associated basic node until the associated basic node acknowledges proper receipt of the data message.

12. A wireless enhanced control area network, comprising:

wireless station nodes configured for wireless communication on a wireless communication medium, each node including a processor, a wireless communication control area network controller implementing a message filter, and a wireless transceiver;

each wireless station node configured for employing a communication protocol for wireless communication of control area network (CAN) messages via the wireless transceiver, wherein each CAN message comprises a content-identified data message or an error message, each content-identified CAN message including an identification indicating the content type of the message for message filtering to determine processing of the message;

the wireless communication protocol including a medium access control protocol for controlling access to the wireless communication medium by the wireless station nodes, wherein a transmitting node is configured for transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium, and upon a receiving node receiving the data message correctly, then the receiving node utilizing a message filter to determine processing of the message based on the message identification.

13. The network of claim 12 wherein the nodes are further configured according to the protocol for:

upon a receiving node receiving the data message incorrectly, the receiving node backing off the wireless medium a random time period and then transmitting an error message on the wireless communication medium, wherein an error message from a node suppresses error messages from all other nodes.

14. The network of claim 13 wherein the nodes are further configured according to the protocol for:

upon completing a data message transmission, a transmitting node entering a silent period during which if the transmitting node receives an error message, then after the silent period the transmitting node retransmits the data message over the wireless communication medium, otherwise the transmitting node deciding that the data message was received correctly by receiving nodes;

a transmitting node retransmitting a data message until all other nodes receive the message correctly;

wherein upon completing a data message transmission and deciding that all other nodes received the data message correctly, a transmitting node may transmit a new data message after a silent period.

15. The network of claim 14 wherein the network comprises a hierarchical network wherein the nodes include coordinator nodes and basic nodes, the nodes are further configured according to the protocol for:

a basic node associating with a coordinator node;

upon receiving a message from an associated basic node, said coordinator node retransmitting the message to other nodes in the network;

said coordinator selecting a backup coordinator node; and

said coordinator passing information of each associated basic node to the backup coordinator.

16. The network of claim 15 wherein the CAN message may further include an acknowledgement (ACK) message, and the nodes are further configured according to the protocol for:

a transmitting basic node transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium;

upon the associated coordinator node correctly receiving the data message, the coordinator node transmitting an ACK message on the wireless communication medium, otherwise the basic node retransmitting the data message; and

upon the associated coordinator node incorrectly receiving the data message after multiple retransmission attempts, the transmitting basic node requesting the backup coordinator node for the associated coordinator node to acknowledge the data message.

17. The network of claim 16 wherein the nodes are further configured according to the protocol for:

a transmitting coordinator node transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium; and

upon correctly receiving the data message from said coordinator node, the backup coordinator node for the coordinator node transmitting an ACK message on the wireless communication medium.

18. The network of claim 16 wherein the nodes are further configured according to the protocol for:

upon a coordinator node correctly receiving a data message from an associated basic node, the coordinator node caching the data message in memory, and retransmitting the data message to other nodes;

the coordinator node performing a message retransmission upon receiving an error message;

a basic node registering a desired data message identification with the associated coordinator node;

upon said coordinator node receiving a data message with such identification, the coordinator node caching the data message in memory and transmitting the data message to the associated basic node until the associated basic node acknowledges proper receipt of the data message; and

employing Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) for wireless medium access control for transmitting data, error, and acknowledgement messages between the nodes.

19. A wireless station node for communication on a wireless communication medium in an enhanced control area network, comprising:

a processor, a wireless communication control area network controller, and a wireless transceiver;

the controller configured for employing a message filter and a communication protocol for wireless communication of control area network (CAN) messages via the wireless transceiver, wherein each CAN message comprises a content-identified data message or an error message, each content-identified CAN message including an identification indicating the content type of the message for message filtering to determine processing of the message;

the wireless communication protocol including a medium access control protocol for controlling access to the wireless communication medium by the wireless station node, wherein a transmitting node is configured for transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium, and upon a receiving node receiving the data message correctly, then the receiving node utilizing a message filter to determine processing of the message based on the message identification.

20. The wireless station node of claim 19 wherein the controller is further configured according to the protocol for:

upon receiving a data message incorrectly, the receiving node backing off the wireless medium a random time period and then transmitting an error message on the wireless communication medium, wherein an error message from a node suppresses error messages from all other nodes.

21. The wireless station node of claim 19 wherein the controller is further configured according to the protocol for:

upon completing a data message transmission, the node entering a silent period during which if the node receives an error message, then after the silent period the node retransmits the data message over the wireless communication medium, otherwise the node decides that the data message was received correctly by receiving nodes;

the node retransmitting a data message until all other nodes receive the message correctly;

wherein upon completing a data message transmission and deciding that all other nodes received the data message correctly, the node may transmit a new data message after a silent period.

22. The wireless station node of claim 21 wherein the network comprises a hierarchical network for coordinator nodes and basic nodes, the wireless station node configured according to the protocol as a coordinator node for:

establishing association with a basic node, and upon receiving a message from an associated basic node, said coordinator node retransmitting the message to other nodes in the network;

said coordinator node selecting a backup coordinator node; and

said coordinator node passing information of each associated basic node to the backup coordinator.

23. The wireless station node of claim 22 wherein the CAN message may further include an acknowledgement (ACK) message, said coordinator node further configured according to the protocol for:

the coordinator node receiving a data message transmitted by an associated basic node on the wireless communication medium, and upon correctly receiving the data message, the coordinator node transmitting an ACK message on the wireless communication medium, otherwise the basic node retransmitting the data message; and

upon the associated coordinator node incorrectly receiving the data message after multiple retransmission attempts, the transmitting basic node requesting the backup coordinator node for the associated coordinator node to acknowledge the data message.

24. The wireless station node of claim 23 wherein said coordinator node is further configured according to the protocol for:

the coordinator node transmitting a data message on the wireless communication medium, wherein upon correctly receiving the data message from said coordinator node, a backup coordinator node for the coordinator node transmits an ACK message on the wireless communication medium.

25. The wireless station node of claim 24 wherein said coordinator node is further configured according to the protocol for:

upon the coordinator node correctly receiving a data message from an associated basic node, the coordinator node caching the data message in memory, and retransmitting the data message to other nodes;

the coordinator node performing a message retransmission upon receiving an error message, such that a basic node registers a desired data message identification with the associated coordinator node;

upon the coordinator node receiving a data message with such identification, the coordinator node caching the data message in memory and transmitting the data message to the associated basic node until the associated basic node acknowledges proper receipt of the data message; and

employing Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) for wireless medium access control for transmitting data, error, and acknowledgement messages between the nodes.