PACKET TRAINS TO IMPROVE PACKET SUCCESS RATE IN CARRIER SENSE MULTIPLE ACCESS NETWORKS

• US 20130022053A1
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vasseur, Jean-Philippe, Hui, Jonathan W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,847,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control

Abstract

In one embodiment, a communication device operates according to a particular frequency hopping sequence in a communication network, and receives a first packet with an indication that the first packet is part of a particular packet train, the packet train comprising a plurality of packets to be transmitted in succession. Accordingly, the communication device prevents transmission until receiving a final packet of the packet train, and stores received packets of the particular packet train while preventing the transmission.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating a communication device according to a particular frequency hopping sequence in a communication network;

receiving a first packet with an indication that the first packet is part of a particular packet train, the packet train comprising a plurality of packets to be transmitted in succession;

preventing transmission until receiving a final packet of the packet train; and

storing received packets of the particular packet train while preventing the transmission.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

forwarding, as the transmission, the packet train to a next-hop communication device.

3. The method as in claim 2, further comprising:

indicating to the next-hop communication device that the forwarded transmission is a packet train.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the final packet of the packet train; and

in response, initiating the transmission.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

storing a maximum amount of packets for the packet train at the communication device; and

in response, initiating the transmission.

6. The method as in claim 5, further comprising:

requesting to a sender of the packet train that the sender buffer additional packets of the packet train.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein requesting comprises:

indicating how long to buffer through a mechanism selected from a group consisting of;

indicating a length of time in the requesting; and

sending an explicit notice to the sender in response to buffering no longer being requested.

8. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

determining, prior to receiving the final packet for the packet train, that a threshold length of time has passed since a last packet for the packet train was received; and

in response, initiating the transmission.

9. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

remaining on a same frequency for a duration of the packet train.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the particular frequency hopping sequence is independent per device in the communication network.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver configured to communicate in a frequency hopping communication network; and

a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed by the processor operable to;

receive a first packet with an indication that the first packet is part of a particular packet train, the packet train comprising a plurality of packets to be transmitted in succession;

prevent transmission until receiving a final packet of the packet train; and

store received packets of the particular packet train while preventing the transmission.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

forward, as the transmission, the packet train to a next-hop communication device.

13. The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

indicate to the next-hop communication device that the forwarded transmission is a packet train.

14. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

receive the final packet of the packet train; and

in response, initiate the transmission.

15. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

store a maximum amount of packets for the packet train; and

in response,

initiate the transmission; and

request to a sender of the packet train that the sender buffer additional packets of the packet train.

16. A method, comprising:

operating a communication device according to a particular frequency hopping sequence in a communication network;

determining an intention to generate a packet train, the packet train comprising a plurality of packets to be transmitted in succession to a next-hop communication device;

marking a first packet of the packet train with an indication of the start of the packet train;

marking a final packet of the packet train with an indication of the end of the packet train; and

transmitting the packet train to the next-hop communication device, each packet of the plurality of packets of the packet train transmitted in succession.

17. The method as in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a request that the communication device buffer additional packets of the packet train prior to completion of transmitting the packet train; and

in response, buffering the additional packets of the packet train.

18. The method as in claim 17, further comprising:

resuming transmitting of the packet train in response to a trigger selected from a group consisting of;

expiration of an indicated length of time in the request; and

receipt of an explicit notice from the next-hop communication device.

19. The method as in claim 16, further comprising:

marking each packet of the packet train as belonging to the packet train.

20. The method as in claim 16, further comprising:

remaining on a same frequency for a duration of the packet train.

21. The method as in claim 16, wherein the particular frequency hopping sequence is independent per device in the communication network.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a transceiver configured to communicate in a frequency hopping communication network; and

a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed by the processor operable to;

determine an intention to generate a packet train, the packet train comprising a plurality of packets to be transmitted in succession to a next-hop communication device;

mark a first packet of the packet train with an indication of the start of the packet train;

mark a final packet of the packet train with an indication of the end of the packet train; and

transmit the packet train to the next-hop communication device, each packet of the plurality of packets of the packet train transmitted in succession.

23. The apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

receive a request to buffer additional packets of the packet train prior to completion of transmitting the packet train; and

in response, buffer the additional packets of the packet train.