TRANSACTION SCHEDULING SYSTEM FOR A WIRELESS DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
First Claim
1. In a data communications network comprising a tag and a master, a method for coordinating data communications between the tag and the master, the method comprising:
- a) defining on the master a first time division block, the first time division block comprising a length of time subdivided into a first configuration window and a first transaction window;
b) during the first configuration window,i) receiving on the master a configuration request packet broadcasted by the tag;
ii) in response to receiving the configuration request, establishing on the master a first reserved time slot within the first transaction window, the first reserved time slot comprising a slice of time during which the master will detect and accept a first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag,iii) broadcasting a configuration response packet from the master, the configuration response packet comprising a first time delay for the tag, the first time delay comprising an amount of time that the tag should wait before attempting to broadcast the first set of transaction packets to the master, wherein the first time delay is calculated by the master to cause the first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag to be broadcasted during the first reserved time slot in the first transaction window; and
c) during the first reserved time slot of the first transaction window, detecting and accepting on the master the first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for scheduling and coordinating transmission signals in a wireless data communications network, comprising a master node and at least one tag node. In some embodiments, the network may also include a slave node. The master node divides time into repeating time division blocks comprising a configuration window and at least one transaction window. During the configuration window, the master node provides operating parameters to the tag or slave nodes, including a time slot within the transaction window that is reserved for the tag or slave nodes to broadcast data to the master node. The transaction window is subdivided into multiple reserved time slots, and each slot is assigned to a specific tag or slave node. When a reserved time slot arrives, the tag or slave node will broadcast data signals to the master node. The master periodically adjusts the transmission schedule for each tag or slave node, as needed, to ensure that every tag or slave node continues to broadcast only during its reserved time slot, thereby reducing communication data collisions and optimizing the overall performance and throughput of the data communications network.
27 Citations
38 Claims
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1. In a data communications network comprising a tag and a master, a method for coordinating data communications between the tag and the master, the method comprising:
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a) defining on the master a first time division block, the first time division block comprising a length of time subdivided into a first configuration window and a first transaction window; b) during the first configuration window, i) receiving on the master a configuration request packet broadcasted by the tag; ii) in response to receiving the configuration request, establishing on the master a first reserved time slot within the first transaction window, the first reserved time slot comprising a slice of time during which the master will detect and accept a first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag, iii) broadcasting a configuration response packet from the master, the configuration response packet comprising a first time delay for the tag, the first time delay comprising an amount of time that the tag should wait before attempting to broadcast the first set of transaction packets to the master, wherein the first time delay is calculated by the master to cause the first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag to be broadcasted during the first reserved time slot in the first transaction window; and c) during the first reserved time slot of the first transaction window, detecting and accepting on the master the first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A data communications network, comprising:
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a) a tag; and b) a master configured to monitor and process broadcasts from the tag in accordance with a first time division block defined on the master, the first time division block including a first configuration window and a first transaction window; c) wherein, during the first configuration window, i) the tag broadcasts a configuration request packet over the data communications network, ii) the master detects the configuration request and establishes a first reserved time slot within the first transaction window, the first reserved time slot comprising a slice of time during which the master will detect and accept a first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag, and iii) the master determines and broadcasts a configuration response packet over the data communications network, the configuration response packet comprising a first time delay for the tag, the first time delay comprising an amount of time that the tag should wait before attempting to broadcast the first set of transaction packets to the master, wherein the first time delay is configured by the master to cause the first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag to be broadcasted during the first reserved time slot in the first transaction window; and d) during the first reserved time slot of the first transaction window, i) the tag broadcasts the first set of transaction packets, and ii) the master detects and accepts the first set of transaction packets broadcasted by the tag. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification