Protocol for network having a plurality of intelligent cells

• US 4,941,143 A
• Filed: 11/08/1988
• Issued: 07/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Echelon Systems Corp.
• Original Assignee: Echelon Systems Corp.
• Inventors: Sander, Wendell B., Twitty, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marcelo, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US07/268,482
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 370/85, 370/89, 370/94, 370/85.1, 370/85.2, 370/85.3, 370/94.1, 370/94.3, 340/825.5, 340/825.51
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A network for sensing, communicating and controlling having a plurality of cells which communicate with packets. A packet requesting acknowledgements is transmitted to a plurality of destination cells. The transmitting cell listens for acknowledgements from the destination cells. The transmitting cell waits a predetermined period of time to receive the acknowledgements and then infers that a collision has occurred if a reply is not received from any of the destination cells. Different actions are taken by the transmitting cells as a result of the inference of collision as opposed to a case where the cell receives an acknowledgement from at least one destination cell.

Claims

1. In a network for sensing, communicating and controlling having a plurality of cells a method for infering a collision has occurred between packets transmitted by said cells comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first packet by a first of said cells, said first packet requesting a reply from at least a second cell and a third cell;

waiting a predetermined period of time for a reply from said second cell and said third cell;

infering that a collision has occurred if a reply is not received from either said second cell or said third cell.

2. In a network for sensing, communicating and controlling having a plurality of cells a method for infering that a collision has not occurred between packets transmitted by said cells comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first packet by a first of said cells, said first packet requesting a reply from at least a second cell and a third cell;

waiting a predetermined period of time for a reply from said second cell and said third cell;

infering that a collision has not occurred if a reply is received from at least one of said second cell or third cell.