Reservation-based polling protocol for a wireless data communications network
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a plurality of data communications devices in accordance with a noncontention-based multiple-access signalling protocol, said signalling protocol being characterized by defining a cycle time, defining a reservation request period in a first portion of said cycle time, defining a data transfer period in a second portion of said cycle time, and assigning a number X of time slots within said reservation request period, said controlling method comprising the steps of:
- (a) outputting a sync signal in synchronization with the beginning of said reservation request period;
(b) inputting a number Y of reservation request signals into particular time slots;
(c) assigning a number of data slots within said data transfer period, said number of data slots corresponding to said number Y of reservation request signals;
(d) outputting a polling signal during said data transfer period;
(e) inputting a data packet into one of said assigned data slots; and
(f) repeating steps (d) and (e) at least Y-1 times per said cycle time.
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Abstract
A wireless data communications network having a number of users communicating from individual remote stations to a central station over a single optical-infrared channel utilizing a two-stage noncontention-based multiple-access communications protocol. During the first stage of the reservation-based polling protocol, the central station provides a synchronization signal to the remote stations to define the start of a "reservation request period," and allocates fixed time slots during which any remote station having a data message to transmit may request access and reserve a portion of the channel for their data messages. During the second stage or "polled data transfer period," the central station polls only those remote stations that have a data message to transmit and have requested access to the channel. In response to the poll, the polled remote stations transmit their data message in their previously-reserved data slots. If desired, the central station may also return an acknowledgement signal to the remote stations upon successful reception of each data message.
547 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a plurality of data communications devices in accordance with a noncontention-based multiple-access signalling protocol, said signalling protocol being characterized by defining a cycle time, defining a reservation request period in a first portion of said cycle time, defining a data transfer period in a second portion of said cycle time, and assigning a number X of time slots within said reservation request period, said controlling method comprising the steps of:
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(a) outputting a sync signal in synchronization with the beginning of said reservation request period; (b) inputting a number Y of reservation request signals into particular time slots; (c) assigning a number of data slots within said data transfer period, said number of data slots corresponding to said number Y of reservation request signals; (d) outputting a polling signal during said data transfer period; (e) inputting a data packet into one of said assigned data slots; and (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) at least Y-1 times per said cycle time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification