Method and apparatus for scheduling communication between transceivers
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between a first transceiver and a second transceiver each occasionally providing an output signal and receiving an input signal by scheduling potential communication between said first transceiver and said second transceiver during an active set of time slots wherein said active set of time slots is a subset of a set of all available time slots, comprising the steps of:
- determining independently at said first transceiver said active set of time slots based on a predetermined number;
determining independently at said second transceiver said active set of time slots based on said predetermined number; and
monitoring at said first transceiver said output signal of said second transceiver during at least said active set of time slots wherein said output signal of said second transceiver intermittently comprises a message intended for said first transceiver and said output signal of said second transceiver intermittently comprises a message intended for at least a third transceiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for reducing receiver power consumption in communication system having a transmitter and one or more receivers schedules periodic messages in "slots." Each receiver is assigned a slot during which it monitors the transmissions. The transmitter transmits messages to the receiver only during the assigned slots. The receiver is in an "active state" during its assigned slot. It may remain in the active state after its assigned slot if the message requires the receiver to perform additional actions. During the "inactive state," which is the time period between successive occurrences of its assigned slot, the receiver may perform any action not requiring coordination with the transmitter. It may conserve power during this time by removing power from one or more components such as those used for monitoring the transmissions. At a time during the inactive state shortly before the assigned slot, the receiver applies power to these components and performs initializations. Such initializations may include reacquiring a pilot channel signal to which the receiver may synchronize itself if its timing signals have drifted out of synchronization with those of the transmitter during the preceding inactive state.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between a first transceiver and a second transceiver each occasionally providing an output signal and receiving an input signal by scheduling potential communication between said first transceiver and said second transceiver during an active set of time slots wherein said active set of time slots is a subset of a set of all available time slots, comprising the steps of:
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determining independently at said first transceiver said active set of time slots based on a predetermined number; determining independently at said second transceiver said active set of time slots based on said predetermined number; and monitoring at said first transceiver said output signal of said second transceiver during at least said active set of time slots wherein said output signal of said second transceiver intermittently comprises a message intended for said first transceiver and said output signal of said second transceiver intermittently comprises a message intended for at least a third transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for communicating between a first transceiver and a second transceiver each occasionally providing an output signal and receiving an input signal by scheduling potential communication between said first transceiver and said second transceiver during an active set of time slots wherein said active set of time slots is a subset of a set of all available time slots, comprising the steps of:
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means for determining at said first transceiver said active set of time slots based on a predetermined number; means for determining at said second transceiver said active set of time slots based on said predetermined number; and means for monitoring at said first transceiver said output signal of said second transceiver during at least said active set of time slots wherein said output signal intermittently comprises a message intended for said first transceiver and intermittently comprises a message intended for at least a third transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of communicating between a first transceiver and a second transceiver, wherein said second transceiver transmits an information signal during a cyclical series of time slots, comprising the steps of:
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determining at said first transceiver an assigned slot within said cyclical series of time slots; determining at said first transceiver a quantity of active time slots; determining at said first transceiver a set of active slots comprising said quantity of active slots wherein one of said active slots is said assigned slot; and receiving said information signal from said second transceiver at said first transceiver during at least said active set of time slots within each said cyclical series of time slots wherein said information signal intermittently comprises a message intended for said first transceiver and intermittently comprises a message intended for at least a third transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A first transceiver for communicating between said first transceiver and a second transceiver, wherein said second transceiver transmits an information signal during a cyclical series of time slots, said first transceiver comprising:
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means for determining at said first transceiver an assigned slot within said cyclical series of time slots; means for determining at said first transceiver a quantity of active slots; means for determining at said first transceiver a set of active slots comprising said quantity of active slots wherein one time slot....of said set of active slots is said assigned slot; and means for receiving said information signal from second transceiver during said set of active slots within each cycle of said cyclical series of time slots wherein said information signal intermittently comprises a message intended for said first transceiver and intermittently comprises a message intended for at least a third transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for communicating with a remote station from a local station, wherein said remote station is periodically available for communication at a given rate for a segment of time, comprising the steps of:
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determining at said local station an assigned time slot based on a predetermined number; receiving at said local station from said remote station an index number indicating said given rate; determining at said local station from said assigned time slot and said index number a set of active time slots during which said remote station is available for communication; and transmitting from said local station a message comprising a first message intended for said remote station and a second message intended for a second remote station during a time slot of said active set of time slots. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A local communication station for communicating with a remote station, wherein said remote station is periodically available for communication at a given rate for a segment of time, said local communication station comprising:
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means for receiving from said remote station an identification number of said remote station and an index number indicating said given rate; a transmitter processor for determining at said local station an assigned time slot based on said identification number; a slot generator for determining from said assigned time slot and said index number a set of active time slots during which said remote station is available for communication; and a transmitter for transmitting a message intended for said remote station and a second message intended for at least a second remote station during a time slot of said active set of time slots. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification