Wireless communication system for reliable communication between a group of apparatuses
First Claim
1. A wireless communication system comprising:
- a sending apparatus; and
a receiving apparatus,said sending apparatus comprising;
message sending means for transmitting a message frame, andacknowledge receiving means for receiving an acknowledgment frame,said receiving apparatus comprising;
message receiving means for receiving a message frame, andacknowledge sending means for transmitting an acknowledgment frame upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame,said system comprising at least three apparatuses, each apparatus being a sending apparatus as well as a receiving apparatus, andeach apparatus further comprising;
detection means for detecting a transmission of a frame,first timing means for setting a first timer at a predetermined first time upon said detection means detecting the ending of said transmission, andsecond timing means for, upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame, setting a second timer at a random time with a predetermined upper boundary, said predetermined upper boundary being smaller than said first time,said message sending means being adapted to transmit a message frame when said first timer is expired and said detection means detect no transmission of another frame, andsaid acknowledge sending means being adapted to transmit an acknowledge frame only if said second timer expires prior to said detection means detecting a transmission of another frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The communication system allows a group of at least three apparatuses, such as game computers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), to communicate wirelessly by using, for instance, infrared transmission. The apparatuses are the same from a communication point of view. A message frame (500) transmitted by an apparatus (10) can, therefore, be received by all other apparatuses (101 e.a.), which are part of the system. Reliability is increased by acknowledging correct reception of a message frame (500) and retransmitting a message frame (500) up to a predefined maximum number of times if no acknowledgement frame (510) is received. The chance of message frames (500) and/or acknowledgement frames (510) colliding is reduced. After a message frame (500) has been transmitted, a following defined time period is reserved for acknowledging reception of the message frame (500). Upon receiving the message frame (500), the receiving apparatuses (101 e.a.) wait a random time, within the defined period, before acknowledging. The first apparatus (101) to time-out transmits an acknowledgment frame (510). The other apparatuses do not transmit an acknowledgement frame. Correct reception of a message frame (500) is, therefore, only acknowledged by one apparatus. This is accomplished through use of two timers.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A wireless communication system comprising:
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a sending apparatus; and a receiving apparatus, said sending apparatus comprising; message sending means for transmitting a message frame, and acknowledge receiving means for receiving an acknowledgment frame, said receiving apparatus comprising; message receiving means for receiving a message frame, and acknowledge sending means for transmitting an acknowledgment frame upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame, said system comprising at least three apparatuses, each apparatus being a sending apparatus as well as a receiving apparatus, and each apparatus further comprising; detection means for detecting a transmission of a frame, first timing means for setting a first timer at a predetermined first time upon said detection means detecting the ending of said transmission, and second timing means for, upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame, setting a second timer at a random time with a predetermined upper boundary, said predetermined upper boundary being smaller than said first time, said message sending means being adapted to transmit a message frame when said first timer is expired and said detection means detect no transmission of another frame, and said acknowledge sending means being adapted to transmit an acknowledge frame only if said second timer expires prior to said detection means detecting a transmission of another frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for use in a wireless communication system having at least three similar apparatuses, which apparatus is for sending and receiving messages, the apparatus comprising
sending means for transmitting a message frame; -
acknowledge receiving means for receiving an acknowledgement frame; receiving means for receiving a message frame; acknowledge sending means for transmitting an acknowledgement frame upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame; detection means for detecting transmission of a frame; first timing means for setting a first timer at a predetermined first time upon said detection means detecting the ending of said transmission, and second timing means for, upon said message receiving means correctly receiving a message frame, setting a second timer at a random time with a predetermined upper boundary, said predetermined upper boundary being smaller than said first time; said message sending means transmitting a message frame when said first timer is expired and said detection means detects no transmission of another frame; and said acknowledge sending means being adapted to transmit the acknowledgement frame only if said second timer expires prior to said detection means detecting transmission of the other frame.
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Specification