System and method for dynamic time division access
First Claim
1. A communications network for providing time division wireless data communication across one or more radio frequency (RF) channels, said communications network comprising:
- a plurality of nodes divided into at least two time domain groups, wherein said one or more RF channels is divided into a plurality of frames including multiple time slots in each frame, a given time slot in each of said frames comprising a logical channel, wherein each of said time domain groups includes an independent timing source for synchronizing said time slots of a logical channel; and
at least one buffer segment for interfacing between said at least two time domain groups, each includes a plurality of nodes, said buffer segment adapted to maintain logical synchronization for communication between interconnected time domains by dynamically reassigning the logical channel between said time domains to an unused time slot of another logical channel in response to a given offset condition.
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Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for providing wireless packet data transmission without dependence on a fixed time slot access method or central timing mechanism. An available radio frequency (RF) channel in a communications network is divided into time frames which are further divided into time slots, wherein corresponding single time slots in each frame define a logical channel for carrying user packet data. The network includes a plurality of nodes divided into at least two time domain groups, wherein the time domain groups are divided into segments. Each of the time domain groups includes an independent timing source for synchronizing the time slots of logical channels within a time domain, wherein communication between nodes is accomplished through a data messaging scheme, such as a token passing scheme. Buffer segments interface between the time domain groups. The buffer segments maintain logical synchronization for communication between interconnected time domains by dynamically reassigning the token from the logical channel of a first time domain to an unused time slot of another logical channel in response to a given offset condition. The logical channel for dynamic reassignment is chosen such that the time slot of a first time domain does not overlap the logical channel used by a second time domain.
36 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A communications network for providing time division wireless data communication across one or more radio frequency (RF) channels, said communications network comprising:
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a plurality of nodes divided into at least two time domain groups, wherein said one or more RF channels is divided into a plurality of frames including multiple time slots in each frame, a given time slot in each of said frames comprising a logical channel, wherein each of said time domain groups includes an independent timing source for synchronizing said time slots of a logical channel; and at least one buffer segment for interfacing between said at least two time domain groups, each includes a plurality of nodes, said buffer segment adapted to maintain logical synchronization for communication between interconnected time domains by dynamically reassigning the logical channel between said time domains to an unused time slot of another logical channel in response to a given offset condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for providing time division data communication in a wireless communications network across one or more radio frequency (RF) channels, said communications network including a plurality of nodes adapted to communicate with one another, said method comprising the steps of:
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dividing said plurality of nodes into at least two time domain groups, wherein said one or more RF channels is divided into a plurality of frames including multiple time slots in each frame, a given time slot in each of said frames comprising a logical channel; maintaining an independent timing source in each of said time domain groups for synchronizing said time slots of a logical channel; monitoring a time offset between logical channels of said at least two time domain groups; and dynamically reassigning the logical channel between time domains to an unused time slot of another logical channel in response to a given time offset condition, thereby maintaining logical synchronization for communication between interconnected time domains. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification