Method and apparatus for optimizing a medium access control protocol

• US 5,844,900 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Proxim Inc. (Proxim Corp.)
• Inventors: Coleman, Arthur B., Grau, Jr., Juan, Hong, Hilton K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/716,740
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 370/320, 370/321, 370/322, 370/329, 370/330, 370/337, 370/335, 370/341, 370/342, 370/431, 370/465, 370/468, 370/347, 375/202, 375/203, 455/450-454
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention is directed to providing a wireless medium access control protocol wherein throughput can be optimized as the communication system dynamically changes when nodes either join or leave the communication system.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling wireless communication among plural nodes in a frequency hopping communication system comprising:

means for monitoring a number of transmissions which occur within the communication system, said means for monitoring including maintaining a linked list of nodes which have transmitted information within a predetermined period of time; and

means for dynamically changing a number of slots for which nodes of the communication system contend for access to a wireless communication medium of the communication system, said dynamic changing being performed as a function of said number of monitored transmissions,

wherein said linked list includes timestamp information regarding a time at which each of said nodes transmitted information, said linked list being sorted according to said timestamps.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring means detects a number of data packet transmissions sent within a predetermined period of time.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring means detects a number of request-to-send messages sent within a predetermined period of time.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for dynamically changing is performed as a function of said number of monitored transmissions received in a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time being variable based on activity of the communication system.

5. Method for controlling wireless communication among plural nodes in a communication system, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a number of transmissions which occur within the communication system by maintaining a linked list of nodes which have transmitted information within a predetermined period of time; and

dynamically changing a number of slots for which nodes of the communication system contend for access to a wireless communication medium of the communication system, said step of dynamically changing being performed as a function of said number of monitored transmissions, said linked list including timestamp information regarding a time at which each of said nodes transmitted information, said linked list being sorted according to said timestamps.