Method and apparatus for synchronized communication over wireless backbone architecture
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a first node having means for controlling synchronization of wireless communications between said first node and at least one additional node; and
a plurality of second nodes for communicating with said first node, at least one of said second nodes having means for determining a dynamic depth designation representing the number of nodes in a wireless communications path between said first node and said at least one second node, wherein said second node is configured to scan the communication system to dynamically update the dynamic depth designation.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to providing wireless communication among a plurality of nodes and repeaters that are synchronized for communication with a central hub that constitutes a master repeater. For example, the present invention is directed to a wireless network having a wireless backbone of repeaters which can use frequency hopping to automatically establish synchronization despite dynamic changes in the wireless communication system. Exemplary embodiments provide for control of synchronization whereby a repeater, when introduced to the system, automatically scans for, and synchronizes to another repeater, while at the same time continuing to listen for other repeater signals which identify either the master repeater, or another repeater which is closer to the master repeater (i.e., communicates to the master repeater through a more direct communication link).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a first node having means for controlling synchronization of wireless communications between said first node and at least one additional node; and a plurality of second nodes for communicating with said first node, at least one of said second nodes having means for determining a dynamic depth designation representing the number of nodes in a wireless communications path between said first node and said at least one second node, wherein said second node is configured to scan the communication system to dynamically update the dynamic depth designation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a communication system having a first node and a second node, a method of dynamically assigning a depth to the second node, wherein a depth assigned to a given node represents a number of nodes between the given node and a master node, the method of assigning a depth to the second node comprising the steps of:
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searching the communication system, from the second node, for a synchronization signal of the first node; extracting a first depth of the first node from the synchronization signal of the first node; and assigning a second depth to the second node which is one level higher than the first depth. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for establishing synchronization between a first node and a second node, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a first of plural communication channels for use by said first node, said first channel having a first hop sequence of frequencies; assigning said second node any one of said plural communication channels, each of said plural communication channels having a hop sequence of frequencies wherein at least one frequency overlaps a frequency in said first hop sequence; and detecting synchronization information during said frequency overlap to synchronize communications between said first and second nodes.
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16. A communications network having a first node and a second node, said second node comprising:
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means for sending communications to a first node using a first frequency hopping sequence; and means for synchronizing communications between said first node and said second node by assigning said second node any one of plural communication channels, each of said plural communication channels having a hop sequence of frequencies wherein at least one frequency overlaps a frequency in said first frequency hopping sequence, said synchronizing means further detecting synchronization information during said frequency overlap to synchronize communications between said first and second nodes.
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Specification