Spread spectrum apparatus and method for network RF data communications having extended communication channels
First Claim
1. An apparatus for network RF data communications, the apparatus comprising:
- extended channel radio transmitting means for selectively transmitting data communication radio signals across a selected one of a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined bandwidth, said extended channel radio transmitting means including channel scanning means for scanning the three extended data communication channels for availability prior to transmitting across the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels;
extended channel radio receiving means for receiving the data communication signals from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, said extended channel radio receiving means including extended channel data receipt synchronizing means responsive to data communications signals being received for synchronizing the receiving of data communications across the plurality of extended data communications channels with the data communications signals being transmitted across the selected channel, said extended channel data receipt synchronizing means including correlating means responsive to the data communication signals transmitted across each of the plurality of extended data communication channels for correlating data communication signals to a predetermined threshold value, radio frequency hopping means for hopping among the plurality of different carrier frequencies in a sequence and for locking onto an active one of the plurality of extended data communication channels to receive data communication signals therefrom, and carrier detecting means responsive to said correlating means for detecting the presence of data communication signals on each of the plurality of extended data communication channels to thereby provide stop signals and resume signals to said frequency hopping means so as to respectively stop and resume the hopping between each of the plurality of extended data communication channels; and
processing means responsive to said extended channel radio receiving means for processing the data communication signals for a network application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods are provided for network radio frequency ("RF") data communications. The apparatus preferably has an extended channel radio transmitter for selectively transmitting data communication radio signals across a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels. The transmitter preferably includes a channel scanner for scanning the extended data communication channels for availability prior to transmitting across a selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels. An extended channel radio receiver is responsive to the extended channel radio transmitter for receiving the data communication signals from the selected one of the extended data communication channels. The extended channel radio receiver preferably includes an extended channel data detection synchronizer responsive to the data communications signals being received by the receiver for synchronizing the transmitting and receiving of the data communication signals across the extended data communications channels. Any and all extended channel contending transmitters and receivers or transceivers within a network preferably sense and synchronize to the extended channel being transmitted within a predetermined period of time, i.e., within one bit time of Unit Symbol Time. This assures that normal carrier sense access control protocols operate correctly across the virtual channel which includes the plurality of possible extended channels.
187 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An apparatus for network RF data communications, the apparatus comprising:
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extended channel radio transmitting means for selectively transmitting data communication radio signals across a selected one of a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined bandwidth, said extended channel radio transmitting means including channel scanning means for scanning the three extended data communication channels for availability prior to transmitting across the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels; extended channel radio receiving means for receiving the data communication signals from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, said extended channel radio receiving means including extended channel data receipt synchronizing means responsive to data communications signals being received for synchronizing the receiving of data communications across the plurality of extended data communications channels with the data communications signals being transmitted across the selected channel, said extended channel data receipt synchronizing means including correlating means responsive to the data communication signals transmitted across each of the plurality of extended data communication channels for correlating data communication signals to a predetermined threshold value, radio frequency hopping means for hopping among the plurality of different carrier frequencies in a sequence and for locking onto an active one of the plurality of extended data communication channels to receive data communication signals therefrom, and carrier detecting means responsive to said correlating means for detecting the presence of data communication signals on each of the plurality of extended data communication channels to thereby provide stop signals and resume signals to said frequency hopping means so as to respectively stop and resume the hopping between each of the plurality of extended data communication channels; and processing means responsive to said extended channel radio receiving means for processing the data communication signals for a network application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for network data communications, the apparatus comprising:
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an extended channel radio transmitter for selectively transmitting data communication radio signals across a selected one of a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined bandwidth, the data communication signals comprising at least one of a plurality of data packets, said extended channel radio transmitter including channel scanning means for scanning the three extended data communication channels for availability prior to transmitting a data packet across the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels; and an extended channel radio receiver responsive to said extended channel radio transmitter means for receiving the plurality of data packets from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, said extended channel radio receiver including extended channel data receipt synchronizing means responsive to data communications signals being received for synchronizing the receiving of the plurality of data packets across the plurality of extended data communications channels with the plurality of data packets being transmitted across the selected channel, said extended channel data receipt synchronizing means including at least one correlator responsive to data packets being received for correlating at least portions of a received data packet to a predetermined threshold value and at least one sub-bit detector responsive to the at least one correlator for detecting at least one sub-bit of a data packet being received to thereby synchronize the receiving of the plurality of data packets across the plurality of data communications channels. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said extended channel radio transmitter comprises means for selectively transmitting radio data communication signals having lower and upper sidebands onto one of three extended data communication channels within the predetermined bandwidth, the three different carrier frequencies of the three extended data communication channels defining lower, center, and upper carrier frequencies.
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22. An apparatus for RF network data communications, the apparatus comprising:
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extended channel radio receiving means for receiving data communication signals from a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined bandwidth, said extended channel radio receiving means including extended channel data receipt synchronizing means responsive to data communications signals being received for synchronizing receiving of data communications across the plurality of extended data communications channels with the data communications signals being transmitted across the selected channel, said extended channel data receipt synchronizing means including correlating means responsive to the data communication signals transmitted across each of the plurality of extended data communication channels for correlating data communication signals to a predetermined threshold value, radio frequency hopping means for hopping among the plurality of different carrier frequencies in a sequence and for locking onto an active one of the plurality of extended data communication channels to receive data communication signals therefrom, and carrier detecting means responsive to said correlating means for detecting the presence of data communication signals on each of the plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined time period to thereby provide stop signals and resume signals to said frequency hopping means so as to respectively stop and resume the hopping between each of the plurality of extended data communication channels, the predetermined time being less than the preamble time of a selected data communications protocol; and signal processing means responsive to said extended channel radio receiving means for processing the data communication signals for a network application. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of network data communications, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication radio channels within a predetermined bandwidth; selectively transmitting data communication signals on a selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels; receiving data communication signals from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, the receiving data communication signals from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels including frequency hopping among each of the plurality of extended data communication channels, correlating received data communication signals to a predetermined threshold value, and detecting the presence of data communication signals on each of the plurality of extended data communication channels to thereby either stop or resume the frequency hopping among each of the plurality of extended data communication channels; and processing received data communication signals to use in a network application. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of network data communications, the method comprising:
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scanning a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined bandwidth for availability prior to transmitting data communication radio signals; transmitting data communication radio signals across the plurality of extended data communication channels; sequentially hopping among the plurality of extended data communication channels; locking onto an active one of the plurality of extended data communication channels; receiving the data communication signals from the selected active one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, the receiving the data communication signals including correlating received data communication signals to a predetermined threshold value and detecting the presence of data communication signals on each of the plurality of extended data communication channels to thereby either stop or resume hopping among each of the plurality of extended data communication channels; synchronizing the transmitting and receiving of data communications across the plurality of extended data communications channels within a predetermined period of time, the predetermined time being less than the preamble time of a selected data communications protocol; and processing received data communication signals to use in a network application. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of home automation data communications, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication radio channels within a predetermined bandwidth; scanning the plurality of extended data communication channel for availability prior to transmitting the data communication radio signals; selectively transmitting data communication signals on a selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels; receiving data communication signals from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, the receiving of data communication signals from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels including frequency hopping among each of the plurality of extended data communication channels, correlating received data communication signals to a predetermined threshold value, and detecting the presence of data communication signals on each of the plurality of extended data communication channels to thereby either stop or resume the frequency hopping among each of the plurality of extended data communication channels; synchronizing the transmitting and receiving of data communications across the plurality of extended data communications channels, the synchronizing of the transmitting and receiving of data communications occurring within a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being less than the preamble time for a selected data communications protocol; and processing received data communication signals to use in at least one home operated application. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of network data communications, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication radio channels within a predetermined bandwidth; scanning the plurality of extended data communication channels for availability within a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being less than two subbits of Unit Symbol Time for a selected data communications protocol; transmitting data communication signals on a selected available channel; receiving data communication signals from the selected available channel of the plurality of extended data communication channels, the receiving of data communication signals from the selected available channel of the plurality of extended data communication channels including frequency hopping among each of the plurality of extended data communication channels, correlating received data communication signals to a predetermined threshold value, and detecting the presence of data communication signals on each of the plurality of extended data communication channels to thereby either stop or resume the frequency hopping among each of the plurality of extended data communication channels. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. An apparatus for network RF data communications, the apparatus comprising:
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extended channel radio transmitting means for selectively transmitting data communication radio signals across a selected one of a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined bandwidth, said extended channel radio transmitting means including channel generating means for generating at least three different RF carrier frequencies which form lower, center, and upper RF carrier frequencies within the predetermined bandwidth and which define three extended data communications channels, channel scanning means for scanning the three extended data communication channels for availability prior to transmitting across the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, and channel selecting means for selecting one of the three extended data communications channels to transmit RF data communication signals having lower and upper sidebands onto the selected one of the three extended data communication channels; extended channel radio receiving means for receiving the data communication signals from the selected one of the plurality of extended data communication channels, said extended channel radio receiving means including extended channel data receipt synchronizing means responsive to data communications signals being received for synchronizing the receiving of data communication s across the plurality of extended data communications channels with the data communications signals being transmitted across the selected channel; and processing means responsive to said extended channel radio receiving means for processing the data communication signals for a network application.
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54. An apparatus for RF network data communications, the apparatus comprising:
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extended channel radio receiving means for receiving data communication signals from a plurality of different carrier frequencies which respectively define a plurality of extended data communication channels within a predetermined bandwidth, the radio data communication signals received by said extended channel radio receiving means each having lower and upper sidebands, and the different carrier frequencies of the plurality of extended data communication channels defining at least lower, center, and upper carrier frequencies, the lower and upper sidebands of the radio data communication signals for the at least lower, center, and upper frequencies of each of the plurality of extended data communication channels being interleaved, the predetermined bandwidth of the plurality of extended data communication channels being in the range of about 800 MHZ to about 1100 MHZ or in the range of about 2300 MHZ to 2600 MHZ, and the lower, center, and upper frequency carriers having a difference in the carrier frequency between each other in the range of less than about 100 MHZ, said extended channel radio receiving means including extended channel data receipt synchronizing means responsive to data communications signals being received for synchronizing the receiving of data communications across the plurality of extended data communications channels with the data communications signals being transmitted across the selected channel, said extended channel data receipt synchronizing means including radio frequency hopping means for hopping among the plurality of different carrier frequencies in a sequence and for locking onto an active one of the plurality of extended data communications channels to receive data therefrom, said radio frequency hopping means including scanning means for sequentially and continuously scanning the plurality of extended data communication channels, dwelling means responsive to said scanning means for dwelling on each of scanned plurality of extended data communication channels for a predetermined time, and validating means responsive to said dwelling means and said carrier detecting means for validating detected data communication signals prior to receiving the data communication signals; and signal processing means responsive to said extended channel radio receiving means for processing the data communication signals for a network application.
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Specification